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For people struggling with the time jumps, 7 years ago is filmed with warm lighting while current day is filmed with cool lighting. I love how it feels like the past is warmer and happier than the current day.
I thought that, too, but there is a winter flashback with cool lighting - when Amy falls in the frozen lake. I think the climax with Beth's passing is intentionally more challenging to determine if it's past or present so that the discovery of her loss hits harder. Even if you're familiar with the story, you wouldn't know when that moment is coming, and the jump-cuts really make you feel Jo's shock. The way this version is cut together makes it so much more rewatchable, imho. :)
I love the fact this version really explores how Jo struggles with discontentment and loneliness in her life, exacerbated by losing Beth. In those moments, past decisions tent to feel wrong, you idealise alternative lives and often end up making wrong decisions trying to escape the discomfort of the present life. I love how the mother cut through the whole thing by pointing out that Jo still doesn't love Laurie (and therefore the original reason for the rejection has't changed). Even in her letter to him, Jo talks about marriage being more appealing, not that she changed her feelings. I am so glad the story went in the direction it did. Not many stories explore that sense of being stuck and discontent as a propellent for action (writing) not something to desperately escape from (idealised alternatives).
YES YES YES. That's why I preferred this version. That one line saying how women are all these different things but then also feeling that loneliness is SO perfect and how I feel sometimes. It's part of why I loved Captain Marvel so much (though so many others didn't like it) because it was such a RELIEF to have a theme of a movie about a woman be resiliency instead of "love is a strength!" I do wonder if Jo would've been more open to marriage if same-sex couples were more socially acceptable at the time. I'm sure there's a biological reason but I always thought resiliency was why women live longer.
@@megroy6396 i kinda hate this thought process, that seems to be a trend nowadays, that just because she wanted a real, dedicated career and not get married means she's lesbian. Straight women can still not want a marriage with a man. And no don't start with the asexual bs
@@SurprisedEagleRay-ic3fy Okay, well, first of all, I *am* a lesbian. And there's a difference between a teenager (like in Brave) not wanting to be married and someone significantly older saying they want to be alone permanently. But also, even fifty years ago marriage meant something very different for women than it does now. Men really had control over the life of their wives, birth control was rarer, and it also meant you were expected to stop working. I have a great aunt who didn't get married specifically because she loved teaching and a husband would've expected her to stop working. Marriage meant the loss of freedom back then in a way it doesn't today. Point being that there were reasons to turn down marriage, but the movie (and book) don't specify why she didn't want to be married. So I was musing on if it was companionship she didn't want, or the lack of freedom that came with marriage back then.
Well, there's been deep speculation about Alcott's gender and sexuality back in the day (there have been really fascinating academic papers writer about it). I can tell you first-hand, I translated one of her books: there's a novel called Work, that is also semi autobiographical, about a young woman having to do the small jobs that were allowed to women back then, to support her family - governess, elderly companion, seamstress, hat maker, laundress. All of them jobs that Alcott had to do in real life. Now, in that novel, she writes *very extensively* about her infatuation with another woman, a coworker at the hat making atelier. She describes her as the most incredibly gorgeous vision she has ever seen. She follows her, trying to find where she lives. She writes her passionate letters, and gives her gifts. They become bosom buddies. Of course, this being the 1800s, she couldn't write a same-sex romance. Her solution? Well, the woman she actually loves has a brother, and our Alcott stand-in quickly marries said brother about a month after meeting him. The *very night* of the wedding, the war gets worse, and he runs to enlist to save the North. Immediately, he gets killed on the front lines. Now, his very respectable widow can live together with his bereaved sister in the big house, as ~very respectable roommates~ and sisters-in-law for the rest of their lives! It's just so hilariously transparent, it's great. And if we consider how very autobiographical her novels are, well...
As people are saying, the semi-autobiographical novel Little Women is written by Louisa May Alcott who herself never married, but as depicted with Jo in the movie was made to marry off her heroine by publishers. By cutting together the end of the film the way she did, Greta Gerwig attempted to honor both endings - the book ending out of respect for returning audiences who have long-loved the novel and various film adaptations (all of which have ended with Jo married), and an alternate ending in which Jo, true to her convictions, is married only to her craft by the end having successfully found her voice and her path to autonomy and freedom. Even before this film came out, to many, this hypothetical ending felt like it would have been a little more authentic to Jo’s trajectory as a character and of course to Louisa May Alcott's life. In 2019, giving the audience the option to choose which ending they prefer for Jo now that it is no longer mandatory that a woman be married or dead by the end of her story, I think is a brilliant choice.
