SmugKitZine Tied for the best movie I have ever seen

Jeanskynebu the audience applauded

Majorthebys Charming and brutal

Lachlan Coulson This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

bearblackhawk22 We absolutely adore this movie. Since we purchased this movie in 2003, my wife, children and I have been able to sit down and actually all four of us enjoy it together. We have two daughters (ages 12 and 13 now) and it is great to have the opportunity to not have to worry about the content of what they are watching. We all definitely recommend it. Additionally, we find that personally Matthew Broderick has had his best performance since "Ferris Bueller's Day Off". Sadly, we haven't seen the Broadway performance, but we all have enjoyed this movie countless times through the years and look forward to each time we put it in. Finally, the supporting cast is outstanding as well. Kristin Chenoweth and Molly Shannon are definitely worth seeing. Surprisingly, we were exceptionally pleased with Molly Shannons performance. Having primarily previously been exposed to her on "Saturday Night Live" (NBC), she displayed abilities that we were unaware she had- a plus. Definitely watch and enjoy this movie. It should be brought back every year, as either a broadcast event or on movie channels. It is one timeless watch!

dmaboyer This is one of the few movies where the remake is at least as good as, if not better than,the original. The dancing is just superb especially the library number. Matthew Broderick does a very good job as the professor. He is a very good dancer. Kristin Chenoweth has a wonderful voice. The new ending really was a delight because it tied the story together more than the original ending. If I had any complaints it is that the mayor is miscast. I see the mayor as a sort of clown. Victor Garber is not really believable as a clownish character. He is too polished to play a clown. This is a movie that I would see over and over again.

tjinphilly This is truly one of the worst adaptations ever put on film. Could not have been more flat if they had tried to do it as a parody. Honestly, Helen Keller could have directed a better version than this. I worked with a man who was responsible for writing out the score for the original Broadway production. I spent a large part of my life studying this show and never thought it could be this bad. Not only did they butcher the script, the casting was completely wrong.In an interview, Molly Shannon described E.M. Shinn as a woman who had traveled the world and felt it was her duty to impart her knowledge on the community of River City. This is completely wrong. E.M. Shinn is a woman who has read every article in Ladies Home Journal about various places around the world and has imparted her knowledge as IF she had actually been to these places. This is why the Greecian Urn and Indian Language scenes are so hilarious, she has no clue of what she is talking about. That tells me that the Director did not do his job and research who the characters are. If you don't understand the character, you can't direct them in a film.I also agree with a previous reviewer about the racial issue in this film. On stage we have a commonly accepted practice of "blind casting." That does not translate as well to film, especially a period one. I also agree that Mrs. Paroo's accent is horrendous. I'm writing this review while listening to it again and I can't explain it. Someone should have sent her to Dublin for a week before filming. OR, better yet, hire any number of great Irish actresses who could live up to the legendary Pert Kelton who created the role.If you want to see what this show should be, watch the original Warner Bros. Production with Robert Preston and Shirley Jones. Preston had the perfect level of Suave and smoothness as a swindler. Jones' voice soars as Marion. Of course the rest of the cast shine under Mort De Costa's direction. The director of this horrible version should never be allowed near a camera again.

selffamily I loved the original, hackneyed and corny as anything; I loved the energy and the way that the song and dances numbers just flowed seamlessly into the story. With this version, it was just people doing a song or a dance. I wouldn't buy a chocolate ice cream off this guy and he was supposed to be convincing a whole town to buy band instruments and uniforms? I know they are all capable and good actors elsewhere - but what happened? It was like someone took the batteries out of them all before they started shooting. Sorry but if it ain't broke, don't fix it - this doesn't work for me at all. Marks for nice hats. Why has no-one done a remake of Sound of Music or Mary Poppins? (well they may have, just no-one has heard of them) Because they are unsurpassable. So was the original Music Man. This was toothless; Robert Preston was a charming villain; this poor man looked bland and terrified. I like Matthew Broderick - or I thought I did - until now. You need to be able to do more than carry a tune or a few steps to remake a classic. Huge disappointment - an outrage in fact.