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Little Women

228 replies

peanutfoldover · 26/12/2019 22:49

Did anyone else watch this gorgeous film today? I absolutely bloody loved it and it had stayed with me all day. I have never read the book I must admit so cannot remark on that, but blimey what a fabulous story.

OP posts:
Squigean · 29/12/2019 18:01

The scene with Beth and Jo pulled at my heartstrings. But agree over all Beth wasn't noticable - on purpose possibly?

Piggywaspushed · 29/12/2019 18:18

Timothee Chalamet is actually 24 so the correct age for Laurie really. But he does look very young.

Piggywaspushed · 29/12/2019 18:19

That did make it appear not so weird when he fancied Amy, mind.

The adaptations where two different actresses play Amy always make me feel a bit weird. It reminds you that when he first sees his future wife she is 13...

Cohle · 29/12/2019 18:22

I loved it. I thought mixing up the timeline might be a bit confusing if you weren't familiar with the story but I'm glad to hear it wasn't.

Piggywaspushed · 29/12/2019 18:26

Do you know what was really nice? Watching a film with no swearing, no sex, no violence, no nudity. But nonetheless aimed at adults.

Piggywaspushed · 29/12/2019 18:26

I was very brave and went to watch it by myself!!

Binterested · 29/12/2019 18:28

Also no murdered/raped women or abducted children 👍🏻

minesagin37 · 29/12/2019 18:31

Tickets booked for the Everyman tomorrow with DD(14).

Kitkatforchristmasdinner · 29/12/2019 18:32

Piggy I always try to go to the cinema by myself. It's a much better experience.

HoopDeDoop · 29/12/2019 18:37

I really liked it, which was a big deal as I despised the book!

The way they changed the ending to separate Jo's Little Women from Alcott's Little Women absolutely made it for me, and neutralised the awful anti feminist message of the original. As did the subtle changes to Meg and Marmee's characters from the book version, making them less insufferably smug and moralising than they were originally written. Very good writing and acting.

GoGoLego · 29/12/2019 18:39

Went to see on Boxing Day! We managed to get the last 3 seats in the cinema. I really liked it but feel you get more out of it if you've read the book or seen the Wynona Ryder movie first as it jumps about. My dad didn't really know the story and got a bit confused at times but that might be because he was asleep at a crucial point!

Piggywaspushed · 29/12/2019 18:54

Good point Binterested!

The ending was a nice nod to actual Louisa May Alcott who didn't ever marry. She was actually even more amazing than Jo. Because Little Women has been made so many times it seems no one has ever thought to make a film about Alcott but she would be a really interesting subject for a film.

Squigean · 29/12/2019 18:57

I did wonder that it is semi-autobiographical. Her life is not as tween though!

The history chicks have an interesting pod cast on Louisa May Alcott. They've just released a second one, but I've not listened to that yet.

Piggywaspushed · 29/12/2019 18:58

I may give that a listen!

VanillaSugarr · 29/12/2019 19:59

I saw it today and sobbed all the way through Blush. It is one if the most beautiful films I have seen and Emma Watson, for once, is doing proper acting. Florence Pugh is outstanding (she was in Little Drummer Girl) and Sairsiore Ronan is amazing. Winona Ryder annius me for some irrational reason. This version is much better.

Has anyone see Lady Bird? I cried at that as well.

TheWoodsareDarkandDeep · 29/12/2019 20:06

We went to see it with my 10
Year old and he said he found it confusing in parts but he liked it.
Laurie was prefect for me; just how I imagined him when I first read it. Emma Watson still hasn’t learnt to act, she was put to shame by the other women. I liked Beth, she had a bit more fight about her than previously.

MurrayTheMonk · 29/12/2019 21:41

Wanted to see it today but got over ruled by DP and dragged to Star Wards instead. Will probably go on Sunday now

Redcrayons · 29/12/2019 22:04

I went to see it today, it's the first 'proper book' I ever read and I feel quite nostalgic about it.
Didn't like the the jumps in the timeline
Amy didn't seem young enough
Beth wasn't sickly enough

Jo Should have marrried Laurie.

I did enjoy it though.

ChequerBoard · 29/12/2019 22:09

Do you know, watching the movie was the first time I have NOT been left feeling that Jo should have married Laurie!

AndNoneForGretchenWieners · 29/12/2019 22:11

I'm so excited, my mum just phoned and asked if I wanted to go and see it with her and my nan. I was going to go on my own, so of course I agreed!

pinkpolo · 29/12/2019 22:23

I saw it today and absolutely loved every second of it! The casting was spot on, a real credit to the story. I cried so many times!

VanillaSugarr · 30/12/2019 00:39

I’ve just seen my typos Blush. Bit of a phone fail there.

May84 · 30/12/2019 13:49

I grew up loving the book along with my sisters, saw the Winona Ryder version when it came out and watched it numerous times.
Saw this one at the weekend with my mum and loved it.
A few thoughts-
Saoirse Ronan is fabulous as the feminist icon Jo.
Florence Pugh blew me away as Amy. I never thought I would find Amy likeable but she managed it and really brought depth to her character.
I do think the casting in this version isn't as good- I don't think Emma Watson is convincing as Meg, she is too stunning.
Meg is meant to be plain, responsible and a bit matronly.
Also Beth looked a bit too healthy, I think Claire Danes looked much more convincing as sickly and bedridden.
Also Fredrieich is meant to be a lot older, in the old version he is played by Gabriel Byrne!
But overall, I really loved it.

Don't forget, this was before the Suffragettes movement and Jo was considered quite the scandalous character for wanting to be independent and make her own money.
As was the writer Louisa May Alcott who was supporting her whole family with the money she made from writing.

juneybean · 30/12/2019 13:58

I am loyal to the Winona Ryder version but do want to give this one a go!!