Greta ADDED greatness and complexity to an already timeless, worldwide loved, great, complex classic. A favorite of mine. I will admire and love her forever for it.
@@ashlyn8185 yeah, maybe Louisa was gay an so she wouldn't have been happy with a Bear(d), but Jo canonically does love him and they're happy and fullfil together and in their lives. That's how I always took it. But what Greta did was an alternative ending that I feel in my heart Louisa would have preferred, leaving it ambiguous as to whether she married (or was gay), and the way she did it gave us the experience of both.
Agreed, I wasn’t sold on the ending at first because I’ve always liked Professor Bhaer and he is important to both sequels. His and Jo’s personalities complement each other really well. But the ending has really grown on me because Greta Gerwig did such a good job of making the ending sort of ambiguously work for everyone. It was a really well executed, even though I do wish we’d gotten a good adaptation of that chapter in the book. The conversation between her and Bhaer is really beautiful. But I can’t complain with giving Alcott the ending she wanted, but in the most faithful way to the book possible. I saw an interview where she said instead of it being “girl gets boy” she wanted to make it “girl gets book” and honestly I think Alcott would have adored that attitude. The male characters did take a back seat in the film but not in a way that made them unimportant. It just emphasized that the story was more about life, ambitions, and family than it was just another romance.
a note of the time jumps: if you noticed, the color palette is very different, warm yellow tones for the flashbacks vs the cold blue tones for the current/now time :)
jo's conflict with getting married is so real. as someone that has seen many women close to me lose themselves after marriage, it is extremely scary. constantly seeing the negatives of it is unavoidable. its the endless battle of being alone VS being scared of choosing the wrong guy and being under control of him. also her being conflicted on whether to choose to love or be loved is a reason why so many marriages that occur end up failing. you love the way they treat you but do not love them back. for a centuries old book, the things that happen are still so relevant today!
I so relate to everything you said. But I'll always prefer the few rare moments of extreme loneliness over the horrors I've witnessed. Men don't get it, but for women especially back then it was a very deal. Jo would not have ended up like her aunt.
I also related to the expectation the family had for Jo to love Laurie. Growing up I had a close (male) friend that my siblings and mom were all convinced I'd get together with. Explaining I cared for him, but not in that way, always just got me smirks and nods. Thankfully my friends were on my side, and it all worked out in the end with him finding someone (else) to love. But so much literature pushes the expectation that you HAVE to fall in love with your childhood best-friend, when that's simply not a give-in. For this book to have captured the reality that you can love a boy like a brother, without ever loving him like a (potential) husband is so refreshing.
@@yuukinoyuki9064 I had a similar situation with a close male friend. Friends and family assumed we'd get together, encouraged him to ask me out despite knowing I had no romantic feelings. They got angry with me and said I was "being unfair" to him when I turned him down, as if I owed him physical intimacy for being my friend. I was no longer their friend after that. He was hurt by my rejection, understandably, and I told him to take as much time as he needed - even forever if necessary, and I'd still be here, happy to be his friend or wishing him well; whatever he was comfortable with. He took a couple years away, had some other relationships. Decades later, he's married with kids and we're friends again. He's been very encouraging of my career. I hate the popular resentment around the so called "friend zone," as if anybody owes sex to anyone for any reason. As if people can't just be nice and supportive of each other. As if everyone must want the same things you want, and when you want them. I wouldn't expect that from my partner even if we were married. Some people are strange.
There have been FOUR feature film adaptations of this novel, and the films had the same trouble the novel did when it came to appealing to wide audiences: boys and men cannot be bothered to read it or watch it. It warms the heart to see four grown ass men watching this film and enjoying themselves. Good on you, fellas!
@@toshtao1they did Barbie (I think oak missed the point of the filmed though) also they reacted to Pride and Prejudice. Legally Blond 1 and 2, Clueless and Mean Girls. Lots of variety
A lot of people says that Laurie and Jo should have ended up together but I dont believe so. Laurie's love for Jo was a boy's love. What he feels for Amy is a man's love. Laurie said it himself. " i've always loved you, but the love I feel for Amy is different. " Jo and Laurie had this childish, innocent first love. Laurie and Amy has the realistic, authentic, adult love. Its not better nor worst. Just different.
