Pages

Thursday, February 11, 2021

Movie Review (& Defense Of): Little Women (2019)

Hello, everyone!

Today Iʼm reviewing for you one of the last movies that I saw in a theater. Back in the old days, remember? I first saw this on January 8th 2020. That sure seems like a long time ago! Since this film is based on a book and there are already several adaptations I would usually compare and contrast all of them. I will do that someday in one massive post, but today Iʼm going for something a little different. I hope you enjoy!

My guarantee: On ALL of my reviews there are NO spoilers unless I give you warning. This is spoiler free in its entirety! Through and through!


Little Women (2019):
Based on: Little Women - by Louisa May Alcott.
Set in the United States during and after the Civil War this film explores the family and relationships of four sisters. Jo is trying to sell stories to send money home to her family and we see how it all lead up to there through a split timeline. Broken hearts, fights, sickness, and more. Before all of this were four girls: Meg took care of people, Jo wrote, Beth played the piano, and Amy painted. The lives of the little women are constantly changing but at the base are they all who they were in the beginning? How do feelings grow and change with the world around them?
“Just because my dreams are different from yours doesnʼt mean theyʼre unimportant.” 
Genres:
Romance, Drama, Period Drama,
Length: approx. 135 minutes.
Script: 10, no bad words or swearing! The dialogue is so genuine, too.
ʻ“Iʼm no Shakespeare!”
“Thank goodness, we already had him.”ʼ
Crew: Directed by: Greta Gerwig. Written by: Greta Gerwig from the original story by Louisa May Alcott.
Starring:
Saoirse Ronan as Jo March.
Emma Watson as Meg March.
Florence Pugh as Amy March.
Eliza Scanlen as Beth March.
Laura Dern as Marmee March.
Timothée Chalamet as Laurie.
ʻ“Itʼs Laurie!”
“I know.”ʼ
James Norton as John Brooke.
Louis Garrel as Friedrich Bhaer.
Dash Barber as Fred Vaughn.
Meryl Streep as Aunt March.
Chris Cooper as Mr. Laurence.
Tracy Letts as Mr. Dashwood.
Bob Odenkirk as Father March.
Jayne Houdyshell as Hannah.
Hadley Robinson as Sallie Gardiner Moffat. 
Maryann Plunkett as Mrs. Kirke.
Sasha Frolova as Mrs. Hummel.
Abby Quinn as Annie Moffat.
Lilly Englert as Kate Vaughn.
Costumes: 10, these are gorgeous! The design, colors, everything about them are so lovely and fitting to each of the characters.
Costumes designed by: Jacqueline Durran.
My favorite: Amyʼs blue!
Cinematography:
10. An important part of this adaptation of Little Women and how it stands out from others is the way it was filmed. As I mentioned in the premise, it has a broken timeline. It switches back and forth between the present day and the past. This is a big complaint of this movie as people say theyʼre confused or that you basically need to have the story already memorized to understand what was happening. Iʼll go into this more later, but I want to point out that I LOVE THIS. I thought it really made it unique from any of version. Maybe youʼre worried now because you want to see it but donʼt know the story or it has been awhile. Have no fear, Iʼm here to help! It uses a format that happens so naturally it can be hard to notice, but once you are looking for it you will never be confused about what is happening: THE LIGHTING. Thatʼs right, itʼs as easy as that! Any scene that is happening in the PRESENT has a blue/gray lighting. Any scene that was in the PAST has a soft yellow/golden lighting. I understand if you donʼt like it, my mom stopped watching after half an hour, but I ask that you try this technique. After explaining it to my dad I would then tell him whenever the lighting switched and he didnʼt have any further troubles.
Example 1: PAST AND GOLDEN LIGHTING:
Example 2: PRESENT AND GREY LIGHTING:
Cinematography by:
Yorick Le Saux.
Music: 8, itʼs sweet and works well, but not particularly memorable. I wouldnʼt change it, though!
Music by: Alexandre Desplat.
Quotability: 8, not the most quotable of all time but there are good lines.
“Well, I believe we have some power over who we love.”
Oscars won: 1, Best Costume Design. It was nominated for 5 others, though! Including Best Picture, Best Actress (Saoirse Ronan), and Best Supporting Actress (Florence Pugh).
Content:
10, I canʼt think of any content that would be objectionable to anyone. There is some mild drinking, I suppose, once in a pub type establishment (I believe itʼs called a beer hall?), and once at a different party which is immediately reprimanded. Both are very short scenes. Sad things like sickness happen, but not something to shy away from.
Originality: 10, this gets a full score because it took a timeless tale and made it different but in a way that reflects the original work. Okay, I give up, I was trying to be eloquent but why Iʼm really giving it this score is because of the cinematography.
Good For: Period drama lovers, fans of the book (with caution, more on that later), families, sisters.
Age Range:
Perfect for any and all ages!
Overall Score: 9.5!
Worth watching?: Gorgeous costumes, stunning cinematography, characters who walked off of the pages, moments that will break your heart and mend you again. Yes, absolutely in every way.
Will I watch again?:
Certainly! I last saw it in August but already want to relive it. This will be a yearly occurence for me, if not more.
“Jo stays in the back so we canʼt see her cry.” (Do I feel called out? Yes, yes I do.)


