Rating: 
Summary: The happiest sound in its best version yet!
Review: Reviled by some, beloved by many, consistently referred to as the most popular movie musical ever made, THE SOUND OF MUSIC more than fulfills the promise of its beautiful visuals and expert song numbers on home video via DVD. This edition tops the 1995 laserdisc by allowing the sparkling, exemplary design of its 70mm. Todd-AO frame to be exhibited with increased sharpness and resolution. The 4.1 Dolby Digital soundtrack is powerful and clean, but since this film was originally mixed for six-track magnetic stereo, it's curious why the effort wasn't made by Fox to split the surrounds! Nonethless, the film sounds terrific. The extra features make this package a bargain at the price. Full length commentary by director Bob Wise, with the musical numbers presented sans vocals, is a great touch. And the two documentaries are beautifully presented; full of facts and bits of arcane information that any fan will truly enjoy. A great movie, and a great DVD rendition. More like this, PLEASE!
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Summary: Can't miss this movie !
Review: I have been so fond of this movie 'The Sound of music' since I first saw it ten years ago. The breathtaking scenery, perfect voice of Maria by Julie Andrews, a remarkable handsome Captain by Christopher Plummer (who then became my favorite male star), the children's singings, the beautiful dance by Rolf and Liesl, the wonderful classical music,....every part of the movie made me can't forget it for the rest of my life. "..my heart wants to sing every song it hears", this came into my heart so deeply and now it's what I would say. I liked music when I was small, but after watching this movie, I became not only like music but couldn't stopping loving music. What a magic by 'The sound of music'! Now I still keep watching this film occasionally, and always listen to the soundtrack, it's so relaxing. Thanks Robert Wise, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, without your efforts, we couldn't have such a favorite movie. I probably will introduce this movie to anyone in the world.
Rating:
Summary: In a scale of 1 to 10, this movie rates 11!
Review: From the opening scene of Maria prancing among the hills and along a stream to the closing scene of the Von Trapps climbing a high mountain on their way to freedom, there is not a single dull moment in this story. Set against the backdrops of the breathtaking and panoramic hills and mountains of beautiful Austria, The Sound of Music tells the story of Frau Maria (Julie Andrews), a spirited young novice who finds herself constricted by the rigid discipline of the convent. Her kindly mother superior, sensing Maria's life at the crossroad, then tasks her to find her real self in the outside world by assigning her to work as governess to the seven motherless children of a retired sea captain, the stern Baron Von Trapp (Christopher Plummer). Before long the drab household is filled with laughter and music, and Maria and Von Trapp find themselves in love. Frau Maria and Baron Von Trapp eventually marry to form one complete happy family. But there's a hitch! The Nazis have taken over power in Austria and are now calling on the former sea captain to active service. There begins the Von Trapp family's suspenseful episode as they attempt to escape the clutches of the Nazis. The plot and the majestic sceneries are more than enough to keep the viewer entertained, touched and occupied. Add in the brilliance of the Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein III songwriting team and you have an unforgettable cinematic masterpiece. Who can resist Maria as she runs among the hills singing 'The Sound of Music' at the top of her voice? Who won't be moved listening to the pious albeit naughty nuns as they try to solve the puzzle that is 'Maria'? Who can't feel the inspirational push of the mother superior as she sings 'Climb Every Mountain'? How about the sentimental and nationalistic undertone of 'Edelweiss'? The childlike innocence of 'My Favorite Things'? And yes! the playfulness of 'Do-Re-Mi'? I have been greatly privileged to watch this movie for countless times in my lifetime, both as a boy and as an adult. I look forward to watching it many more times in the future, hopefully with a bouncing grandchild perched on my lap! I just love this movie. In a scale of 1 to 10, I rate this at 11!
Rating: 
Summary: A film worthy of this DVD.
Review: I recently bought the Five Star Collection Edition of The Sound of Music, which has been one of my all time favorite movies since the 3rd grade, and was amazed. The film has NEVER looked so good or sounded so good. The commentary was excellent, and I love how it also presents the musical numbers WITHOUT vocals, so you can sing along. The extras on disc 2 were great too. I gave it 4 stars simply cause it seems there wasn't enough features, but what's on there is absolutely amazing. There's 2 documentaries, one from 1965 hosted by Charmaine Carr, who plays Leisl, and the 87 minute documentary that not only discusses the making of the movie, but the true life story of the Von Trapp family. There's the audio supplements, which have interviews with people who worked in and on the film. There's the gallery which is filled with photos and information. And the selection of trailers and TV spots, while probably incomplete, is still good. I just feel that they could have included some home video release TV spots, other re-release trailers, or what have you. But all in all, this DVD is good and the movie looks and sounds as good as ever in it's original 2.20:1 apect ratio, allowing you to see all of the incredible settings, including the on location filming. This DVD is worth every penny.
Rating:
Summary: 1965 version of Uptown Girls
Review: This movie is a one of a kind love story of a nun and a naval officer. If you want a good romance you can sit down and cry to, this movie or Gone with the Wind are the very best two. If you want a love story with comedy, mystery, and Nazi's, this is for you.
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Summary: The hills ARE alive.
Review: The Sound of Music is definately one of my favorite musicals and also one of my favorite movie about WWII. Julie Andrews lights up the silver screen yet once again. Her performance is truely wonderful. The other cast members were good actors too. There are a lot to like about this film. If you are a big fan of grand scale cinematography this is a great film for you to see. If you also like musicals this is a must for any fan of the genre. The music is addictive and will get stuck in your head. All in all the film is a timeless classic that every film fan needs to see.
