Too much of everything

Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.

When Julie Andrews was interviewed 5 years ago that Carrie Underwood is going to portray Maria Von Trapp in an NBC remake of the "The Sound Of Music" musical, she wished her the best considering she knows how difficult the role was for her when she did it back in 1965. Instead of a TV movie, NBC did it by having a live musical stage play. No question that that NBC avoided turning it into a TV movie considering that it will draw comparisons with the iconic 1965 film as well as that of Underwood and Andrews.While it was reported that there were 18 million people who saw this on TV,many were disappointed. Obviously, many were expecting another iconic film. Too bad that it was far from it. And that turned against the musical from the people who saw the 1965 film especially against Carrie Underwood's portrayal as well as her singing the classic songs from it. That included from a cast of the former film Kym Karath,who played Gretl Von Trapp,who stated that the role of Maria isn't right for Carrie Underwood.But in spite of it, I still gave it an "okay" rating(6/10) considering that I tried not expect another iconic movie like the 1965 film which I gave a great rating(10/10).I decided not expect too much from it considering that Carrie Underwood is a non-actress unlike Julie Andrews,who just won the Oscar Best Actress Award for Mary Poppins for 1964,when he did the original film the year after.Added to that, it was obvious that Carrie would not be up to par with Julie in terms of singing as the former is a popular country singer who happens to be a throaty singer at most who probably never had vocal training unlike the latter who is formally trained to sing songs using her head tone vocals which makes Julie the better singer. Finally,the story setting was almost the same despite a few changes in the 2013 version like Maria not singing "I Have Confidence In Me" when she was going to the Von Trapp's home. So there is nothing much to compare.So viewers who are able to see this musical should just enjoy it and treat it as another version that does not need to be iconic. Besides,I did appreciate Carrie Underwood's guts to portray Maria knowing that there will be comparisons between her and Andrews and her effort to make it a decent musical. Despite being a non-actress and basically a country singer, I would say that she did give her best in the musical. Doing her best was average at best and made the musical a decent enough despite the fact that she isn't at par with Andrews in both acting and singing nor was the musical at the same level with the iconic 1965 film. The same goes for the members of the cast. That's all that matters.Viewers should just enjoy another decent version of it. Others just presented negative reviews of it because of their high expectations and for it to live up to the iconic 1965 film.

I never would've imagined that Carrie Underwood would go on to play Maria in The Sound of Music LIVE! You have to remember that this is live, so there is no room to redo a mistake - Carrie Underwood is by no means Julie Andrews - But what Ms Underwood does is bring a different feel for a wonderful classic - the feel isn't bad - I had to remind myself several times that this was not going to be like the original - Was I impressed - Yes - I must say I had my moments of unhappiness - but somehow I managed to fall in love with this production - It's nice to see one of my favorite movies revamped - I liked the change (after watching a few times) - My grandmother didn't like it very much - but I try to remain open minded with remakes or different versions of classics - If you like musicals and if you like the original - It's worth a watch - even just to educate yourself - I don't want to go into details about the production - but I will say this "The Hills Are Alive!!!"

After I saw twice the live version of this outstanding Rodgers and Hammerstein musical classic, based on the true story of the Von Trapp family of Austria about 1938, which became a singing family, I felt impelled to order the DVD of it, and did. Carrie Underwood, who has always screamed out singing "Are you ready for some football?!" was as adorable as adorable can be as Maria. Carrie Underwood in this showed that she is a versatile actress. Audra McDonald, who has always been so sweet in any production in which she has acted, was so excellent as the Reverend Mother, so very caring; and it goes without saying that she has a strong, beautiful, singing voice. Steve Moyer, as Captain Gaylord Von Trapp, did so well in virtually two roles, that of a firm, staunch retired widowed navy captain and then someone who, thanks to Maria, became a bit mellowed and loving. The children were adorable as well. The artificial snow-capped mountains in the background were very beautiful and picturesque. Again, Carrie Underwood was wonderful as the lady who was a source of comfort and strength to the proud Austrian Von Trapp, which he needed during the time of the late 1930's when Hitler was coming to power and Austria was threatened by the Gestapo. It has all the basic elements I want in a drama-beautiful color, excellent acting, and a warm story. This musical is tops.

This should NEVER have been done! It's nowhere near the original stage musical and same applies to the original film either. Some of the acting/singing is overdone and with others it's stiff and wooden. Doing it live was admirable, but it introduced issues with having lines rushed to get to commercial breaks which are notoriously ruthless in their timing, the result being pacing disruption and less than desirable acting performances adjusting timing. Just as bad is the casting which was UN-BE-LIEVABLE. You want me to swallow that in mid-1930's Austria, in midst of it being taken over by Nazis from Germany via an assassination of their Prime Minister, an influx of German SA Brownshirt thugs (SA = Sturmabteilung), plus a society with a significant number of anti-semitic and racially bigoted people, that there would be a black mother superior in a convent there? And you would want me to believe the captain would have an Hispanic child, in what was very much then and is still pretty much an ethnically and culturally monolithic country? GET REAL! Worst yet, it downplays what the Nazis actually did to Austria, from within and without, in the Anschluss. In the effort to make beautiful music, which it does not do very well, it loses the entire underlying theme that was captured by the stage and film musicals . . . one courageous man's . . . an Austrian Navy Captain of wealth, and his family's stand against the Anschluss, and their willingness to give up everything rather than be a part of it.This abysmal TV "remake" wasn't Live! it was DEAD! ON ARRIVAL! When will the cable and broadcast TV networks ever learn NOT to attempt remakes of audience revered and critically acclaimed films? Inevitably they're an Epic FAIL and this one was no different. Why must they plagiarize something already done, and worse yet, something that was done exceptionally well? Can they NOT come up with something creatively original? Is their IQ that low? Do they have that much arrogance, disdain and disrespect for TV viewing audiences to think our IQ that low -- that we're brain dead and will accept drivel?