For the blogathon:
Remember that mystery about why I was reviewing it separately from other versions? This is my entry in The Valentineʼs Day Period Drama Blog Party hosted by Heidi at Along the Brandywine (going until Monday the 15th!). Take a look at the other contributions HERE.


I debated for awhile what to write about as there are so many options! One day, I was listening to people (virtually) talk about this film. The consensus was not a positive one. That got me thinking, and the idea for this post came about.

You read my review and now we come to the second part of my blog post title: “& Defense Of”.

Quite frankly, I adore this film and it gets on my nerves how many times people talk about what a waste it is.

Note, if you donʼt like this movie then thatʼs totally fine! Iʼm glad that we have different opinions as it opens up a chance for discussion! Iʼm just asking that you hear me out and donʼt down this film in every aspect.

I tend to have controversial favorites (The Last Jedi, anyone?) and should be used to people disliking the things that I enjoy. It just gets so depressing, you know? Having people tell you that your favorite things are “bad” or “disappointing” or “worthless”. Iʼm starting to get too deep, but sometimes it feels like that that reflects on you. I know that there are tons of movies that I probably donʼt like that you do! I understand! In fact, there is a different version of Little Women that I don't like that much which you might! This is all okay. We're just here to talk about different and equally awesome and respectful opinions. Weʼre all going to be civil here as I just try to show you my world by telling you why I love this movie so much.

There are many different complaints for this movie, and Iʼll try to cover as many as possible, but I might not get to all of them. The most common one that Iʼve heard is this: the cinematography and filming style.


We already covered this but Iʼm going to recap. The filmmakers made a conscious decision to split the storyline that I approve of. Weʼve covered the technical aspect which I helped to explain, but there is something else that people usually comment on.

It gives away the parts of the story because we see it in the middle instead of the beginning.

True, I canʼt deny that so I wonʼt. As a tried and true fan of the story of Little Women (having read the book and seen two other versions) I know the story inside and out. For a fan like me it was nothing less than a treat to see the story told in a different perspective. Of course, for people who donʼt know what is happening, right from the start in this version you already know things that take time to work up to in the book. This is a valid argument, so if you have no idea about the story you might want to read the book or try another version first. I think it could be a fun way to experience it for the first time, but thatʼs up to you.

I canʼt recommend it to all fans of Little Women, because while I want to, I donʼt know how youʼll react. Both my sisters think that itʼs “okay” but like the 1994 version much better. That being said, I am the only one of us who has read the book, so when they say that they are confused over the timeline it makes sense.

What about me? Is this my favorite version? I canʼt rightly say. I was practically raised on the 1994 version so that will always have a special place in my heart (and the best Laurie!) but this one charms me. Everything about the set and costumes is glorious, itʼs unique, and the actors embody the characters fully. Speaking of, letʼs dive into them a little. (This is still spoiler free!)

Meg: Sometimes in film adaptations with such short time frames Little Women can feel like itʼs Joʼs story. I love how we got so much time with the other girls here. I feel that Meg especially gets neglected as being the older “boring” one. Here they gave her such clear wants and really made her feel whole. Her story has always struck to me in certain ways so I appreciated seeing that and Emma Watson really brought her to life. Her part is the most affected and “spoiled the ending” by starting in the middle. I really love the anticipation of whatʼs going to happen, so if this was your first encounter with the story that would be my sole warning of why you would want to start with a different version.


