At the ripe old age of 33, I have FINALLY seen The Sound of Music.
All of these years, not really liking musicals, I’ve avoided The Sound of Music like the plague. It’s been on TV zillions of times, but I never bothered watching it.
You guys! I had no idea what I was missing!
The Sound of Music is now one of my FAVORITE movies and I’m totally kicking myself for waiting all these years to see it!
I’ll admit that the first, oh, half hour, I kept thinking, “There sure is a LOT of singing.” Which yes, thankyouverymuch, I realize that there’s lots of singing in musicals. Duh. It just seemed like it was a little cheesy. I nearly turned the movie off.
But then! Then! Then I kinda fell in love with the dreamy Captain. I’d heard he was kinda dreamy, but really? I didn’t believe it. I loved how Maria was able to break through his crusty exterior and then he softened and became so dreamy!
And then I wanted to punch out that bitchy Baroness. From the very beginning, I could tell she was Trouble! With a capital “T”! Then I was rooting for Maria to leave the nunnery (or whatever it was called) and be with Capt. von Trapp so he wouldn’t marry that awful Baroness!
And that Rolf, the telegram boy? I just knew he was a bad guy! Liesl just HAD to stay away from him.
The drama! I had no idea there was an actual storyline in the movie with the escape from the Third Reich! Ooh, it made me so nervous when they got caught trying to get away under the cover of darkness, pushing the car, and seeing that evil Hitler-loving butler watching from the window! And then when they were hiding in the Abbey after the singing festival! So much drama!
Eventually, the music grew on me, too. I’m embarrassed to admit that I’d heard the song “Edelweiss” before, but I had NO IDEA it was from The Sound of Music! And “My Favorite Things?” Didn’t know that song had come from the movie. *shrugs shoulders*
So now it’s my mission to see movies (and TV shows) that I’ve previously snubbed. I’ve apparently been missing out on CULTURE.
On my list:
1. Braveheart
2. Gone With the Wind (from start to finish…not just bits and pieces)
3. Lost
….What else am I missing?! I know there’s so much I haven’t seen. (Especially movies released since Carson was born. I’ve only been to the theatre three times since he was born. And one of those times was for that wretched movie Mamma Mia. GAG-O-RAMA.)
Add to my list!
I LOVE the Sound of Music!! My family used to watch it every year when it was on TV and, as a kid, it was the one night I could stay up “late.” Good times.
Other movie faves worth mentioning:
Amelie
Memento
Run Lola Run (excellent!)
Chocolat
Say Anything
PsychMamma’s lastest post..Mary Poppins
You are killin me smalls! I’m currently watching The L Word seasons…. SOOOO good.
Miss’s lastest post..The imaginary perfect ending
You gotta love a musical with Nazis in it, WTF? Just kidding, I love me some VonTrapps.
I am ALSO 33! Weird. And kind of cool.
I am glad you are going to watch LOST. I am addicted. Please tell me that you watch The Office too?
Angella’s lastest post..Little Ivy
Jennifer,
I am so so glad you saw that movie. And reading your review was great. Most people (okay – all but you) that I know have seen this movie in their childhood so our take on it is a little different.
Oh – The Sound of Music is one of my favorite movies. Between that and Beauty and the Beast – I always seem to sing along and feel GREAT by the end!
Okay – I think it’s a little weird that I’m so excited that you saw this movie – and ENJOYED it.
In high school we (hs band) went to Austria – and my friends and I sang Do-Ri-Me while running around the SAME town area that the kids did. Dorks – yes. But I’ll never forget it!
Cathy’s lastest post..The First Day
Drop Dead Gorgeous. Yes. Absolutely watch it. Watch it twice.
Rosie’s lastest post..Can we talk a little bit about how much dull pain I’m in?
You just named some of my favorite things, right THERE.
Minus Gone With The Wind, because I’ve snubbed THAT.
I love Forest Gump, so I highly recommend it. Unless you’ve seen it, because it’s been around for like 13 years now.
My Mum watched The Sound of Music ALL. THE. TIME. I hated it because she watched it so much. But, she never had it in her personal collection. Amazing that they released it to video (in 1994 in the UK) and I BOUGHT IT FOR HER for her birthday. The love for a mother transcends a film. And now that I’m older I appreciate it all the more.
Watch Calamity Jane.