I agree! Amy was the one who pushed Laurie to become a better version of himself, to grow up in a way that Jo didn't. I think Jo was right that if she and Laurie were married they would make each other miserable, they're too much alike.
@@bookworm598 exactly! Jo and Laurie were made to be friends, to laugh and play and be angry at each other for stupid things like kids do. The innocent, free childhood. And thats absolutly ok. Amy and Lauire were also " friends " since childhood but not in the same way. Not close enough. So when they met again as adults, they realize that THAT version of themselves is the right one.
I don't think he should have ended up with Jo but I think he settled for Amy. It has nothing to do with a man's love. He simply is still grasping at Jo
I grew up constantly rewatching the Winona Ryder version so for me that is the best version but there are SO MANY incredible acting moments in this one. My favorite scene is still when Laurie tells Amy not to marry Fred. Florence's face gets me every time :(
I agree. That one was star packed. Winona Ryder, Susan Sarandon, Claire Danes, Christian Bale, Gabriel Byrne, Eric Stoltz. It's still my favorite version today. This one is ok.
I know people love that version, but this one makes a much better work on showing the greatness of Amy. She was the meant half for Laurie and this version did it perfectly
@@MTech07 I prefer the Rider version (largely because I prefer Jo as a character) but I agree that this movie was better for Amy's character. If for no other reason than I understood her marriage to Laurie in this one
I'm so glad you guys watched this! The novel is my one of my favorite childhood books and the 1949 version with Liz Taylor is actually my comfort movie when I don't feel good. I love this entire reaction and yes, to answer Mason's question, this is loosly based on Louisa May Allcott's experiences growing up in Massachusetts with her three sisters.
The author was Louisa May Alcott. She did say that she used a lot of her life to write the book and she said that she was Jo. She was a tomboy, with sisters she adored, one of them died still very young. All and all lots of similarities. Although she never married. Thank you for watching this movie guys.
You probably saw the most growth in Amy because in the past, she's meant to be the youngest of the sisters at 12 years old. As a result, she's a bit more spoiled and immature. Granted, Florence Pugh is a grown woman so it can be a bit hard to get the age she is meant to be at. However, I think Florence did a great job at portraying a young capricious child
I read the book and have seen every version of this movie, and this is the first one that genuinely made me feel for Amy. Florence Pugh did an amazing job bringing her to life.
In so many of the other versions, it truly feels like Laurie just settles for Amy. But in this one, she challenges him and inspires him to finally grow up for real. And the scene where he asks her not to marry Fred Vaughn, and she pours out her heart and says she has been second to Jo all her life and will not accept being “settled for” just because he can’t have Jo. Them getting together finally actually feels earned and like the more mature, grown up love that a couple needs to succeed and have a happy marriage. I like it ❤️
The book "Little Women" is considered a classic of American writing. It was an immediate hit and has never been out of print. The book is loosely based on her experiences growing up with her three sisters and although Jo in the book married, Louisa Mae Alcott never did. The house that they filmed in was an exact replica of Louisa May Alcott's house. One word about women being forced to look to a marriage to survive and how they were perceived as property. It's a common thought that that was long ago. But within my lifetime is when it just began to change. It was the 1970's when women were finally allowed to have credit on their own terms without a male co-signer. I remember when women did not own property without a male's consent for things like a mortgage. It was truly not that long ago at all as it is within my memory of how and when it changed.
Exactly. It's funny to me how uncomfortable some guys get with the topic of equality between men and women. I love that these guys are open minded enough to watch films like this, but they struggled with Amy's very accurate speech about marriage being economic for women. "Some would say she's not wrong," lol. I guess "some" means historians? And yeah, it really wasn't that long ago that American women *started* having similar rights to men. Roughly 200 years since this novel, and women still face a wage gap even with the same or better education/experience, discrimination in STEM, and they're struggling to be elected into the White House while open s*xual predators are paraded as their "best" competition. Not to mention the loss of reproductive rights & bodily autonomy. Like, hi, yes, we live here, too.
This movie is set some 50 years after Pride and Prejudice which was in Regency era England around 1811 while Little Women is set in the 1860s during the American Civil War.
@@BaddMedicineI personally would be thrilled if you reacted to the 94 version. It’s the best version of this story in my opinion. All good if not though.