Jo: Saoirse Ronan IS my Jo. She is EXACTLY how I pictured her in the book. She is full of energy and life and is so relatable on so many levels. So much emotion goes into her (which can be a lot because Joʼs temper and feelings swing wildly) and nothing ever feels faked! Her performance is powerful and moving and one of the reasons I love this film so much.


Beth: You canʼt go wrong with Beth, can you? I thought that Eliza Scanlen played her to perfection.


Amy: Some people generally dislike Amy because she is so different from Jo, but Iʼve never had that problem. We get to another concern: having one actress play her. As I said, my sisters and I are used to the 1994 version, so we are used to two actress play her as she grows up. This can seem strange to you that this doesnʼt happen to any of the others. The thing with Amy is that she has a big age jump. In the beginning she is supposed to be 13, and by the end she is supposed to be 20. All of the other girls are older to begin with, so there is some wiggle room, per say. For Amy there is so much growing that happens in this range that it can be hard to pull off. My sisters say that it wasnʼt the best decision. I admit, Florence Pugh never quite looked 13, maybe 15 at the youngest. Others are irritated by the way she acts when she is playing the younger version. I understand that! Sometimes it seems a little over the top, but overall Iʼm so impressed with her performance. Costumes really helped as well and I just think that she did a miraculous job!


I will one day go into a mountain of details with the characters when I compare them all, but I want to admit one thing. The first time I didnʼt like Timothée Chalametʼs role as Laurie. There, I said it. I thought that he was nowhere as good as Christian Bale (but really, who is?). The second time...I did a 180. He really fits in well with this group of actors! I now approve.

Additional shout outs to Laura Dern, Meryl Streep, and James Norton!

Before I go, I should address one last thing. Some people wonder how much of a “feminist agenda” this has, with the concern that they shouldnʼt tamper with a classic story to add modern themes. Honestly, I donʼt see that as a valid concern. I donʼt think there is “too much” nor is there "too little". It has a balance and addresses issues relevant to both today and back then. I agree that part of the ending does seem tacked on, but anyone who has read the book knows that itʼs more of that. (No one ever does a certain character to justice, but in here it was close. One day I will see someone I am content with).

Now, is this film perfect? Probably not. I just think that it deserves more credit than people are giving it.

How to wrap up such sprawling thoughts? I love this adaptation and always will. It is lovely in every way. I hope that I have convinced you of itʼs value and that you now want to watch it in this form: A story about sisters growing up.



That got long quickly. If you made it this far, thank you so much! Thanks to Heidi for hosting this event, and I urge you guys to check out the rest of the posts HERE.


Time to talk! Anyone have the same opinion as me? Anyone have an opposite one? Either way I would love to discuss the different attributes! What is your favorite version of Little Women? What is the most unique cinematography that youʼve seen?

MovieCritic

37 comments:

  1. I haven't watched this one yet, even though I've wanted to since it came out! I really like Emma Watson's work, and I'm really excited to see her in this. And the time-shifting sounds like it'll be really cool, too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love that you're eager and willing, so I'd definitely recommend giving it a go! I love Emma Watson's part as Meg so I hope that you like it, too. The broken timeline is absolutely an amazing aspect.

      Delete
  2. The cinematography and the score for this movie was so amazing!! i loved it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Someone else who likes the cinematography! And ack, yes, the score! Breathtaking. <3

      Delete
  3. I understand what you mean about liking films others don't. I like your points, but I just didn't like this movie. I wish I could have, because a lot of other people did. It's not really just this film, though, I haven't found a Little Women movie that I feel like is a good adaptation of the book.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for understanding! It's awesome that we have different opinions and I'm grateful that you read mine! There is not an adaptation where I love Pr. Bhaer or John Brooke as much as in the book, so I'll always be willing to see a new version. Maybe one day you'll find one that is your favorite or still keeping with the true version in your head.

