Catch-22

[tjwash]

That was on last night. I forgot what an amazing movie, and book that was. Alan Arkin and Martin Sheen are amazing. Has anyone else seen the movie, or read the book? If so, I would be interested in your views, and any messages you got from it...

[ET Awful]

1. I'm a huge fan of the movie. . . .

I started to read the book once, got sidetracked and never went back to it. I think I need to stop by Barnes and Noble tonight. :)

[denverbill]

8. Haha. I started to read it about 5 times.

And kept giving up after a few chapters.

It begins kinda incoherently, IMO. Seems like it starts about 10 different stories before it starts to weave them together.

When I finally did get past the beginning, I read it pretty fast. It's a good book.

[tjwash]

11. Yeah the first four chapters make no sense whatsoever....

....I think because he is going in and out of conciousness after being stabbed.

[denverbill]

15. Well, they do eventually.

Just not when you read them the first time. It's only after you get past that that everything comes together and makes sense.

I'd definitely recommend it though!

[tsakshaug]

2. read it

It has been a long time however.
The movie-I think I saw it. Art Garfunkel was in it in a minor part. Paul Simon's part was written out.
The book had so much about insanity of war and warriors.

[Richardo]

3. Best. Book. Ever...

IMO.

A far fetched comedic satire in 1961 has turned into a documentary on today's politics of war. Consider this exchange toward the end of the book:

"These are very critical times," Colonel Cathcart asserted petulantly from a far corner of the office...

"Hasn't he got any patriotism?"

"Won't you fight for your country?" Colonel Korn demanded, emulating Colonel Cathcart's harsh, self-righteous tone. "Won't you give up your life for Colonel Cathcart and me?"

Yossarian tensed with alert astonishment when he heard Colonel Korn's concluding words. "What's that?" he exclaimed. "What have you and Colonel Cathcart got to do with my country? You're not the same."

"How can you separate us?" Colonel Korn inquired with ironical tranquillity.

"That's right," Colonel Cathcart cried emphatically. "You're either for us or against us. There's no two ways about it.

"I'm afraid he's got you," added Colonel Korn. "You're either for us or against your country. It's as simple as that."

"Oh, no Colonel. I don't buy that."

Colonel Korn was unruffled. "Neither do I, frankly, but everyone else will. So there you are."

----------------------------------------
Catch-22 was published 42 years ago in 1961. If by chance you have not read it - start now. You will not be sorry.

[Blue_Tires]

4. Milo Minderbinder = young Rumsfeld n/t

Gen. Dreedle is probably cheney, if he ever dared to join the military

[Richardo]

5. Milo also = Halliburton providing logisitcs services...

I expect the troops to find syndicate shares in place of their body armor. :eyes:

[felonious thunk]

6. One of the few good movie adaptations

Although, that said it can't come close to catching the sheer absurdity of the book. I love the movie, and I think it does a great job at slimming down the story into a movie, without dumbing it down. They are actually nice companion pieces, but the book is one of my favorites of all time.

[tjwash]

12. Oh, the writing in the book is absolutely the best...

...an example:

"Major Major had been born to late and too mediocre. Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have medicrity thrust upon them. With Major Major it had been all three. Even among men lacking all distinction he inevitably stood out as a man lacking more distinction than all the rest, and people who met him were always impressed by how unimpressive he was." (ch9, pg78)

I find myself using the "some men have medicrity thrust upon them" at times.

[Doc_Technical]

7. Read the book and saw the movie

when I just went into the Air Force (to avoid getting drafted into
the Army or Marine Corps) and it was an eye opener about not only
how the military operated but our American culture is run.

Capitalism, nepotism, religion, patriotism, racism, and the insanity
of war and nationalism were brought to the attention of my young,
ignorant mind, and this was done with a wild sense of humor that
had me laughing like a lunatic.

There was no way the movie could present much of the book but I
think that the film captured a great of the "feel" of the novel.

Most of the actors in the movie played their parts well, especially
Buck Henry as Col. Korn.

[skrunch]

9. Buck Henry also wrote the screenplay

There's an excellent commentary on the DVD with Mike Nichols and Steven Soderbergh. I've always thought that M*A*S*H was overrated and Catch-22 is underrated.

[Canuckistanian]

10. Saw the movie, read the MAD magazine version.

[Barbara Ann]

13. I saw the movie

You couldn't get out, unless you had enough points to get out,

and while you were in, you couldn't get enough points to get out,

but you had to be in, to get points to get out.

[Philostopher]

16. And you could get out if you were crazy,

But the crazy ones didn't want to get out -- they didn't care if they lived or died. If you wanted to get out because you wanted save your ass, you were sane, and had to continue serving.

It's one of the few books I've read multiple times, I loved it.

Saw the movie after I'd read the book a couple of times, and I have to say though it was different, I liked it too. Was surprised the movie managed to capture the surrealism of the book so well. I wouldn't have bet it was possible. Alan Arkin made a great Yossarian. The casting was inspired.

Mr. Nownow and I always pat each other patronizingly and murmur "there, there" when one of us is caught up in one of 'those' moments.

[tjwash]

17. I don't think anyone COULD have played that role but Alan Arkin.

He was that good in it. Martin Sheen was also awesome, and he is so damn young in that movie. He looks exactly like his son Emilio.



B*'s idea of reading a book....

[tjwash]

14. Does this excerpt not hit the hypocrisy of the right, between the eyes?

"Major Major's father believed that government subsidies given to anyone but farmers was creeping socialism. Major Major's father was a sober God-fearing man...his specialty was alfalfa, and he made a good thing out of not growing any...On long winter evenings he remained indoors and did not mend harness, and he sprang out of bed at he crack of noon everyday just to make certain that the chores would not be done...he invested in land wisely and soon was not growing more alfalfa than any other man in the country. The people all sought his advice, as he had much money,and was thus, very wise...(ch9, pg78-79) "