@@BaddMedicine I'd love to see y'all's reaction to that one. TBH I actually like like the 2019 version better. Having seen it out of order I think the story works better that way, I've never been a Christian Bale or Susan Sarandon fan, and I hate that they switch actresses for Amy, since she was only one year younger than Beth. Though anyone who doesn't completely fall in love with Claire Danes's Beth in the 90's version is WRONG because she is 100% perfect.
Oh I can't believe you guys are doing this one. I love Little Women. I've seen multiple versions of it over the years. Honestly I shouldn't even be surprised. Y'all always pick such varied and awesome movies and series to watch for/with us. Just started watching the reaction and had to immediately add this edit: Answer landing "oblique first" had me dying. Holy sh*t 😂😂 I can't with y'all. LMFAO
@@voyance4elle so many movies people get shot or stabbed buts it's never fatal since it's pretty much always in the oblique muscle...so the guys have been making little comments on here for years about "it's okay, they got it in the oblique." It never ceases to make me crack up. It's the same kinda thing when people joke that someone is still alive in a movie (even if it's a seriously bad injury) if their shoes are still on...but if their shoes are knocked off, even something super minor, that they somehow won't survive.
To answer Mason Quinn and the Oak's question Louisa May Alcott did draw from her own life when writing Little Women. She wrote about her sisters and Jo is very much based on herself. Everything from being able to write with both hands. However, Louisa May Alcott never married. So, Gretta did an amazing job with this film because during the conversation with the publisher Jo is almost playing Louisa May Alcott. So, this is an absolutely amazing film and I loved your reaction.
Love the way Greta Gerwig solved the issues with the ending of the original two-part novel, by restoring Louisa May Alcott's original intent (and changing the actual ending of the story.)
I love the way the ending is done. Imo it HEAVILY hints at Jo with her book beeing the true ending and the romance etc beeing fiction. That train station scene just felt beyond cheesy and over the top to me and rhe way its edited clearly implies it being the ending Jo added to satisfy the publisher. I love it.
The other brilliant thing Gerwig does with this material is the time jumps. Anyone who's read the book knows that the second half (the second volume as originally published) is serious and sad and full of gravitas and lost chances. It gets kinda grim. By time-jumping, Gerwig manages to avoid the other issue with Alcott's original book: turning the back half the movie into a total bummer to watch. (Lots of other Little Women movie adaptations just leave the 2nd half of the book for like the last 20-30 minutes of the film to try to push through it.)
I’m another long time Badd Medicine watcher who ADORES the ‘94 version of this story! This one has its charms, and the acting is great, but I think it changes the characters SO much compared to the ‘94 version, and I like the characters more in the ‘94 version. They also have very different feels to them. I saw you guys comment somewhere here that if there’s enough interest, you’ll watch the ‘94 one too, and I for one would JUMP at that! 😍
I adore Florence Pugh as an actress, but man her age really takes me out of the plot of the book. Amy is 12 at the beginning of the book. Obviously all these actresses are way older than their characters (Meg 16, Jo 15 and Beth 13) but I feel like Florence looks so adult, maybe even more adult than Saoirse, and it is made worse bc Beth's actress is 3 years younger than Florence. The 1994 version actually has 2 actresses for Amy because she is so young at the beginning, with then 11 year old Kirsten dunst playing her as a 12 year old. I get why they didn't do it, but it makes it harder to understand why she is left out (shes simply too young, and thus it would be widely inappropriate for her to be at parties or at the theatre that late- Marmee would not allow it either. It's not Jo's fault, its a societal rule) when she looks the same age as Meg and Jo. It also takes away any patience I have with the book character for burning Jo's book as it comes off more childish bc the person doing it looks like a grown woman instead of a 12-13 year old girl. She is utterly perfect as 20 year old Amy in Paris, but I don't like her when shes 23 playing a 12 year old
i totally understand what you mean! personally tho the actress switching in other versions takes me out of the experience more especially cause the other sisters aren't switched. also changing the actress in this non linear storytelling wouldn't work at all. i agree its hard to believe Florence as a 12y/o but she has enough of a baby face that its passable added to her mannerisms and costumes plus the demeanour change in comparison to the present
This is my favorite adaptation of Little Women! And I love the little nod to the fact that Louisa May Alcott was forced by her publisher to make Jo marry somebody at the end of the book.