      Delete
  4. It's nice to see a positive review of this movie. I've only seen the trailer and read a few reviews stating the feminism aspect of it. The 1949 version is the only one I've seen, as it relates so close to the book. I'm usually not a fan of remakes of the same movie, so I probably won't watch this one, but thanks for this lovely review!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Miss K! I used to not like remakes either, and in some cases I still don't (The new Lion King? No way! I'm not ever seeing that), so I understand completely and wouldn't pressure you into watching. What wanted with this review was to say it doesn't deserve all of the criticism it gets, so I'm happy that it did just that.

      Delete
  5. I'm not sure what I think of Emma Watson as Meg .. . I think I approve? I really want to watch this, if not for another visit to a story I love so much. But yeah, I think you're right in saying it isn't THE story. Just another one. I love Christian Bale, but I must say at first glance I thought the other actor for Laurie seemed well chosen. Fun review!!

    MB: keturahskorner.blogspot.com
    PB: thegirlwhodoesntexist.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. When my sisters and I heard that Emma Watson was going to be in this we all asked, "As Jo?" and were very surprised that instead she was going to play Meg! Now I think that it fits her marvelously. Exactly! People make things over and over again to be able to enjoy the well loved stories. Christian Bale is the BEST Laurie, but I will say I was too hasty in disliking Timothée Chalamet. He's actually really good! Thank you, Keturah!

      Delete
  6. MC, are you a mind reader? When I read your last post I was thinking, "Oh, it'd be cool if she wrote a review on the 2019 Little Women", AND THEN IT HAPPENS. That's a little odd.
    Ah, the casting for this looks perfect! I've been wanting to see this for awhile now, and I definitely intend to. I don't know when that will happen, though. The time-shifting sounds really interesting. And, yes, I completely understand having controversial favorites. It feels like most people highly dislike about half of my favorite characters in things.
    Fantastic review, as always.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Whoa! Either I'm a mind reader or you can predict the future! If you have any other visions or thoughts like that let me know so we can see if they come true...
      It's been AGES since I read the book so it would be neat to hear your thoughts on this because you just read it! The cast never fails to amaze me with their acting talents. I don't know how many things would work with a broken timeline, but it was great here. You understand the pain of liking things others don't! *high five*
      Aww, thanks McKayla!

      Delete
  7. Bravo, bravo! Great review, and that's a really helpful trick you mentioned about the lighting!

    People be like "the 2019 movie is too feminist!!" To them, I would respond a) I'm a feminist, and b) LOUISA. MAY. ALCOTT. WAS. A. FEMINIST. THAT. IS. A. HISTORICAL. FACT. She was an outspoken proponent of the feminism of her time, and nothing in this movie is contrary to her own stated views.

    Also, Saoirse Ronan as Jo and Timothee Chalamet as Laurie *heart eyes foreverrrrrrrrrrr* I can't imagine a better performance for either character. (I've always refused to watch the 1994 version, in part because Christian Bale in no way resembles the Laurie in my head, haha, but Timothee Chalamet DOES. ;))

    Also, Laura Dern as Marmee. Incredible acting, especially in //that scene.// You know the one. The one where everybody cries. :-P

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I didn't consciously realize what was happening with the lighting the first time I saw it, but upon analyzing why it works so well I couldn't believe I hadn't noticed it sooner!

      Knowing that you're another fan, I'm happy that you liked my thoughts, Katie! :D Exactly! Watching this you can't help thinking that Louisa May Alcott would approve, right? 'Cause why not?? Both Amy and Jo made me cry because I relate to them so much and the ways the they were presented meant a lot to me.

      In that scene on the hill I can't handle how much I love both of them! *standing ovation* I get that with things! As much as I love Christian Bale's Laurie I still really want to see how Peter Lawford does in the 1949 even though it seems SO wrong. XD

      Yep, that scene makes my heart feel like it's been stabbed. I love Laura Dern here and in The Last Jedi even though the second is super controversial. Am I the only one in the world who likes Holdo? ;)

      Delete
  8. This is SUCH a fantastic review!

    I had mixed feelings on this movie--it wasn't exactly that I /disliked/ it (the feminist agenda was EVERYTHING and I loved it and also Jo was such an INFJ and I have never related to anything as much as I do that scene where she's ranting about her dreams and her loneliness and just *cough cough* that's probably my diary being read in a movie ngl) but yeah xD Overall it wasn't a favorite? Idk it just didn't...HOOK me the way I was hoping to. Although let's be real--I love Little Women, but it's never been THAT classic for me. I enjoyed this as an adaptation AND an extension. Not a favorite, I don't really know why? (If this were Goodreads it'd get 3 stars from me probably)

    Lovely review!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Faith! This comment made me really happy.

