haven't i seen you somewhere before?

a wise group of women sat & watched a movie. one saw a common theme that i had apparently missed entirely. as stories get recycled with new spins and settings, they're just begging to be compared and i don't want to disappoint.

note to reader - the opinions in this blog are based solely on my personal taste, the decision of the judges is final

the official SOUND OF MUSIC vs. THE KING AND I competition begins:

King vs. Captain: point for K&I based on rank
Yul vs. Christopher: i was going to call a tie, but Yul's king is just too adorable so point for K&I
Scared woman in a new world: petrified Maria has it over brave Anna, point for SOM
Lots of children: K&I wins for most and cutest
Singing governess/teacher: SOM has it, Julie did her own vocals
Asserting dominance: King tells Anna how to behave - When I sit, you sit. When I kneel, you kneel. Et cetera, et cetera - degrading alright. Captain blows his whitle - When I want you, this is what you will hear - i'd have booted him out the door. hands down SOM
Heroine wardrobe: hello? curtain fabric? point for K&I
Scenery: no brainer, SOM's alps & old world charm over K&I's obvious painted backdrops
Slave-owners vs. Natzis: point for K&I because, well, cultural vs. maniacal
Sympathetic sidekick: Lady Thiang over Frau Schmidt based on looks alone
Villain: the Baroness is just plain snarky so vote for the King's cranky advisor
Escape plan, part 1: SOM. more tension when the VonTrapps dont come back to the stage than when Toptim doesn't
Escape plan, part 2: Toptim was caught and her boyfriend killed. point for SOMs alp-climbers
Sing-a-long energy: SOM, i just can't stay in my seat and more songs to sing along to
Defining production number: so many in SOM so point there. honorable mention for K&I's unique interpretation of an american classic with Asian style/beauty
Party grandness: K&I's ambassador dinner wins over Liesl's first ball
Star-crossed lovers theme song: sixteen going on seventeen has dancing, we kiss in the shadows doesn't so point for SOM
Boyfriend exit: Lun Tha was killed but Rolf just followed Hitler, goes to SOM
Governess/Teacher's advice for scared child(ren): my favorite things wins over whistle a happy tune for production value and singalongability
Happy ending: Captain and Maria marry, King dies. SOM
Personal connection: Grampa's hand-painted titles, main title in his OWN recognizabla hand-writing - HUGE point for SOM (and HUGE grin on my face)

Tally? King and I: 8 Sound of Music: 13