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The flaws are easily forgiven in this beautiful version of Louisa May Alcott's novel. A stirring look at life in New England during the Civil War, Little Women is a triumph for all involved. We follow one family as they split into the world, ending up with the most independent, the outspoken Jo (Winona Ryder). This time around, the dramatics and conclusions fall into place a little too well, instead of finding life's little accidents along the way. Everyone now looks a bit too cute and oh, so nice. As the matron, Marmee, Susan Sarandon kicks the film into a modern tone, creating a movie alive with a great feminine sprit. Kirsten Dunst (Interview with the Vampire) has another showy role. The young ensemble cast cannot be faulted, with Ryder beginning the movie in a role akin to light comedy and crescendoing to a triumphant end worthy of an Oscar. --Doug Thomas
Additional Features
Based on the feature commentary for her film, Gillian Armstrong must be a pretty delightful person to spend an evening with. The Australian director takes us all the way through the lovely 1994 film, "whispering in our ear" with deft clarity. Armstrong engages us while talking about casting (much influenced by star Winona Ryder), locale (mostly Vancouver, B.C.), the modernization of the characters, and the task of bringing the intricate design of the 19th-century piece to life. Armstrong also narrates over two deleted scenes shown separately. She admits it's enjoyable to view the picture five years later because of Thomas Newman's Oscar-nominated score. (The score can also be heard an isolated music track.) There is also a general six-minute featurette (made by HBO) and a better eight-minute featurette on the film's costume design, narrated by Oscar nominee Colleen Atwood. Talent files, productions notes, an elementary timeline, and trivia games are also included. --Doug Thomas
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of my all time favorites,
By
This review is from: Little Women (Collector's Series) (DVD)
This movie is one of my favorites. It's a wonderful adaptation of the classic novel. I recommend it to everyone!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good but flawed,
By Emily McB (Vancouver, Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Little Women (Collector's Series) (DVD)
This is overall an enjoyable and fairly faithful adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's well-loved book, but it, like the other filmed versions, has its problems.I wish, for instance, that they hadn't chosen to combine Alcott's first two books about the March family into one film. This results in many small but enjoyable scenes being cut or compressed, and some characters (Laurie's grandfather, for instance) all but ignored. Moreover, the second book, Good Wives, is more uneven and less enjoyable than Little Women--too sprawling and pat--which drags the second half of the film down. Generally the performances are quite good. I like Winona Ryder's fiestiness and humour as Jo, although I feel that she was physically a little too pretty and delicate. Claire Danes was a disappointment, although she's usually very reliable. Her Beth was properly shy, but not soft and capable as she should be. Her retincence seemed almost like a mental handicap. Trini Alvarado was great as Meg, she really seemed like a product of that era, and Kirsten Dunst had Amy pretty much down pat. Samantha Mathis, playing the older Amy was all wrong though, too old to be only four years older (she looked older than Ryder) and far, far too stilted. Gabriel Byrne's professor was the perfect antidote to Christian Bale's Laurie, too. It was easy to see why Jo would choose The Professor...but then I'd take Gabriel Byrne over just about anyone.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars
Not faithful to Alcott's classic tale,
By
This review is from: Little Women (Collector's Series) (DVD)
There were several things I found terribly jarring about this film, points at which I was not sure if I was viewing a film version of this classic tale or merely someone's political viewpoint showing through a fine veneer of Alcott's story. The beginning, which in the book shows the personality of the sisters through their conversation, is neglected. Winona Ryder isn't the best Jo- too pretty and piquant. They needed someone with more spirit, someone perhaps a little plainer. Claire Danes didn't work out as Beth, either-too tall and with too deep a voice. They needed someone smaller, and more timid looking. Kirsten Dunst made a good Amy, but I wanted a more clear transition to Mathis than was portrayed. Also, why all the feminist lines put into Marmee's mouth? And why the cutting out of nearly every mention of God when the Marches were devout Christians-Mr. March was a minister, for crying out loud! And Meg's declination of the silk dress because of the workers in China-come on, everyone who's read the book knows Meg wanted a silk dress. Too many important scenes were skipped, and the relationship between Jo and the Professor is not what it was in the book. Overall a very disappointing adaptation. I reccomend the Katherine Hepburn version.
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