They are based on her family. The real Amy was actually really successful. She was the first woman to have work displayed at the Paris Salon, and acted as tutor and mentor to American sculptor Daniel Chester French, who went on to create the Lincoln Memorial.
this movie is such a rollercoaster of emotions. ive heard talks about mischaracterizations and comparisons to the 90s version and whatnot but i simply do not care😂its a perfect movie in my eyes. the filming, colors and tones, the soundtrack, and the acting and script 10/10 id be so proud of this project if i was greta and im sure she is! edit: the thing with time jumps i think colors help a lot for me. every time its the past the room oozes of warmth, even in scenes where Beth was sick it was still warm. in contrast to the present where everything is cold and stiff. makes you feel like Jo is living through the sad reality of adulthood. a neat trick another thing greta and the cast did so well was capturing the chaos of having four kids/teens talking and fighting over each other in one room haha! must be a nightmare for camera work. theres a clip on youtube of greta pulling apart one single scene piece by piece and it was eyeopening for me how much thought is put into framing in movies
People feel it mischaracterizes them?? I watched the 90s version, it is my favorite, and I've read the book, too. My whole family was excited to see this adaptation when it dropped, and I walked away from it smiling. The 90s version is still my favorite, but I'd have never thought to say this movie got any of the characters wrong?!
@@yuukinoyuki9064 i once saw some folks talked about how they didnt like how jo&Laurie is portrayed in a random comment section i think. i dont rmb much unfortunately😅
@@GummyCalico Ah, fair enough. Little Women is a classical tale that's often adapted, or acted on stage, much like Shakespeare. People will have opinions on their favorite actors/acting choices. But as long as the characters make the same choices they did in the books (these characters did) it's wrong to say they weren't being true to character. Although I'm sure some people would say that, instead of what they meant, "I prefer how Jo/Laurie were portrayed in..."
Saoirse Ronan has said in interviews about how to pronounce her name: “Sersha like Inertia” ☺️ Also, the ‘94 version is incredible, we’d love to see you guys react to it, and that one is told chronologically so you guys wouldn’t get lost ☺️ Also also, I LOVE the fact that the Oak got so into it, his only wish would be sooo much more of this story and this cast. I love that so much, you guys are the best!
It's pretty inspired by her life with her sisters. Her relationship with the sister that inspired Amy at least was pretty similar in how complicated it was. Louisa May Alcott also had a collection of novellas/short stories that are 'scandalous' or 'violent' like Jo wrote that she published incognito but that have been found since then. Also, in being pressured by the publishers to have Jo marry by the end of it. Louisa really didn't want that as she was a spinster and Jo was the character inspired by her. It led to her adding in a romantic partner later in the book last minute and she made him someone that wouldn't be considered attractive at the time as a bit of rebellion. He's described as pretty ugly, old and an immigrant (the horror lol) however movies have been making him hotter and hotter in each adaptation. Jo's and Frederick's relationship is meant to be a marriage of the minds, of intellects instead of romantic.
40:52 the thing is, aunt march’s promise was dependent on jo doing what aunt march wanted. the trip to europe was to find a wealthy husband to support the march family, and the big thing about jo is that she doesn’t want to get married and wants to make her own way in the world. on the other hand, amy understands marrying rich is going to be beneficial for her entire family, and was ready to marry Fred Vaughn (until Laurie basically admitted to loving her). also, this might be an unpopular opinion, but i dislike the letter jo writes. i don’t recall it being in the book, and i don’t think it adds much other than confusion for people who aren’t sure who laurie should have ended up with.
this is such a comfort movie for me, my favourite little fun fact about this movie is that non of actresses that play the little women are actually american they are all doing an accent. emma watson and florence pugh are british, saoirse is irish and the actress that plays beth is australian!
Delightfully surprised by this watch!! I was also sometimes taken out of the story trying to figure out if we were in the past or present on my first watch, something I realized later was that all the past scenes were a lot more colorful and light hearted while the present was a lot darker, and this in all ways - lighting, set, clothes, actors expressions (maybe showing we view the past in rose tinted glasses but also that when we’re younger, we’re a lot lighter and don’t quite grasp the full struggles of adult life) Amy also confused people as in the original movie, they recast older Amy as she is supposed to be super young in the past (her burning the book makes a lot more sense with just how young she was) but I love Florence and think she did a pretty good job with portraying herself being younger!
