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M*A*S*H - Season Four (Collector's Edition)

M*A*S*H - Season Four (Collector's Edition)

List Price: $39.98
Your Price: $31.98
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Olive-drab discs but colorful scripts
Review: This is the season I've been waiting for -- the year that M*A*S*H evolved from a great comedy to an excellent social commentary. The previous three seasons had focused mostly on practical jokes and other silly hijinks, along with the whiny relationship between Frank and Margaret. Some fans consider those the best years of the show in terms of comedy. But for me, the arrival of Colonel Potter marks the point when I began to really love M*A*S*H as more than "just another sitcom." The humor is still there, but it has grown beyond mere verbal slapstick.

In addition, the anti-war focus has become more daring. One of the most unconventional episodes is the last in the season, "The Interview." It was done in black-and-white like a 1950s newscast, and the M*A*S*H characters tell the folks at home what war is really like for the people at the 4077th.. This episode received very positive feedback when it first aired, and set the stage for including more serious drama in the future.

Another of my favorites in Season Four is "Dear Mildred," where Radar gives Colonel Potter a horse for his anniversary -- and the old ex-calvaryman almost cries, he is so touched by the gesture. "A horse, a beautiful horse..." From that moment on, we know that this "regular Army" guy has a sentimental side, too.

Regarding the format of the DVD set, I was disappointed that the discs themselves were done in olive drab instead of the full-color portraits of the characters on the previous three seasons' discs. With two new major characters (Potter and Honeycutt) arriving this season, it would have made more sense to feature them on the discs instead of a helmet and a champagne glass. Was the olive drab intended to represent the change from flaky Henry Blake to "regular Army" Potter, or was it just a cheap-out?

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: M*A*S*H is back!
Review: After spending years waiting for TV reruns, we are finally able to watch our favorate episodes whenever we want. Excellent production.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Olive Drab for Sure
Review: I had high expectations given the previous DVD releases. When I opened the box, I was surprised. I was hoping to see some of the other MASH characters depicted on each disk. Instead, there was the reminder of the olive drab that we have all come to know and love or despise depending on your point of view. I hope they do a better job on the fifth season. The series is awesome but the design needs to be redone. Thanks for reading my first review.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Another Great Season Box Set From Fox
Review: I'm so glad that Fox has been good enough to release this great series on DVD, and that they have done such an excellent job. The picture quality on these DVDs far outshines the syndicated reruns on TV, and the full 25-minute-plus cuts of the shows haven't been seen in ages. As with the other box sets, the menus and functionality of the disc are very nice. I would however like to see a "play all" button so you don't have to click through as many menus to see all the shows.

As far as the actual content of the shows goes, I enjoy this period in the series more than the earlier seasons. Contrary to what some other fans think, the addition of Mike Farrell and Harry Morgan improved the show and made it a little more real and less lighthearted. Eventually these new characters really grow on you and become like old friends. The cast changes definitely move the show in a more comedy-drama direction, which I feel is part of what made this show so great, and so different from other sitcoms. A couple of great unconventional episodes are included in this season set, including "Hawkeye" which is essentially a 25-minute monologue by Alan Alda, and "The Interview" which is an all black-and-white documentary-style episode that again breaks the rules of what a sitcom is "supposed" to be like. Great writing, strong characters, top-notch acting talent. What more could we ask of this show?

I can't wait to buy season 5 in December. Now I hope Fox will lavish this same high-quality treatment on more great classic sitcoms like "The Bob Newhart Show" and "The Odd Couple", the rights to which I believe they also own.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Love the DVD's
Review: One of the main things that I love about the DVD is the fact that they are not cut. When MASH came out in syndication some scenes were deleted. I love the fact that I can see the entire show as it was meant to be seen.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The real start of MASH.
Review: I hate the episodes without Potter or BJ, so to me this is where to start watching MASH. If you like MASH, you want to buy this set.

However, be forewarned that there is NO EXTRAS in this set beyond language and caption choices. Also, there is no "PLAY ALL" option, a very basic add-on that would have been an enormous boon.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: WHY SO LONG IN BETWEEN???
Review: MASH is the greatest show in TV history. As a fan, having them on DVD is a dream come true. BUT WHY THE WAIT??? Does FOX really have to release them 6 months apart??? Surely 1 per month or at max 3 months is feasible. Come on guys! I WANT ALL THE SEASONS and I want them NOW!!

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: ok still they beat us to death with it
Review: too over played, can we jsut let this series die!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Cheaper at Costco Store
Review: You can get this cheaper at a Costco Store.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Still No "Play All" Feature
Review: Those dunderheads at FOX did it again - We're 4 seasons into this project and they still won't listen. Please put a play all feature on these DVD's for hellsakes!


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