Little Women (1994)

Very Accurate Version

It's not the A&E Pride and Prejudice version when it comes to accuracy, but the care the screenwriters went to in order to make this true to the book (yet interesting to a film audience in ways that a straight book-film version would not have allowed) is what makes this movie such a masterpiece. The most important and memorable scenes are made dutifully true to Alcott's original, and the actors are almost always believable (older Laurie seems a little forced at times, and that is honestly my only acting complaint).

However, much of the dialogue is very soft, and while I don't remember having this issue the first time I saw the movie (about six years ago), I recently watched it again and found that I was looking at the subtitles a lot since I couldn't hear the full sentence. I am not quite 20, so I think it is less of a problem of my own hearing as it is the fault of track editing.

When I first watched this movie, I was moved to reread the book, and found it much more enjoyable than the first time I read it. After again seeing the movie, I hope to be able to read the book yet again - it just has that effect! July 14, 2008

Best Adaptation of Classic Story

Winona Ryder was nominated for an Oscar for her portrayal of Jo March and after you watch it, you can fully appreciate the intensity and vulnerability of her performance. While Jo is the heart of the story, this is an ensemble movie with some of the best actors alive. Kirsten Dunst simply shines as Amy, so much so that it is a disappointment when the second act roles around and she is replaced by the far less competent Samantha Manthis, who does not look like an older Kirsten Dunset at all. But Gabriel Byrne, the always-fascinating Christian Bale, Claire Danes, and Susan Sarandon more than make up for it.
I was only slightly disappointed by the director's commentary. Most of what she had to say was interesting and I truly enjoy the process of film-making, but she seemed to drag in some places, along with her commentary on the two deleted scenes and why they were deleted.
But the film itself captures the spirit of the novel in every way-- its music, its costuming, its art direction. It makes one long for the time when the English language was written and spoken as it is in Little Women. July 2, 2008

A family movie you must own!

I've loved this movie since I was a kid. Great performances by some great Actors. If you're up for seeing a young love-tortured Christian Bale, you will not be disappointed!! May 12, 2008

great things in little packages

i am a fortunate person. i had a 2nd grade teacher that turned me on to many of the classics of american literature. but it takes a lifetime to understand what many of these books are about. particularly 'little women'.

but if someone doesn't have a lifetime, then they can get a great adaptation of the material and view it as a film. such is the case with the most recent version of 'little women'.

the screenplay is a living thing, inspiring the musical which recently starred sutton foster on broadway. and the wise decision to not have a grown actress play amy as a child is even more fortunate. this role is split between kirsten dunst and samantha mathis and both are admirable. as are mary wickes as GREAT-aunt march and susan sarandon as the most warm and maternal abigail march of the many versions.

trini alvarado and winona ryder are both effective as meg and jo. in past versions, meg has always been a ravishing beauty (frances dee or janet leigh in particular) but alvarado makes more of the role by investing qualities of composure in her performance. ryder, while not as striking as katharine hepburn or brusque as june allyson, is still a capable and enchanting jo.

but the real movie-making performance is claire danes' beth. she and gilian armstrong keep beth ever present, even when the character is at her lowest ebb. i can't stop my eyes from filling with tears when she joins her family for christmas. and her final moments are once again enriched by that wonderful adapation of the novel's words. danes, in fact, is the only one of the young actresses that attempts a new-england accent.

my only criticism, on that note, is pronunciation of one word. marmee. the 'r' sound is like an 'h' if a person lives in new england. even to this day. it would be mah-mee. mah-mee. get it? May 5, 2008

Although it Doesn't Follow the Book...

I love this movie; it's a classic in my household. Although it doesn't follow the book, it is a very good movie for all families and people to enjoy. April 17, 2008

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