      YES! Jo is the most relatable character in the UNIVERSE. So many people who don't seem alike connect to her. That whole scene you're talking about has been what I've felt this last week. A LOT. (aka quarantine and isolation finally sinking in even though it's been almost a year. What can I say, I have late reactions to things). I've heard other people say that it didn't hook them and that's a valid point! That's the same with my sisters, I believe, as they like the story but aren't fully invested, which is okay because they enjoy other things! (Solid choice! If there was a website like Goodreads for movies I would be on there all the time, ngl. It's probably best for my sanity that there isn't...XD)

      Thank you again! <3

      Delete
  9. This is hands down my favorite version and I totally agree with you regarding the cinematography and timeline jumps and how they blended those together in the experience. I think these efforts made the *tragedy* really jump out and hit you like a bus.
    I also think everyone was really well cast and really well acted, especially Saoirse as Jo, Timothee as Laurie, and Florence as Amy.

    The scene where Jo is crying and talking about love and being a woman and being lonely perfectly encapsulated everything I've ever experienced as a young woman, and that scene alone made the movie for me. And Saoirse Ronan SHOULD have gotten an Oscar for that! Urgh.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Absolutely! They wove this story in such a gorgeous way that made such an impact on me! You don't want to be around me when that certain tragic part happens because I am a bawling mess.
      Even though the movie is just over two hours I feel like I've spent a lifetime with these characters based on the acting! I wouldn't change anyone even if I had the opportunity to because the worked with each other perfectly.

      Yes! The raw and deep feelings for that scene were so powerful! I thought that she was going to get an Oscar for that, for sure. I was disappointed! She's gotten four nominations now, so one of these days she will win!

      Delete
  10. I ended up falling completely in love with this one. I think it's the first time I actually understood the Jo/Laurie/Amy thing it used to bother me so much, but this one made it make sense some how. I loved Jo too. I really related to her.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's magical in that way, isn't it? The feelings surrounding those three can be a little weird in some versions, but I agree that this one pulled it off in such a good way! She is one of my all time favorite characters.

      Delete
  11. Okay, this is a really good review. I enjoyed reading it so much. And I agree with a lot of the things you said! Like, I really enjoyed the split timeline and didn't find it confusing (then again, I've read the book a lot so it'd be hard to confuse me, but I noticed the lighting change and I thought that was a really clever way to signal the difference), and I liked the general cozy vibe, and oh my GOSH Saoirse Ronan's Jo is EXACTLY how I pictured her too. She acted her so well. I was amazed.

    I also ADORED how Florence Pugh acted Amy. I've always loved grown-up Amy - I'm pretty sure she's my favorite sister though I love them all - and it really gets on my nerves how nobody seems to like Amy?? I wonder if that might be because the film adaptations don't tend to do justice to her (because they're focusing, understandably, on Jo - I wouldn't know; this is the only one I've seen), but Florence Pugh (and the script) completely did Amy justice here and I LOVED IT. It made me so happy. The scenes where she tells Laurie what he needs to hear (a.k.a, stop being a baby) are...so good. So dignified and womanly and no-nonsense and yet kind. I LOVE AMY, AND I LOVE HOW THIS MOVIE DID HER.

    That said, I didn't really like the movie? I think the feminist aspect hits different people differently, because a) Louisa May Alcott WAS pretty feminist for her time so it's not like it disrespects her memory to have women challenging their conventional roles, and b) my friend who's very much NOT a feminist (like, I'm not at all feminist, and she's even less so, if that makes sense?) wasn't bothered at all by so-called "feminist" aspects. I, however, was. I thought they seemed very...fake. The way Aunt March and Mr. Dashwood were portrayed I thought was very straw-man-ish, and Amy's speech about how she couldn't possibly support herself as a woman annoyed me a lot because...it made no sense?? An educated woman in the late nineteenth century was completely unable to make a living if she didn't marry??? That's just not accurate.

