Likewise, read it at uni however many years ago and I can’t remember anything other than I loved reading it at the time. Because of that, feel I’m far enough away from it to enjoy this series without comparing it to the book. Still, not a big fan of Clooney.
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Normally wouldn’t bother with any adaptation and of this because the book is so good but that George Clooney he just crack me up man. Not saying I will watch it, but I might
That was rather decent.
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got it recorded
hyped
the book is one of my faves
I enjoyed this
Good first episode. Really focusing on the tragi element of Yossarian’s tragicomic plight.
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Yer man from Friday Night Lights is in it, right?
Dunno, I remember reading the book about 15 years back and it was fine. Wasn’t really clear why everyone was so crazy about it, though.
As yet we haven’t considered watching this but it’s waiting on one of our streaming services should we want to.
As others have suggested, it seems to be one of those books people read in their early twenties then don’t revisit. Not sure why, really. Might give the book another go after this series.
watched the second episode last night, can confirm based on the first two that it’s very good, the comedy stuff is perfectly pitched, the major major scene in episode two in particular is tremendous
looking forward to hearing @anon5266188 thoughts on this particular television show
I will likely watch it on Saturday or Sunday evening
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Thought that was really good. Excited for the rest!
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Yeah, after watching the first episode it was alright, nothing amazing. That intense, goofy humour of the novel just isn’t there.
I mean it’s a fantastic production, the casting is spot on, but it just doesn’t capture that zany, goofy humour of ‘we’re all mad the war is mad the world is mad’ essence of the novel. It’s just a bit too sanitised.
I’ve read it a few times since the first time and I still love it (acknowledging that it deliberately tries the reader’s patience at points). I’m always in awe of how it manages to use its jokes to amplify the horrors of war – pushing too far to the point where the absurdity starts to become anxious and a little harrowing. It’s great. Looking forward to whenever I start watching this.
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I think the first post here nails it - this feels so much like it’s trying to be what the Coens would do with this material - and, tbf, I think they’d absolutely boss it - but doesn’t quite stick the landing. I mean, the book is a structural clusterfuck and you couldn’t translate that directly to the screen so kudos to the writers for finding a way through that, but the book was also laugh out loud funny whilst also being incredibly dark, and this seems to be more comfortable with the dark than the funny (because, frankly, tragicomic is much harder to land than just straight-up tragic) but it ultimately just makes me wish I could watch the Coen Bros film this wishes it was, rather than what it is.
I think it’s a little early to really judge it personally.
The book is such a difficult thing to transfer to screen, that’s the case with a lot of similarly tragi-comic books where the characters on the page feel almost cartoon-ish - how do you give them that element on the screen?
I enjoyed the first episode a lot, there were some moments of high comedy although not as much as in the book - that’s fine with me. I don’t have an issue with there being more of a focus on the horror of war and I thought actually, that was portrayed really well - particularly the scene over the target where the bomb aimer in the aircraft next to Yossarian’s is splayed across the plexiglass of Yossarian’s, the mental anguish suffered by Yossarian over the futility of their missions. The flight scenes were amongst the best I’ve seen too.
I’m looking forward to the rest of it a lot.
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Agree with all of this
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this is fucking killer, enjoying it so much. really glad charlie from girls is doing well too, great actor.
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There were a number of real sweet spots in episode 2. The first part was excellent in particular.
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Well this thread died a death, eh.
Inspired by this thread, but not the show, I borrowed Catch 22 from my local library, having not read it in yonks.
Still as great as ever👌