Rating: 
Summary: Great musical, predictable story
Review: No one can deny that this is one the greatest musicals ever. Julie Andrews is stunning. The positives of movie and the transfer: It is a movie for all generations, full of warmth, hope, ideals and positive thinking. Filmed in Salzburg, Austria, it has stunning landscape and the music is wonderful. It has the last score of Oscar Hammerstein and should not be missed. Maria Von Trapp manages to win over the children and the captain with her charm, outlook and voice. The roles of a lot of the people in the movie are wonderful, Max Detweiler, Mother Abbess, the children, apart from the main characters. Even the screenplay has some good lines, though it can be sappy at times, it depends on your age. The video transfer is very good as is the sound quality, which is very important in this movie. Now for the negatives: If you are looking for historical reality, look elsewhere. This is pure fantasy. The real Austria was trying for hard to portray itself as a country that was hurt by the Nazi's but in reality, they welcomed them. Except for a small group of people, most people had no problem with the Anschluss and with Hitler taking over Austria and were glad to be part of the German Reich. So the part about Austrian National pride shown in the movie is all fiction. The movie also trivializes the taking over of Austria and how they escape Austria. In reality, it was much harder for most people. If one reads the history of people like Paul Grueninger, the Swiss Police chief, one would find how difficult it was to escape from Austria via Switzerland. Of late, a lot of the truth about Austria's role in the Holocaust is coming to light, which pretty much extinguishes the storyline shown in this movie.
Rating:
Summary: Exellent movie!!!!
Review: This is truly a wonderful film. I've watched it a lot of times with my family and I have to say the story line is great. The acting is also superb with charismatic Julie Andrews and handsome Christopher Plummer. The songs are very good too.
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Summary: The Sound of music : Fact or Fantasy?
Review: I am from india and I saw ths movie when i was in school.
Though i have hummed the songs ever since I was in kindergarten The original movie starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer is undoubtably one of the classic musicals of all time. It is a treat for all young and old and is one of the movie sone should not miss for a lllifetime The movie is indeed a real life story of Maria And Captian Von Trapp Whether it is fact or fantasy can be proved because it is asusmed that there is a book "Tha Family On Wheels"
which happens to be the autobiography of MAria. The story of the Von Trapp family does not end with
thei fleeing to America. But it is believed that the Captain, MAria and the seven children fled to America , worked vewry hard there and built an even larger estate than which they had in Salzburg I wish i could get hold of the copy of that book
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Summary: The Sound of Music as fact and legend
Review: One of the all time great movies that was ever made was the 1965 musical, "The Sound of Music." It certainly is one of my favorite films, but it is also one of the best examples of how history gets hacked to pieces to make it more commercial. As a result, I don't think I can ever watch that movie in the same way again. The basic saying in Hollywood is that when you have to make a choice between the facts and the legend, always choose the legend. So how much do you know about the movie's main character Maria Von Trapp as fact--and not legend? You think you know the story. An inept nun gets sent to become a governess for a man with many children, and she ends up falling in love with him, and marrying him much to the adoring approval by the children. Together, they flee the Nazis and live happily ever after. End of story, right? Not even close. This is legend, the kind of stuff Hollywood likes to show. Here are the facts--what Hollywood likes to stay away from.
"The Sound of Music" MOVIE takes place in the late 1930s, but Maria was born in 1905, and was raised by some relatives in an athiestic/socialistic home. Her "father" told her the Bible was just full of fictional stories, but when Maria entered a church thinking she would hear some classical music, she heard instead a sermon on the Bible that so moved her she joined a monistary. This was in 1924. If the time frame provided in "The Sound of Music" movie was accurate, Maria would have been a novice nun from 1924 to around 1939. Surely, no one can be an inept nun for that long of a time.
There was a decision to send Maria to the home of retired WWI submarine captain Georg von Trapp, but her position was not as governess to all the children, as the movie portrayed, but specifically to the captain's daughter who was bedridden with rheumatic fever. Maria never returned to the convent, and married the Captain on November 26, 1927. She entered the Abby in 1924--not that long after WWI.
Captain Von Trapp was born in 1880, and Maria married him in 1927. Now let us do the math. The Captain was 47 years of age at the time; Maria was just 22 years of age. This sounds like something you would read about in Hollywood, where some 70 year old actor marries a giirl barely out of high school and becomes a father for the first time.
When Maria married Captain Von Trap in 1927, the Captain had just twenty years to live. Such was their age difference. He died in 1947 at age 67. Maria at the time of his death was 35. According to the movie, the kids adored Maria, but in reality their first impression was one of resentment, and with the age difference its easy to see why. Here we have a 47 year old man producing three children with a 22 year old woman --maybe better described as a "young girl." People today might accuse him of being a cradle robber, but perhaps times were different. The kids wanted to hang on to their memories of their real mother--not substitute them for this young thing.
But think in terms of making a film about this. Is it as romantic for a 47 year old man to be married to a 22 year old? And how would you film a sequal? Their love was central to the story, and who wants to make a sequal where the man dies about 7-8 years after they were married--by Sound of Music time?
And you know how wealthy Captain Von Trapp was? In reality, he lost most of his money when the banks crashed in 1932. The kids had to go to work to help support the family.
Then consider how Captain Von Trapp was portrayed in the film. He was stern and cold, while Maria was warm and loving. In reality, one of the children descrbes the situation as just the opposite. The Captain was warm and loving, while Maria was dominating and pushy--hardly the Julie Andrews type. OK. Just enjoy the movie. They don't make songs like these anymore.
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