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hlthe2b

(106,825 posts)
Fri May 17, 2019, 10:56 AM May 2019

George Clooney's 6 episode production of Catch 22 on Hulu

Just released today. I've been looking forward to it. Has Hugh Laurie, Kyle Chandler, Clooney and others starring.

Initial reviews look really good: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/may/16/catch-22-review-george-clooneys-dizzying-daring-triumph

I just may have to subscribe for a 7-day trial to Hulu to watch it!

9 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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George Clooney's 6 episode production of Catch 22 on Hulu (Original Post) hlthe2b May 2019 OP
I'll be there. lpbk2713 May 2019 #1
It's in my cue! geardaddy May 2019 #2
I hope all who do, come back to comment! hlthe2b May 2019 #3
Catch 22 is one of my favorite books. MarianJack May 2019 #4
Just watched two episodes. I like it. Anyone else? hlthe2b May 2019 #5
I just watched episode 6. rusty quoin May 2019 #6
I just finished the series. I thought it was well done though clearly more dark than the movie hlthe2b May 2019 #7
Watched the whole series this weekend. geardaddy May 2019 #8
It's powerful. and when Joesph Heller wrote the book, he was relating it to his personal experiences still_one May 2019 #9

MarianJack

(10,237 posts)
4. Catch 22 is one of my favorite books.
Sat May 18, 2019, 05:45 AM
May 2019

My father and other WW2 vets in my family all said that it was as c!ose to real service !I've that they ever read.

I also liked the 1970 movie with Alan Armin.

I may have to briefly get Hulu to see it

RESIST!

 

rusty quoin

(6,133 posts)
6. I just watched episode 6.
Sun May 19, 2019, 12:36 AM
May 2019

I watched the movie which was a satire, long ago.

This series was serious. It wasn’t funny, except in small bits.

I didn’t read the book, so I do not know whether the movie or the series was more faithful to the book.

A long time ago I watched the movie, and it’s absurd take, and I thought it funny.

The series wasn’t that so much. It was absurd in the way generals are so willing to pump out lives, but it wasn’t funny. It was damning.

hlthe2b

(106,825 posts)
7. I just finished the series. I thought it was well done though clearly more dark than the movie
Sun May 19, 2019, 09:07 AM
May 2019

I read the book so long ago I can't comment a lot, but this series clearly cut down the massive amount of characters (to about 15 main named characters) and the sometimes confusing time jumps--Clooney made this almost totally linear. When characters "drop" off their ultimate fates are frequently assumed and that feels a little frustrating for the viewer..e.g, Hugh Laurie's character in episode 3 and crews of at least one plane that vanishes.

The dark reality of war for these bombardiers and the gore resulting was not gratuitous but necessary, I think. Still, expect to see some realism.

The idiocy of the chain of command and the callous abuse of the forces in the name of self-promotion and self-glory comes through. Milo's mercenary "capitalism" is dealt with as "relief" from the starker tragedies occurring all around. They sort of give him a pass for what is rather horrendous war-profiteering though.

I won't point to any detailed scenes in the series until others watch it so not to engage in "spoilers", but I think the series was well made, given how difficult the book was to adapt.

geardaddy

(25,372 posts)
8. Watched the whole series this weekend.
Mon May 20, 2019, 11:37 AM
May 2019

I thought it was well done. A bit different from the movie, but I liked that it was in series form to make it easier to digest. One thing I missed that was in both the book and the movie was that they never talked about Orr putting crabapples in his cheeks. I know it's minor, but I thought it was an interesting character development tool to make Orr look a little nuts. The Orr in the series wasn't portrayed as much as being a nutty thrill seeker, which I thought would be nice.

still_one

(96,814 posts)
9. It's powerful. and when Joesph Heller wrote the book, he was relating it to his personal experiences
Sat May 25, 2019, 11:12 PM
May 2019
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