Siobhan’s lastest post..T13: My Thoughts From This Week
I grew up on The Sound of Music, which means that the first few times I saw it, I was too young to get the whole Hitler Third Reich aspect of it . Edelweiss was my mother’s favorite song. When I went to Salzburg in 1990, I went on the Sound of Music Tour. I only saw a handful of musicals as a child and this was one of them. I would think you’d want to catch the classics that are the most quoted or the most famous (like The Sound of Music), like Casablanca, GWTW, etc.
Margaret’s lastest post..For Whom The Bell Tolls
if you aren’t already proficient in the wizard of oz and the 70s/80s star wars trilogy, you should tackle both prior to lost.
add the sopranos to the list if you haven’t already seen the series. it’s sometimes difficult to watch, but it’s always superb.
patty’s lastest post..stop the mommy wars
Here’s how geeky in love I am with SOM..I have the Von Trapp familys great great great grandkids CDS..yes they sing the SOM songs along with some other good folkie austrian songs. Love to annoy the men in my life when I throw those cds (yes plural as in more than one) in.
So glad you finally saw it. When you said you hadn’t seen it and had no plans of ever seeing it , we were on the verge of a bloggy break up…sniff…jk
Jean@workingmomma247′s lastest post..You Lucky Ducks You!
I was going to add Forest Gump and 12 Angry Men..someone else already did… but I will add To Kill a Mockingbird. Love it.
I also love the Sound of Music. My 18 year old cousin played Maria in the HS play last year and she won awards for it. It was fabulous!! But the guy that played the Capt wasn’t that great.
Beach Mama’s lastest post..Help Me!
I LOVE the Sound of Music. I really want my kid to like it too, but it’s a little long for her right now. She does, however, love the songs from Annie and belts them out in the car. (She also pretends she’s Miss Hannigan after bath when she’s wrapped in her towel).
I’m hoping to see Julie Andrews when she speaks at the ASHA convention…!
Molly’s Mom’s lastest post..Embarrassing Moment Thursday
The Sound of Music is my all-time favortie movie. It has everything a good movie needs and the songs are the best. Love it.
I haven’t seen the Star Wars movies. Everyone acts like I am just so out of it, but I am just not into sci-fi. Same with Harry Potter – it is all so dark.
Meredith’s lastest post..At Least They Have Some Protein
Funny how GWTW is my favorite movie of all time. Just don’t try to watch it all at once. Break it when the intermission hits. Braveheart? My senior thesis was on William Wallace. My love of Scotland started with that movie. Have you seen The English Patient?
Anglophile Football Fanatic’s lastest post..Calgon Stat (A Story of Survival you Might See on a Lifetime Movie)
Oh, an I love Sound of Music so much that I took the official tour when I went to Austria. I played at the fountain, walked through Salzburg….
Anglophile Football Fanatic’s lastest post..Calgon Stat (A Story of Survival you Might See on a Lifetime Movie)
Oh, I love the Sound of Music. A few years back, my cousins, sister, aunt, and I went to a Sound of Music Sing-A-Long (you watch the movie and are free to sing along throughout) at Chicago’s Symphony Center. We each wore a t-shirt featuring a different character from the movie. I was Maria, not to brag, and we got to walk across the stage for the costume contest at the beginning. There were people there with kids dressed in outfits actually made from curtains. So cute!
My recommendations: Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, and BBC Pride and Prejudice.
Though it’s not at “all time favorite/classic” status, I recently watched My Kid Could Paint That, and really found it thought-provoking.
mep the braggart’s lastest post..Visit it. Resist it. Admit it. Listen to it.
OMG!!! You are so funny…I too have missed many movies since 2003 when my oldest was born, and yes, the one that I did just go see was Mama Mia!? HA! Here is a good one for you – “The Painted Veil” – it stars Edward Norton & Naomi Watts, based on the book by W. Somerset Maugham….I don’t even remember it being in theaters (was released 2006?) but I recently caught it on HBO and now I am OBSESSED with it – partly because I have a crush on Ed Norton (in my defense, my husband really does resemble him!) Anyway, if you haven’t seen it, I recommend it – it’s not a “light” movie, but the cinematography and music and the whole story are just amazing…
And a sidenote…when my 5-year old was a baby, the songs I sang to her where “Edelweiss” and “Do-Re-Mi” – Sound of Music is the best! I’m glad you got to enjoy it!
Take Care!!
Jill’s lastest post.."Jesus Loves Me"
You’ve NEVER seen Sound of Music? But, but…. what do you watch at Christmas? How can you make it through winter without Julie Andrews?
Can you tell I’m a fan?
Watch Lost. But just do DVD’s. Then you don’t have to wait through commercials, and weeks between shows. Oh, and be sure to set aside a full weekend to watch each season, because once you start, you can’t stop. CAN’T STOP. God only knows what the island would do to you if you stopped….