    Same for the ambiguity of the ending. The way that was set up, you literally can't pick one option or the other, because neither makes sense when you analyze the order the scenes happened in. I don't know that I would have been upset if they HAD had the guts to make Jo stay single (after all, Louisa May Alcott kind of wanted that! but then, Little Women is not just Louisa May Alcott's book, it's her fans' book too, and that might've been a little disrespectful to THEM), but I really hate that we don't even know which.

    Also, I didn't love how the...spoilers regarding Beth...went. It kind of overshadowed the movie and made it too dreary for me, personally. And I didn't like Marmee's or John Brooke's (or really Meg's) acting at ALL. And I didn't necessarily have anything against Mr. Bhaer's acting, but I didn't like how the movie did him. I like the book version much better.

    So...mixed thoughts? I can see why you would love it so much, and yet I just can't love it myself. I loved your review though, and I hope you don't mind this lengthy comment! I just have so many thoughts about this movie and have never really talked about them before.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aww, Sarah, I enjoyed this comment so much! Long comments are my absolute favorite. Thank you for taking the time to write it out! I love talking about ALL things Little Women! See, we fans can't be confused and notice the details. It is such a cozy film all-around! This movie feels like a warm hug to me. Yes! Someone else who loves Saoirse Ronan's Jo!!

      Yes! Florence Pugh worked wonders! I've always loved Amy, but apparently my sister NEVER has until this movie. She still thought it was a little weird to have one actress, but she actually liked Amy's character which made me so happy because she deserves more love than she gets. That's so cool that this was first (and only) version that you have seen! It is a great visual representation. In some versions Amy just kind of attaches herself to Laurie as soon as Jo refuses him (or so it seems) but the way their relationship grows in here is FLAWLESS. She wants the best for him and just helps him. The part where she refuses to be "second best" for him and what comes after hits me hard with how well done it is! A resounding yes to what you said!

      Your opinions are perfectly valid! I love how even though you didn't really like it, you are able to appreciate aspects and not say it is a complete waste of time. THANK YOU for that! That is so true of how the "feminist" theme hits people differently even when you thought you knew how someone would like it! Because of that I want to hear all of the opinions about it that I can! I especially wanted to hear what my mom would say, but she quit after half and hour because she was too confused so that's on pause for now. Oh, Sarah, you made such a good point here! I end up defending Jo a lot because without seeing the movie people assume that the most "feminist" approach is through her--for example, people show the scene where she says "A woman is good for so much more than love" but then cut out the ending where she expresses her true feelings of "But I'm so lonely". What kind of editing is this!? You take away the whole meaning when it's chopped up like that! And yes to what you said about Amy. Maybe that was true for some women at the time (i.e. If a woman was educated but had poor health?) but it's wasn't really the end of everything for her. Still gave some food for thought. BUT (The good point that I mentioned you made) Mr. Dashwood and Aunt March were overdone. Very fake and thinking about some of their comments just makes me roll my eyes.

      If they wanted to be bold they could've done that! I mean, all of us who have read the book know about how precious and lovable Jo and Pr. Bhaer are together. I love them and I am slightly miffed at parts with him in here because it seems like we don't really care (when we do!) but I also like that he was introduced so soon in the beginning, before many other characters. It made him present throughout and I was really loving it and just wish they hadn't thrown so much doubt in at the end.

      Yeah, my dad now refers to this as "the horribly sad movie" because of that. Did they have to go and make it sadder? I'm really happy that we got the beach scene, but I understand how gloomy it was in parts. Ah, nothing can beat the version of the book that we all see in different ways through our minds!

      Thank YOU for reading at enjoying it so much! It seems like I never get to talk about it really either, because even though my older sister and I talk about the story of Little Women all. the. time. we don't get into this. I'm as happy about it as you are!

      Delete
  12. I have a copy of this sitting on my TBW stacks and waiting for me to have both the right mood and the watching opportunity for it. I'm definitely interested by it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah, Hamlette! You are in for a treat! I'd love to hear (or read) your thoughts if you ever want to share them!

      Delete
    2. I will definitely try to post about it!

