For all the hype it got I was expecting a lot more!

An Exercise In Nonsense

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

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.

Read all the favorable reviews that discuss the importance of comparing this to the Broadway play, rather than the Andrews' movie. They cover that much better than I can.For my part, I think this was a towering achievement for Carrie Underwood. She is just 30 years old, just as Andrews was in the '65 movie. But Andrews had 15 years of experience on stage and in film before making the movie. Underwood was discovered by American Idol only eight years ago, and has mainly been busy selling 16 million albums and winning every singing award possible. Her star power was necessary to bankroll and draw viewers to this production. Just having the *courage* to do this is laudable, but she nailed even the acting as well as anyone could possibly expect her to.You only need to reflect on the strength of the performances of Captain Von Trapp and the Abbess to realize how flawless the performance would have been if they cast a seasoned Broadway actress in the role of Maria. But would you have tuned in? Maybe a quarter of you would. I don't think I would have. Answering the question "Can she pull this off?" was half the fun of watching... and she did!One other outstanding feature of the production: the camera angles were immaculate. I have never seen a live event with so many camera angles and changes. The height of professionalism in direction.Also, I loved the scene changes where characters walked from one set into another. Very clever, and excellently done.

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.