Rating: Summary: Simply the best! Review: I positively love musicals and this is the VERY BEST. Classic Rogers and Hammerstein and a PERFECT cast wrapped around a fastinating story in one of the most beautiful areas of the world, at the most interesting (if not the most distructive) time in the 20th century. What more could you ask for? I've seen all the modern musicals and they will be very hard pressed to ever top the pure, unabashed feeling this draws out of people who grew up in the time, appreciated the music and cherished the performances. It will always be my favorite.
Rating: Summary: The Alps Are Alive With the Fervent Sounds of Musical Bliss Review: There's definitely not much that hasn't already been said about Robert Wise's haunting classic musical epic, "The Sound of Music." With its unforgettable musical numbers, Julie Andrews (Mary Poppins) shining perfectly in the zenith of her virginal appeal, Christopher Plummer playing an engaging love interest, a fantastically optimistic and engaging Ernest Lehman (North By Northwest) screenplay that produced sympathetic character stereotypes (note the Von Trapp children roles), an inspirational rendition of the Rodgers & Hammerstein songs, and knowledgeable direction by seasoned film maker Robert Wise (The Haunting, Sand Pebbles). The Sound of Music survives as one of the most beloved Hollywood musicals of the 20th century, but due to its many dated 60's characteristics, does the Sound of Music continue to deserve the immense attention and fanfare that it has received since its 1965 release?Looking previously at the film's long lasting legacy as the cinematic pinnacle of human decency and morality, the Sound of Music entertains countless new generations despite of it's lack of developed performances, adherence to predictable relationships, reliance on routine plot developments, spontaneous transitions into inane songs, and an overabundant sentimentality that oozes sometimes over excessively onto the screen. However in spite of its obvious shortcomings, the Sound of Music is an overwhelmingly dazzling display of the musical at its most entertaining and inspirational. This film is a testament to the Hollywood's gift of providing magically poignant entertainment to masses. I for one detest the musical's trust in positive conclusions, silly choruses, and predictable romantic stories. Yet the Sound of Music remains an awesome remainder that greatness can still come out of the most unlikely of places. Sidenote: 20th Century Fox's Five Star Collector's edition of the Sound of Music is a bravura achievement in providing a magnificent anamorphic widescreen presentation, a fascinating Robert Wise commentary track coupled with the musical tracks of the classic songs without verbal dialogue, a commemorative documentary, the theatrical trailers, and much much more. A Must-Buy for any lover of musicals of sixties cinema. Interesting Facts: The Sound of Music won several Academy Awards in 1965 including: Best Picture, Best Director (Robert Wise), and Best Musical Score.
Rating: Summary: Best of all time Review: This has to be one of the greatest musicals of all time. It is a long show to sit though if you see it live, but the DVD movie is a lot like TItanic if you take it is med doses, it is wonderful! I really enjoy singing the music. I really would someday like to play the Barronis, she is so awesome. If you are looking for a great musical that is wonderful for kids, and to sing along with CHECK THIS ONE OUT! Plus did you know that one of the Von Trapp girl is in real life now married to Robert Urich! You can email her. She helps him run his website! She is also sign autographs for you! You should check out this movie and his website! JESsica :)
Rating: Summary: Lip Synch problems Review: A previous reviewer reported a number of technical problems and wondered if it was just their copy. Well, it's my copy too, at least. A number of songs were simply not synchronized with the video image. This is VERY distracting! I'm playing the DVD on my Macintosh. I've never previously had any problems playing numerous DVDs on this system. If others have copies with no lip-synch problems, I'm going to have to send back my DVD and hope for a better copy.
Rating: Summary: Your Heart Is Alive With "The Sound of Music" Review: The Sound of Music is a touching musical. I'm a performer and take it from someone who's done th show it is so good it makes me cry every time (even backstage.) This is one of my favorite musicals and I hope it will be yours too.
