The Sound of Music Live! (2013)

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

Just intense enough to provide a much-needed diversion, just lightweight enough to make you forget about it soon after it’s over. It’s not exactly “good,” per se, but it does what it sets out to do in terms of putting us on edge, which makes it … successful?

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

This was painful to watch and even worse than it should have been. I was open to seeing a TV version of the actual Broadway show as opposed to a remake of the movie. At first it was interesting to see the different songs, order of songs and dialog compared to the movie. Of course I knew things would suffer without the scenery and better costumes and sets. But the acting and casting was bad and the production felt cheap with ugly costumes and orange lighting.The casting is all wrong. As Maria, Carrie Underwood lacks a Broadway range in her voice - she comes across as strident and lacking in sweetness when required. But the worst thing is her blank expression throughout. She simply isn't an actress. I know it's unfair to compare her to Julie Andrews but Carrie is just too inadequate an actress. Steven Moyer as Captain Von Trapp lacks both dignity and kindness. The Broadway supporting cast sing well. Audra McDonald as Mother Superior has a great voice. The Von Trapp children especially the younger girls weren't cute compared to the movie ones. Strange choice to make them mostly dark haired. Rolf was too old looking.They got to stop doing these terrible versions. First South Pacific then The Sound of Music. Don't' bother to watch these since the original movies were perfect.

I am so tired of hearing everybody compare this production to the Julie Andrews classic. This musical was a TV version of the stage production and it was delightful. The children were believable and the whole family was fun to watch. I want to buy this DVD as a regular tradition for our family to enjoy along with the original Sound of Music production. Each version (the live and the original) of Sound of Music has it own unique reasons to love and enjoy them. There are moments in this new one that will take your breath away because the music is so ethereal and beautiful. Most of the movie was full of joyful, exuberance that was in every song and word. I was surprised when I looked at the web and saw so much criticism and meanness about this production. I am glad we did not listen and instead were treated to a night of beauty and inspiration. 10 Stars is not enough. Carrie Underwood and the entire cast gave us a treasure and another beloved holiday classic that we can enjoy for years to come. Thank you!

Maria Rainer, a free spirit, (Carrie Underwood) who is an aspiring nun, leaves the abbey to become a governess to seven all to obedient children of an Austrian Naval Captain named Georg Von Trapp. (Stephen Moyer) Maria teaches the kids to sing, and starts to fall in love with Georg, but Georg plans to marry Elisa Schrader (Elisa Benanti) What will Maria's reaction to that news be? And what will Georg, a fervent Austrian nationalist, do about the rising Nazi presence in Austria? Will he give in? Or will he stay true to his principles?I watched the original version of The Sound of Music when I was a kid and don't remember the storyline much. If I want to see holiday movies with Austrians, I'll watch Jingle All The Way. Anyway, I'm not going to do what a lot of critics did, which is pick on Carrie Underwood, she sang pretty well, and that's what she is, a singer. Her voice was a little thin, and she did have a tendency to over sing certain songs, but her singing was above average in my opinion. She had the unenviable task of following Julie Andrews in this role, which is kind of like following Lou Gehrig at first base. Andrews has an operatic voice and is a wonderful actress. Carrie Underwood is a good singer, and not a very good actress, and that's where this TV adaptation fell apart, she sounded like an American on holiday in Europe, and rushed all her lines, like she was nervous. Stephen Moyer has the opposite problem, he's a pretty good actor with a lousy singing voice, I say pretty good actor, because I liked him in True Blood, not because he was particularly good here. I say lousy singing voice because it was laughably bad. I could barely hear it at some points, it was weak and wavering, not worthy of a 6th grade recital, never mind a live stage show. Audra McDonald was very good, as the Mother Abess, her voice is incredible, and he acting is extremely good as well, if there was any justice, McDonald should have been Maria, but the world is not ready for a black Maria Von Trapp. In all, it's a good remake, it is impossible to think that anyone could fill the shoes of Julie Andrews in this role, so don't think that anyone can. It's something you can watch with your kids, and you will see it again because I'm sure NBC will replay it every year, because it was a ratings bonanza for the struggling network. If they want to do Broadway on TV, why not Wicked with Kristen Chenoweth, she's famous enough and boy can she sing, something to think about for next Halloween NBC.If this review is music to your ears, visit my blog, reviewswithatude.wordpress.com

Carrie Underwood does a very credible job as Maria, and the kids are all pretty good. Stephen Moyer is also pretty good as the captain.Keeping in mind this was a live production and will be released on DVD/Bluray, I think all the cast members are to be commended. All in all, this version is well worth your time (and money, if you buy a disk.)The story was true to the movie, and the sets were very nicely built and displayed. This was quite a production- hard to believe the studio would take a risk like this, but it really paid off. We will have a Bluray as soon as they are available.The only down side to the TSOM 2013 is the complete lack of class shown by some of the 1965 version cast members. Their tweets and comments about Underwood after the live telecast were out of line and unnecessary, and demonstrated a marked lack of class. That is surprising coming from people of their age, and for me, they taint my happy memories of each. As a result, I will archive the 1965 version and watch Carrie Underwood instead- TSOM 2013 will be the version seen by my children. It is a worthy successor.