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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.

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NewName73 · 31/12/2019 08:48

Enjoyed it a lot, and so did DH who hasn't read the book and doesn't know the story, so I had to help him with a few clarifications ...

They played down the more nauseating 'do-gooder' elements which was a good call. I had forgotten that Amy is supposed to be 12 at the start, she didn't really look young enough, but I liked the actor.

Clever joke with the impressionist painting of the picnic - I thought it was Dejeuner sur l'herbe but have googled and don't think it was that one.

PrivateSpidey · 31/12/2019 09:08

Professor Bauer is not meant to be hot, but interesting in looks and an older character

I know. I thought this was a nice take on it, especially when they made it as though Jo wrote her own ending!!

funmummy48 · 03/01/2020 18:31

It went back and forwards too much for me. I’ve read all 4 books in the series, many times but even so, it was difficult sometimes to know where we were. It was as though they’d dropped all the bits of the film on the cutting room floor and put them back together in the wrong order. 😂 I though Laurie looked a bit too young and the Professor not old enough either. Jo was fab though and I liked Amy too. Beth looked too healthy and Emma Watson played Emma Watson as usual.

WeakandWobbly · 03/01/2020 18:53

Took my 10yo DD to see it. We both adored it!

xsquared · 03/01/2020 20:12

Went to see it with 12 yo DD, a friend and her 12 yo DD and really enjoyed it, more than I thought I would.

I have read the book once as a child and a bit more recently but I think I must have the version where Beth doesn't die and was wondering whether she would in this version. Ever since watching the Friends episode where Rachel lends Joey Little Women to read and then spoils it for him, I hoped that she lied to spite him!

Saorse was perfect as Jo and Florence was also very good as Amy. For some reason, I thought Laurie had more natural chemistry with Jo rather than Amy here, and thought their romance a bit rushed. I feel sorry for Emma Watson as they both outshone her as an actress.

Piggywaspushed · 03/01/2020 20:17

Beth dies in Good Wives. The book is often sold as Little Women with Good Wives included.

BecauseReasons · 03/01/2020 22:06

@Piggywaspushed thank you, you've cleared up a long-standing mystery for me!

funmummy48 · 03/01/2020 23:20

There are two more books, Little Men and Jo's Boys which are also fab.

W1nt3rb3rr13s · 04/01/2020 06:10

It was ok, good even. I was slightly underwhelmed, maybe as know the story so well.I also had a real problem with Laura Dern as Marmee. Too movie star like, polished and brittle, kind of fake. Grated on me the whole way through.Also struggled with Emma Watson. Jo and Amy were superb.

W1nt3rb3rr13s · 04/01/2020 06:14

I thought they down played the do gooding a bit too much. Jo always seemed a bit more rebellious in the book. Amy could have been a bit more annoying too, I almost liked her in the film. There was no depth to Marmee at all, she looked too young, too fake, too polished and too Hollywood.

funmummy48 · 04/01/2020 08:56

I think it could have been better cast. It all seemed a bit rushed too although that may have just been because the timeline chopped and changed too much.

ineedaholidaynow · 04/01/2020 21:59

Just been to see it, loved it.

As some PP have said it was the first version I have watched where I have been pleased Jo and Laurie didn't get together. Did like the publisher asking why Jo didn't marry the neighbour though.

I did find the flitting between the different times a bit confusing to start with and also thought they gave away spoilers very early on, if you had never read the books. But it was one of the best adaptations I have seen and loved Jo watching the book being printed.

I may have cried a few times.

TheTigersBride · 05/01/2020 01:51

The book & previous film versions have been saccharine-sweet

It is tooth enamel destroyingly saccharine-sweet.

I would like to know what makes this one so good?

Nothing. I was bored rigid by it , especially by the endless group hugs and everyone lolling around with heads in laps. The only consolation is our local Odeon is dead cheap and I was using a Times subscription 2 for price of 1 ticket.

Saoirse Ronan and Florence Pugh were watchable (although compared to Pugh's performance in Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District this was pretty dreary milk sop stuff)

Emma Watson was , as usual, completely pointless and could have been out acted by a cardboard cut out.

The men were all too tedious to waste any time commenting on.

TheTigersBride · 05/01/2020 01:53

also had a real problem with Laura Dern as Marmee. Too movie star like, polished and brittle, kind of fake

Nothing to do with the film but Laura Dern is far more beautiful now than when she was younger.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 05/01/2020 12:13

I love Laura Dern and thought she was great. Nice to see someone in Hollywood who hasn't been botoxed to death.

mrsmuddlepies · 05/01/2020 12:24

I really enjoyed it. Did anyone else love Jo's clothes? She looked amazing with her waistcoats and colourful scarves.

peony2325 · 05/01/2020 13:25

I loved the books as a child and really liked this adaptation. Laurie was a bit of a dork though which I don't remember in the book.

The costume design was great, I loved all the hand knitted shawls.

ineedaholidaynow · 05/01/2020 14:21

I loved the clothes too

Beansandcoffee · 05/01/2020 14:32

I loved it.

pontiouspilates · 05/01/2020 14:38

DD and I recently finished the book and saw the film yesterday. We both loved it and even at over 2 hours long, I could watch it again.

keiratwiceknightly · 05/01/2020 20:28

On Laura Dern being too old to be Marmee, the character is supposed to be around 40 in the early book. Women married young at the time, and had kids straightaway (no contraception...). There's a line in the film where she says she's been learning to control her anger for 40 years.

Laura Dern is 52.

ChequerBoard · 06/01/2020 01:26

Since teenage characters are routinely played by 20-30 somethings I think I can happily live with the extremely talented and well preserved Laura Dern (who let's face it looks much younger than any 40 year old would have in the Little Women era) playing Marmee at 52.

Tyrozet · 06/01/2020 04:17

I loved it.

I found the disjointed timeline a bit irritating, and I thought Amy and Laurie's romance was rushed but overall it was true to the original tale.

Florence Pugh was the best thing about it I think her portrayal of Amy was perfect and showed her blossoming from spoiled child to a refined and sensible young woman.

Laurie was a bit shite.

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peanutfoldover · 06/01/2020 05:25

I really liked Laurie! But I’ve never read the book so didn’t have that as a reference. I can appreciate he looked quite young all the way through, but I didn’t ever question it tbh

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Wh0leCl0ves · 06/01/2020 06:03

I like Laura Dern but not in that roll. She just seemed completely wrong.