Rating: Summary: a moonbeam in your hand Review: I am afraid that describing the joys and disappointments of this film are a bit like solving a problem like Maria.Joyous, reverent and Broadway...Corny and saturated. Definitely like holding a moonbeam in your hand. First off, I finally have figured out the appeal of Julie Andrews. First off, she is a fabulous singer, and actor. Her variety of performance between this and Mary Poppins in wonderfully broad in a subtle way. But let me talk for a moment about her work in Do Re Mi. If you read any of my reviews you will know that I tend to get swayed by small moments. Well, Julie's commitment to the song and the performance of Do Re Mi is fabulous. But especially amazing is the last section where she is running with the seven kids in a tunnel of vines. Julie is running her hind end off. This is no star performance. This is a performer willing to give. For this reason The Sound of Music works, and for the infectious first half, I would give five stars.The corn element works. The kids have treacly, sappy choreography. The boys are particularly musical theatrey. But this stuff works...and is the musical. The second half, the romantic, poltical half really seems to be devoid of charm. Once the romance and politics is added it just gets fuzzy and focusless. The wonderful score is almost devoid in the second half(except for Climb Every Mountain ) and relies on reprises, and an extremely weird reprise of Maria, sung in march time at her wedding. But there is enough in the first section to really make this worthwhile. Is this film a flibetty gibbit or a wave upon the sand? Yes and more. Check it out, and decided for yourself. But see it just for watching Julie Run
Rating: Summary: The Sound of Music DVD Review: This is such a wonderful movie and I was so very disappointed that the DVD picture quality was not better. I found myself squinting my eyes throughout the movie to try to get it into focus, but it did not work. I would like to see the original again on the big screen to have something to compare to the DVD. The Sound quality was OK, no complaints there.
Rating: Summary: Great DVD for family and movie buffs Review: This DVD is pretty much a duplicate of the 30th Anniversary laserdisc edition made in '95 which contained an extensive supplement section. Considering the laserdisc cost $120, this DVD is an extremely good deal. The movie is in widescreen format only. Some of the extras include an audio track carrying director's commentary alternating with "karaoke" style music-only, no-singing track, the 1965 promo documentary "Salzburg Sights and Sound" that runs 14 minutes, NOT 36 minutes as printed on the back of the DVD case, the 1995 re-release promo documentary "From Facts to Phenomenon" that runs 86 minutes, and the extensive "Gallery" still-frame section that details the making of the movie, including first-hand info such as production memos, letters, telegrams written by the filmmakers themselves. On nagging problem is that most of the still photos in the still-frame section look too bright as if they were overexposed during development; this problem didn't exist in the aforementioned laserdisc. The chapter listing printed on the included booklet has most of the chapter numbers printed incorrectly -- chapter 8 is misprinted as chapter 7, chapter 9 as chapter 8, and so on throughout the entire chapter listing. I use the chapter menu on the disc more often than the printed chapter listing, so this is not a big problem for me. DVD-ROM features include web links, wallpapers, and a simple game where you guess the musical notes in a song. Nothing groundbreaking here. This DVD is great for family viewing, naturally. And it's loaded with so much extra material that it will also satisfy hardcore movie fans who want to know more about the movie's background, history, anecdotes, and so on.
Rating: Summary: THE SOUND OF MUSIC /ART Review: Just seen the Sound Off Music on DVD and i was expecting to see a far better picture and sound than VHS but alas i can only rate it 25%better than VHS i put the blame with fox .Its no good saying it is an old film take a look at the Ten Commandments/Gone Withe The WIND/ and Phantom of the Opera,much older films but very good transfers to DVD so i do think sound of Music desereved better and i do hope fox will treat their transfers with the art that some studios use.but i am still pleased i have a copy.
Rating: Summary: The absolute pinnacle of film making Review: Brilliant Music, fantastic acting from all members of the star cast, stupendous visuals....I would run out of superlatives in describing this movie.... Why dosent Hollywood make such movies anymore ??
|