Customer Reviews

M*A*S*H - Martinis and Medicine Complete Collection

5 star:		(207)
4 star:		(56)
3 star:		(31)
2 star:		(16)
1 star:		(42)

 

 

When MASH first began, I was overseas most of the time and didn't get into it too much. Years later, it caught on with me, and I've been a big fan ever since. The price for this entire series collection averages around $16 per season (think about that, Warner Bros.!), not counting the orginal movie or the two bonus features discs. Okay, $175 divided by 36 discs is less than $5 per disc. For me, it's more than worth it to have all the digital clarity with no ads, editing, or -ugh!- pop-ups and banners prostituting the show on TV nowdays. Now then, why four stars? The packaging. Another reviewer was dead on about the cardboard packaging. The box is really neat, and the little playbook is crucial to keeping up with the episodes. If you order this package, have 36 proper center-spindle DVD cases ready. Cardbord is ABRASIVE! Also, if you have a shelf system that is designed to hold DVD cases upright, this box will not fit - too tall. I've got the regular cases, which I'm labeling and putting the discs into them, 'cause I surely don't intend to leave them on the shelf!! I'm looking forward to lots of laughs and many other emotions with one of the best series ever put on the carrier waves. Personally, I never liked Frank Burns, which is a positive testament to Larry Linville whose great acting skills had me convinced that he was really like that. I preferred Potter over Blake because Potter wasn't wishy-washy and knew when to be firm and when to be lenient. I welcomed Winchester because he could hold his own with Hawkeye and B.J. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the show and will probably wear our out more than one DVD player. Six stars for the series and special features, three stars for the pretty but poorly planned container for an average of fours stars.

Nice collection. All shows included, the original movie, and a couple of "Extras" DVD's.

However, it is important for you to know that the MEGASet comes in a large binding book. All the DVD's are pushed into cardboard slots (a lot like the coin collector books). This means if you take the DVD's out a lot they are going to get scratched - EVEN If you are careful.

I have a soft, CD carrier that works very much the same, and I'm meticulous about not putting pressure on it. Still my CD's have gotten marred over the years using this.

If the DVD's were mounted on a spindle holder (like a normal case) this would be much much better. There is a reason that design was chosen, it protects the product.

If you just want these DVD's to sit on a shelf, okay then. But if you are going to use them, *****BE AWARE***** you may wind up damaging them. Put them in real cases as soon as you get them.

The cardboard slots are also quite tight, causing lots of pressure. And they have a tendency to break easily (the glue comes off, causing the DVD to slip down - more opportunity for scratching).

Highly recommended that you get a real storage system for this excellent collection.

Should also know that the original movie is provided in Widescreen format, whereas the TV series is provided in Full Frame.

I'll assume you're reading this because you like this comedy show and don't need a review of it, but rather the product.

I had bought a few of the MASH sets, but not enough to feel ripped off my buying this set. I'm glad to have a better appreciation for the later seasons which I previously avoided. Winchester is a fine character whom I used to dislike simply because he replaced Frank Burns. Oops.

Except for the bonus features, there is no difference between this and the previous discs. For better or for worse, the bonus features are quite good with the fine A&E Biography episode about the show and the 30th anniverary special. Fox really should put the two discs out separately for the fans that bought all the seasons.

The packaging here is really cool, but the cardboard sleeves are not. If you decide to purchase this, be ready to transfer the 36 discs into a DVD suitcase. The sleeves will scratch your discs in no time.

All in all, buy this and a DVD wallet if you don't already have MASH on DVD, and nicely bug Fox about the bonus features if you do.

As others have noted, this collection is packaged in a cheap paperboard binder. When I removed DVD#1 from the sleeve, I noted many scratches, which were obviously a result of the paper packaging. I checked a few other DVDs and noted similar damage. I was only able to play the first four episodes before DVD#1 of 36 started skipping. I assumed the rest of the collection would behave similarly, so I requested a return authorization from Amazon, which I am happy to report was a very painless process! Unfortunately, I did not receive the same consideration when I reported the problem to FoxTVDVD.com. Thinking I was requesting a refund, the customer "service" representative got very defensive. Too bad! I was looking forward to seeing the series from start to finish for the first time, and without the laugh track. Perhaps if Fox receives enough complaints they will eventually take the feedback to heart and package this excellent collection properly.

