Gransnet forums

TV, radio, film, Arts

Little Women

(76 Posts)
travelsafar Wed 27-Dec-17 07:49:13

I watched this but found it slow and not quite how i imagined it to be. I will continue with it though to see how it progresses.

kittylester Wed 27-Dec-17 07:59:58

I've recorded it but loved the books so much that I feel unsure about watching it.

I'll watch this thread with interest.

cornergran Wed 27-Dec-17 08:09:30

Odd reactions here. I wasn’t so impressed, Mr C liked it. I’ve read the books, he hasn’t hmm. Will persevere though.

BlueBelle Wed 27-Dec-17 08:48:20

Watched most of it but was bored stiff loved the books when I was 13 - 14 but maybe it doesn’t work for me now
Didn’t enjoy it at all

shysal Wed 27-Dec-17 09:04:18

Not a lot happened but I still enjoyed it. I read the books as a child but was more a fan of 'What Katy Did'.

Anniebach Wed 27-Dec-17 09:20:02

Didn't watch it, loved the books, there has been several films made of the first book.

Christinefrance Wed 27-Dec-17 09:26:54

Must admit to being a little disappointed in this, I loved the books but found this version a bit dull. I will continue to watch but find this is often the case when I have read the book I don't enjoy the TV series or film.

Teetime Wed 27-Dec-17 09:51:22

Not for me as someone else said I read this as a12 year old and my tastes have changed. I watched The Miniaturist which I didn't expect to like but it grew on me.

hildajenniJ Wed 27-Dec-17 10:19:41

I chose not to watch it as, like kitty I read and loved the books when I was about 12. I watched The Miniaturist instead, and was gripped by that. I am eagerly looking forward to it's conclusion tonight.

Lona Wed 27-Dec-17 10:39:57

This was my favourite book when I was young and I found this adaptation slow and shallow.
It skimmed over the relationships between them all and especially Beth and the grandfather. I thought that the actress playing Amy was too old, and her spitefulness came over as too malicious instead of childishly petulant.
Disappointing but better than most of the rubbish that's been on tv.p

Marelli Wed 27-Dec-17 10:45:58

Was thinking of watching it on ‘catch-up’, but now I think I may be disappointed. I loved the book, as well as Good Wives, Jo’s Boys, etc, so I’d probably be super-critical of the dramatised version. I’ll give The Miniaturist a try, if I can get it on catch-up.

Fennel Wed 27-Dec-17 11:26:49

I read the books, but it's the earliest film that I remember best (1949):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rs_DnwmfClg

grannysyb Wed 27-Dec-17 11:59:40

I liked it but thought it would be hard going for those who hadn't read the book.

Granny23 Wed 27-Dec-17 12:43:25

It was Jo's fake freckles that spoilt it for me, I have never in my (very long) life seen someone with freckles like that, especially not in the depths of winter, although I have known a good few redheads with quite a crop but not all over their foreheads. Get a fringe (or should that be bangs?) Jo.

NfkDumpling Wed 27-Dec-17 12:54:38

Enjoyed it. It was a bit slow, and moral, and sweet, but so was the book. Pleasant viewing.

The Miniaturist was good to I thought. Good attention to detail.

eazybee Wed 27-Dec-17 13:35:27

Seemed to be an awful lot of flashing of very beautiful white teeth, yards of hair flying and collective romping through the snow/grass. Loved all Louisa May Alcott's books when I was ten, but out of nostalgia tried to read one recently and found it almost unreadable.
I don't think it is a very good adaptation; the sisters, even the saintly Beth, are far too alike, and Emily Watson is always, (to me), faintly sinister. Just a series of vignettes, really.

chelseababy Wed 27-Dec-17 15:05:10

One to delete then by the sound of it!

Smithy Wed 27-Dec-17 15:15:37

Another one who's a bit disappointed, loved the books as a child. I'm going to watch the rest though. Also watched The Miniaturist as I've just read it . Two series in one evening - that's a binge for me, looking forward to it.

whitewave Wed 27-Dec-17 15:23:56

I think I've simply grown out of “Little Women” not even feeling nostalgic kept my attention.

Grandma70s Wed 27-Dec-17 17:28:06

I never liked the books, no likeable characters, don’t like the title. The children in What Katy Did are so much more real and interesting. I watched and will try again to work out which girl is which. All look too old.

Elrel Wed 27-Dec-17 18:42:56

Lona, eazybee, Grandma -
I agree! Loved the book since I was given it at 8! Enjoyed all the film adaptations I’ve seen until this one for the reasons you mention.
My Beth is shy and gentle, my Amy very much the youngest, Jo as boyish as she can make herself, Meg calm and mature. These young women were so similar. There even seemed to be an early spark of attraction between Laurie and Amy. In the book and in earlier films it is a gradual thing when an older Amy is sad in Europe. Earlier Laurie is everyone’s brotherly ‘boy next door’ although having an especially close bond with Jo.
I’ll still watch the rest however!

Fennel Wed 27-Dec-17 19:05:32

Elrel - Good resumé!
It's the different characters of the sisters that I remember.
Amy - as played by Elizabeth Taylor, seems more like our young women these days.

Deedaa Wed 27-Dec-17 22:06:42

I've always loved the book and I particularly enjoyed the Winona Ryder film. This seems to have a lot of extraneous stuff in it - Jo talking to the barber, the aunt coming to their house and preaching about men. What happened to them putting on their play at the beginning which gives such a good idea of their characters, and what about Jo scorching the back of her dress which was the reason she hid during the ball. If something has been a classic for years I think the author's own version is probably good enough.

NanKate Wed 27-Dec-17 22:18:11

After reading your comments I don’t think I will bother to watch it, but will check out the Miniaturist.

Deedaa Wed 27-Dec-17 22:58:16

Just watching tonight's episode. Whole story is being told out of order and Jo is taking over running the family too much. I don't remember any one ever suggesting that Marmie was intending Meg to marry Laurie. Why don't they just say it's loosely based on the book?