I just now realised how in that scene where Beth gets the piano as a gift, the piano with the flowers on it looks like a coffin and is foreshadowing :( Please also watch the version from the 90s with Winona Ryder, it's also great and full of famous actors.
Also just wanted to point out that there’s a really strong asexual/aromantic reading of Jo’s character to be had in this film. I would argue she does live and die by her heart as Laurie says she does. But her whole dilemma about desiring to be loved and feeling lonely comes about because she truly is not able to love in the way Laurie and Friedrich and society expects her to. This is a very relatable existential distress felt by many aro and ace people who may still love in other ways very fiercely This film depicts the way ace people’s preferred forms of intimacy with others may become less and less acceptable and/or less and less common as they progress from childhood, leaving them to struggle to figure out their place in the world and find contentment and community (Hence Jo’s dread of Meg getting married and 'leaving her' and her reconsideration of marrying Laurie despite her unchanged feelings) The film also does a beautiful job depicting the many kinds of compassion and intimacy that can exist between people beyond romantic love
Yes!! I’m aro-spec ace and this is my personal favorite interpretation because I relate so so so strongly to so much of Jo in this film. This film makes me feel Seen and Understood, and I love it for it.
What's great about this movie is the structure Gerwig decided on. The book/other movies start with all of the young stuff so it gets a bit saccarine and silly. Gerwig front loaded and spread out all of the older more high-stakes decisions that they all had to make about how to live their lives and support themselves or marry. That makes the movie so much deeper and more important and relatable. And you can see the parallels between the flashbacks and the adult decisions when it's structured this way. Also, the film is visually stunning. I think it's one of the most beautifully designed and films movies I've ever seen. If you notice, the flashback/childhood scenes are all yellow tones and the stuff when they're older are much more gray/blue tones.
I know some people don’t like the structure, but as someone who grew up watching Little Women on stage rather than on my TV screen, I LOVED it! Being able to immediately see where everyone is in their lives by flashing forward really helps to endear us to their growth and struggles. Especially for Amy! Seeing the immediate contrast between a more impulsive and immature Amy to a still-excitable (when she sees Laurie) but now-pragmatic and desiring of respect adult Amy shows the viewer that she matures and grows, which helps temper any dislike they have of her child self.
I absolutely love this movie with all my heart!! Just a quick thing, the time jumps you can tell when they are by the theme of the color background. 7 years ago and so on is more joyful warm feeling colors. The present moments are shown more cool tone and soft. Which i absolutely love the way they did it! When I first watched it I didn’t expect to cry the way I did lol. I get teary eye everytime I watch it. In a way I understood a lot of what the girls were going through, not just with their own struggles but with losing a sibling. The way Jo finally wrote what was in her heart and it was truly for Beth that’s when it hit me. When Beth told Jo on the beach “Do what Marmee says, do it for somewhat else”, I love that saying because in a way that’s what’s beautiful about creating not only your own piece for yourself but for others. I also loved each sister’s personality and feel on the way the world works. Thank you guys so much for watching this film!!
A few things about this story and this film: * Although this is a period drama it’s in quite a different time and setting than Pride and Prejudice. Jane Austen’s novels were penned in the early 1800s and are set in that time period in England; think Napoleonic wars time period. Little Women is set in America during the Civil War, in the 1860s. The fashion is a good clue here since the way women dressed changed drastically from 1820s-1860s. * The novel is considered semi-autobiographical for Louisa May Alcott. She did grow up in Concord, Massachusetts, had a sister that died young, and never married. Here parents were involved in the transcendentalism movement that originated in New England at that time and Louisa grew up near Ralph Waldo Emerson and Thoreau. At one point she also was a nurse serving in the civil war effort. * Greta Gerwig’s choice to make Jo’s future with the Professor questionable was due to the fact that Louisa May Alcott never married and there is record of her sort-of being forced into writing a romance ending for Jo. Gerwig did this to honor the life of the author as well as her character. It’s a bit controversial though since it deviates so much from the source material. In the book, Professor Bhaer is a fat, old, lovable German professor who takes care of his two orphaned nieces and nephews - definitely nothing like the actor they cast in this production, lol!
My favorite reaction channel, not only the movies and series they choose and the quality of the videos, but it is very easy to laugh or empathize with the guys. Quality and quantity of content. I'm a fan. Love, from Argentina.