For those of you who spent hundreds of dollars faithfully buying each season of M*A*S*H as it slowly came out over the last few years (with zero bonus material), Fox is going to reward you with this special edition of all 255 episodes of the series, which finally includes the bonus material you have wanted since day one. Only problem: it will cost you up to $200 (retail) more for it. Thanks a lot, Fox.

The material itself is top notch, the way the greedy Fox marketing geniuses have packaged this stinks.

I want to echo the sentiments of several of the other comments posted here. I am one of the loyal who have been buying the individual M*A*S*H season sets over the past few years. Fox, for those of us who have been supporting the continued releases for this landmark series on DVD, please arrange an option to get the bonus material and complete series packaging.
This idea is not without precedent. After the final season of the series Friends was released on DVD, Warner Bros created a complete series set which was housed in a stunning (and hefty) wood and plexiglass display case. Included in the final Friends season set was a coupon to send away for the empty display box (for a nominal fee, I think it was $20). Fox could include a similar offer in the M*A*S*H Season 11 box. I believe it would also benefit FOX to relieve the frustration being felt by their faithful consumers.

I bought this set from a "brick and mortar" retailer where their name suggests one can get a "Very High Quality Purchase" and I couldn't have been more upset with this set. The content (the series) is A-One classic, the extras looked like a good bunch of them and on appearance the packaging is great.

It is not.

The tight, stiff, coarse, cardboard sleeves the discs are encased in make it all but impossible to remove the discs from the sleeves without scratching them -rendering them unplayable. Most of the discs in my set were horrendously scratched one would think they rubbed them up against Hawkeye's five-o'clock-shadow. And then sandpaper.

Returning the set to Quality Purchase prompted me and the clerk to open not one, not two, but THREE of their other sets to find the same thing. Horrendously scratched discs due to very poor packaging.

I HIGHLY recommend NOT getting this set and instead buying the individual DVDs or the older complete series set -which has better packaging for the DVDs. If you DO get this set and are lucky enough to get discs that've not been destroyed just by being in the package move them to individual slimline cases immediately.

I am an avid MASH fan and still remember watching the series finale broadcast when I was 11 years old. This set contains everything a MASHphile needs. The only gripe I have is that the extras are pretty lame give 11 years of material to draw from, and the packaging will trash your disks if you use them at all. I bought clear slimline jewel cases and a small tower just to hold the collection. The cool looking box remains on display on my media rack, but the collection is safe from being scratched to oblivion by the cardboard sleeves. Those of you upset that you bought each season and therefore have no extras, I assure you that you aren't missing much...you already have the good stuff, and better containers for it to boot!

First, I have to give five stars for the overall "Martinis and Medicine" product. What a fantastic collector's item! Now, for all of us who've faithfully purchased the season sets ($30 each x 11 seasons = $330 investment), you really need to consider releasing the 3-DVD bonuses set -- in the same packaging as the single season sets, please! Will we pay another $30 for the DVD bonuses set? OF COURSE! We're dedicated fans of M*A*S*H.

I'm not going to complain about paying a total of $330 by buying the season sets one at a time (and the complete series being available here at Amazon for LESS THAN HALF that price). My value is in being able to watch all the beautifuly remastered episodes of M*A*S*H over the last few years. I especially like the option to eliminate the laugh track! But I'm really confused and disappointed that FOX would consider leaving all of us with a bad feeling about buying individual season sets and missing out on all the bonus material.

Let's see the 3-DVD bonus material set... please!!!

Multiple disks damaged. DVD's out of slots in container, sliding around in shipment. Over half of DVD's unwatchable due to skips, jumps, hangs from scratches.