      Delete
  13. I had mixed feelings on this. Little Women is one of if not my absolutely favourite story, so I have many emotions attached to it. This was definitely not my favourite, but I didn't hate it. I didn't even dislike it. There were just aspects of it that I didn't enjoy. I wasn't a fan of the flashbacks/timing/cuts simply because I felt it too disjointed and overplayed. I appreciated what they were trying to do and I thought it was a good idea, I just think they did it too much and chopped it to such an extent that it distracted away from the story, simply trying to keep up with where you were.

    The actors did a good job, but a lot of them just weren't the characters, to me. It had a modern feel to it, which always bugs me a little. I did LOVE Amy, and I thought Jo was great too, and quite liked Meg. (Also, I'm pretty sure I really liked John Brooke in this one too, from memory? Gosh it's been too long since I saw it.)

    In the end, though, this movie was still lovely to watch and made me feel a lot of the Feelings I get with this story, and I would definitely watch it again. But it just wouldn't be the first version I would recommend to people. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is similar to my thoughts on various adaptations of Robin Hood! It is one of my favorite stories of all time so there are versions that I love, versions that I hate, and others that are neither but still enjoyable. Sometimes films to full out on a new technique where we just wanted a taste, so I can see it could've been a little much for you in places. It being one of your favorites, you have a right to think that! ;)

      I might be a little biased to John Brooke because he is my fictional husband meaning I love him so much that there had never been a version that I don't like, lol! In here Laurie felt very modern to me the first time, so I see what you mean, but I've warned up to him now.I

      The Feelings are very strong with this version! :) I will be watching it in the future as well. Yeah, I want people to get the full surprise with my wonderful John if they haven't seen it before. ;) just curious, what version would you recommend people to start with? If I haven't seen it then I want to!

      Delete
    2. I would recommend Little Women 1994 first. :) One of my other personal favourite is the 2018 miniseries but wouldn't recommend it first just due to the length.

      Delete
    3. I agree, that's a great place to start! The 1994 makes me the most nostalgic.

      Delete
  14. So glad you could do this post! I grew up with the 1949 version, which to date is still my favorite, but you've now entirely convinced me to give this one a try. The cinematography looks gorgeous and I'm really intrigued by their casting for Amy. Last but not least, the split timeline as you describe it is fascinating. I can actually see that working really well, so yes, thank you! ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Heidi! I'm glad that I sat down to write it because it was a lot of fun. At first I thought I wouldn't have enough to say about it, haha! I so badly want to see the 1949! The casting looks phenomenal there. I'm very pleased that you're interested in watching now! Florence Pugh is incredible and I now want to see her in more things. They pulled the timeline off so well! I would love to hear your thoughts when you get a chance to see it. :)

      Delete
  15. I really want to see this! And the cinematography timeline aspect sounds really neat and like you said very unique from other versions! Grace and I have talked about watching the Winona Ryder version, the PBS version, and then this version all back to back to compare (and maybe write a post on), but that is a lot of time to dedicate....:) :)
    Tell me, have you seen the PBS version of Little Women? What did you think?
    Thanks for your positive perspective!! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Goodness, yes it is so creative! It gives you (or at least it gave me) an experience while watching it different from any other. You guys should totally do that post! I certainly is a lot of time to dedicate, though. I would find very much worthy of reading if that helps with your decision. ;)
      I did see the PBS version when it came out. I didn't really like it, but that's because it was the first time watching a different version from the 1994! I think I would like it better now. I did cry a lot and love Angela Lansbury's Aunt March!
      Aww, sure thing! :D Thanks for commenting!

      Delete
    2. We will have to try and do that post then! Thank for your vote! :)
      Yes, I Angela Lansbury was a fun Aunt March!

      Delete
    3. I'll be looking forward to what you and Grace have to say! :)
      I love seeing her as cranky old ladies, like in Nanny McPhee, too!

      Delete
  16. Yes, we just were talking about this again...we are in a re-watching movie streak (watching all our favorites off our own movie shelves) and the PBS version of Little Women is on the list! :) We'll see what we can do.
    That's funny, I didn't know she played Nanny McPhee! :)

    ReplyDelete

To comment, or not to comment? That is the question. Whatever you decide, I would love to hear from you!! I am always open to suggestions, advice, and any other comments! Even if you don't agree with me, I would love to hear from you as long as you keep the comment respectful and on subject. And, please, no swearing. I love comments on old posts!!
My computer won't let me leave comments, so it might take a few days, but I will reply!