Tammy’s lastest post..and….we’re back.
GTWT is actually a really good book!
Did no one say Dr. Zhivago? Lawrence of Arabia? Classics, in the good sense!
that’s just off the top of my head.
Strictly Ballroom is awesomely fun, too.
Wendy’s lastest post..Project Runway, the legend episode
I have never seen this movie either. I will have to check it out.
Gone with the Wind is totally worth it. There is also a sequel to the book once you totally fall in love with it.
What about Grey’s Anatomy? Wedding Crashers? Knocked Up? Clearly, I have not gotten out too much in the last four years either…
Beth’s lastest post..the first day of school, and I am crying again
What a great post and fun question to answer. I have to admit I rarely try to read comments before adding my two cents, especially when I’m number seventy-something, but I did for this one.
Ms. Greeblemonkey has an awesome list, hands down, and she’s the only one who mentions one of the two movies I’m going to say that if SOM has converted you to technicolor musicals of a certain era, you MUST SEE THESE TWO:
My Fair Lady — I am currently using “Loverly” every night as a lullabye. Seriously. You cannot know how great this film is until you watch it. Audrey Hepburn. Oh. There’s a little May-September thing going on in the romance with her and Rex Harrison but really no one else could play that part. As a kid, I was lucky enough to see a live production in Los Angeles, in which he also starred. I LOVED IT.
Also: Auntie Mame. Okay, not a musical, but as over-the-top as one.
Let me know if you watch them and what you think!
Julie @ the calm before the stork’s lastest post..being nine months old
Great post. I totally just e-mailed it to my mom because she LOVES The Sound of Music & I think she’ll be happy it just converted someone new!
Rachael’s lastest post..Haiku Friday: It All Begins
Great post! Now, I really need to see the sound of music (start to finish – not bits and pieces). So sad since I am 33 too and never watch it in its entirety. At any rate –
A fish called wanda – too funny if you like dry comedy
girlie, sooo cute, classics – breakfast at tiffany’s & my fair lady
For TV – Pushing Daisies (started last year and is great). up for a million emmys. not big on TV, but I really liked that show.
Courtney’s lastest post..spanx coupon
Came across this on AMC a few weeks ago during nap time and was intrigued……The Way We Were with Robert Redford and Barbara Streisand…..oh….so in love with RR back then…he was such a hottie. Great movie.
@Mandy: Oh I love Circle of Friends! Wasn’t it based on a book by Maeve Binchy? She’s one of my all time favorite authors!
@PsychMamma: Oh Memento is an amazing movie! It should have won directorial awards.
And Say Anything makes me yearn for Lloyd Dobler.
@Angella: I DO watch The Office! Can’t wait for it to return in just a few short weeks!
@patty: The Sopranos is my all time favorite show EVER. We didn’t have HBO when it came out, so years later we rented the DVD’s and were hooked. I don’t think we showered the whole weekend we rented the DVDs.
I’m still mourning the ending of that show. What did you think of the ending? What do you think happened?
I think when it faded to black, Tony was killed. He and Bobby had talked about what it was probably like to die and they said it probably just fades to black…
@Jean@workingmomma247: Phew. I’m glad we’re still friends!
@Molly’s Mom: I really should go to ASHA, it’s only 2 hours away. It’s just so expensive and I spent so much going to BlogHer. Yeah, I have priorities!
@Anglophile Football Fanatic: I’m watching Braveheart JUST for you. I know how much you love Scotland.
By the way, I just started reading Dragonfly in Amber. I’m on page 7.
@Wendy: Dr. Zhivago! Oh how I adore that movie. I BAWL every time at the end, when he sees her walking on the street and he’s on the bus, then he DIES. Oh!
@Beth: I LOVE that movie. He was so handsome! Not sure I love Babs in that role, but it was a really great movie.
I love, love, love The Sound of Music. I may have missed this…but you have watched the Wizard of Oz, right? You must have. I saw that Lost is on your list….you will know very quickly if you are going to love or hate it. I am such an addict. It is really the only think I watch on TV….oh, and the Hills…but shhhh…I would never admit that:-)
Amy’s lastest post..Princess Party
Ohmygoodness, you are so far behind! Have you seen Singing in the Rain? I would definitely check that one out. And, of course, I’m drawing a blank on all my other favorite ones! If they come to me, I will recomment!
Jen@Happily-Ever-After-Land’s lastest post..PhotoStory Friday – Sticker Shock!
I am going to dig throught my DVD’s. I LOVE this movie. Now I have to watch it.
Gone with the wind is another totaly favorite of mine. My 7th grade History teacher showed it to us in class and I was immediately HOOKED. I wasn’t as impressed with the sequel, “Scarlett”, but I still own it. Every once in awhile I’ll put both on back to back. (both are LONG movies!) and just do stuff around the house. I have them memorized and don’t have to see them, because I have every single scene embedded in my head!
I’m in the mood for a good movie marathon now. It would definitely improve my mood.
Robin’s lastest post..Life continues
I love The Sound of Music! I forced it on my kids until they learned to love it. I just have to fast forward through the beginning until she meets the kids.
I recently got hooked on 7th Heaven. Why didn’t anyone tell me about that show?
slackermommy’s lastest post..All I want for my birthday is clean water
Our fave quote: “There isn’t going to BE any Baroness.” Cheers all around!
I never watch movies either, but do LOVE Strictly Ballroom and Antonia’s Line.
Anne Glamore’s lastest post..Friday Funny
Oh yeah– Don’t forget the classic Talladega Nights. Down here in Birmingham, we just watch that over and over instead of going to see a new movie!!
Anne Glamore’s lastest post..Friday Funny
i’m probably the worst person to ask since I still haven’t seen Caddyshack or Ghost Busters…they are on my list. My faves (and they are pretty old, so you may have already seen these) are:
Rumble Fish (based on an old SE Hinton novel)
The Outsiders (same)
Grease
A Beautiful Mind (about scizophrenia, very good)
16 Candles
Breakfast Club
Pretty In Pink
Shawshank Redempton
Crash (very dark and comes full cirlce)
National Lampoon’s Vacation
Napoleon Dynamite
Father of the Bride (new one with Steve Martin)
I also, haven’t seen many movies since my oldest was born 9 years ago…
Love Sound Of Music too, I took the tour in Austria in ’92~ totally awesome!
amy’s lastest post..Working Mom Girl
you haven’t seen gone with the wind??? OMG. and i LOVE the sound of music!!! isn’t it awesome??
you need to check out the shawshank redemption, the usual suspects and…fight club. those are my favorite movies.
I’ve just started watching LOST and I love it. I’m on Season 3 now, and I’m completely addicted!
My recent movie loves are: Once and Lars and the Real Girl.
Marie Green’s lastest post..First
Oh this is my all time favorite movie. I grew up watching it with my mom. LOVE it.
If you haven’t seen Shawshank Redemption, you must. And Usual Suspects. And yes, Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a MUST.
If you find you like musicals now, try Oklahoma!, The Music Man (another fave), Grease. There are TONS Of good musicals out there. I grew up on them.
Kristin’s lastest post..Treasures
I remember seeing The Sound of Music when I was five in the theater when it first came out. It’s always been my favorite movie. If you liked that dramatic musical you HAVE to get hold of The Unsinkable Molly Brown. It has the sinking of the Titanic in it!!
I like Lost. And I think Gone With the Wind is a must-see, even if it’s only once because you don’t like it (I liked it!). But I absolutely LOVE Braveheart. It’s definitely one of my favorites, if not my very favorite movie ever.
Devilish Southern Belle’s lastest post..That was quite a workout.
For me…The Sound of Music? Meh.
But SERIOUSLY… you have never seen Gone with the Wind from start to finish? The best part is the red dress. Scandal.
My mom and I used to sit down on three-day weekends and watch it start to finish.
That or Somewhere in Time, which is a major cheesy sob-fest, but young Christopher Reeve is yummy.
Insta-Mom’s lastest post..Through my son’s eyes
If you haven’t seen Brokeback Mountain, you should. Bring kleenex.
Tootsie Farklepants’s lastest post..Oh Look! It’s Another Poll!…and Possibly a Divorce (not really)
Oh I love this movie… I even had the opportunity to visit Salzberg where the movie was filmed… I ran through the hills & made a bit off an ass out of myself.
Just FYI most Austrians have NOT seen the movie… Sad but True
tressa’s lastest post..About last night… The Details
I have watched The Sound of Music every year since I was little. It is just what our family did. I have never had an interest in other musicals, although I did recently watch Mary Poppins with my girls and it was downright trippy.
I will tell you that the best show that has ever been on TV EVER was The Wire. Get it on Netflix and watch each season. Even my 60-something church going, quilt making Indiana Mother-in-Law got sucked into this very gritty story about the Baltimore drug world.
misfithausfrau’s lastest post..My Fantasy Life is So Much Better Than My Real Life