I grew up on the 94 version and love it. It’s very different with linear storytelling and much more emphasis on the romance with Jo and the Professor, and the cast is impeccable as well. When the 2019 version came out, I also loved it and both are in my top favorite movies of all time. I think the non-linear storytelling added something new, as well as the commentary they added on what it means to be a woman in this world, the content was made so relevant to now and the dual ending interpretation was brilliant. It was a joy to watch y’all watch this film!
Lol the haircutting is a very iconic scene from the book! The golden glow of the scenes in thr past verses the cool tones of the present day showed the time jumps. I'm glad you all enjoyed and appreciated this movie though, its very true to to original story 😊
Yes this is semi autobiographical. You can visit Orchard House in Concord Mass, and see where Louisa May Alcott grew up. There are pictures drawn on the walls by her sister (Amy) in charcoal. One is of a small tree with a bench and the view from the window is a Large tree that has grown around the bench. When I sat there I was hit by the fact I was sitting where she wrote these stories I loved growing up.
for some reason i always end up watching this around my birthday. not even seeking it out, it just finds me!! that's so funny it was you guys this time XD
Recently, this has become my favourite reaction channel. Normally, most reactors have their discussion within the reaction, or just a short bit after it, but you guys spend adequate time discussing everything you see, and I never skip these discussions. Same with your AOT reactions.
The themes here really get me every time. Everything about sisterhood shown- the chaos, the fights, the playing, the selflessness. Every one’s own story being portrayed. My favorite version of Little Women this far.
I love throwing in the idea that Jo is a lesbian who knows she can't love Laurie, but due to society confining her she can't find love as openly as she wishes. So she has strong friendships instead - and when Laurie confesses, it intersects with her losing that strong friendship. She decides to herself it'd be easier to fake happiness with a man than be alone, so she wants to go back on her decision, and when he marries Amy it's perfect timing to save Jo for a horrible decision. This way she'll still have him in her life, but she isn't dooming herself and their 'marriage.'
I wish you guys would watch the 1994 Little Women. It has an excellent cast and it is very close to the book. This one was good too, and I appreciated the ending being ambiguous for Jo but the time jumps back and forth were annoying and ruined a lot of the story for me.
Little Women and Little Men were my favorite books as a kid, and Louisa May Alcott was an incredible author. I also read a book about her life. She really did lose one of her three sisters, and the story of Little Women was based off stories from her own life.
I love that you’re an unlikely audience that completely embraced the film and enjoyed the complex layers and simplicity! ❤ it is indeed based on Louisa’s life and her sisters. She really did cut and sell her hair. Beth really did pass away. And she never married, but was met with pushback from publishers on her ending and changed it. Her house can be found in Massachusetts where I grew up.
It would be awesome if you could watch the 90s version of this. It also has an amazing cast. Winona Ryder plays Jo, Claire Danes plays Beth, Kirsten Dunst plays Amy.. I can't remember the others right now. But for me the 90s version of Little Women is amazing! And it doesn't have all the time jumps . So it's much easier to keep up with the story. Please react to it. Honestly it's an even more heartwarming depiction of Louisa May Alcott's classic!
I grew up with my grandparents so my 'Little Women' was the 1947 one with Elizabeth Taylor as Amy. Looks like there's not many of us 😄 I love that this version honor's the author's wishes and let's Jo's 'happy ending' be the achievement of her goals.
You should react to Jane Eyre. I recommend the 2011 version because of the cast. We are talking about Mia Wasikowska as Jane Eyre, Michael Fassbender as Mr Rochester, Sally Hawkins as Mrs Reed and Judi Dench as Mrs Fairfax. It's one of my favorite adaptation of my favorite book
The 1994 version is every bit worth reacting to! I love it equally to this one-both have their strengths and a few weaknesses. There was a miniseries version a year or two before this one, with Maya Hawke as Jo (before she was on Stranger Things), but sadly it was a rather milquetoast production compared to the most recent films. I still think your next period drama should be the 2020 Emma with Anya Taylor Joy though!
For anyone wondering $20 in 1868, when little women was first published, is about $440 today. So when Meg spends $15 on fabric for a dress she really spends over $300 in single income household, and her husband is a teacher.
guys i think you would absolutely love the show "Anne with an E", every episode is just incredible, the story that characters.. i would love to see you watching it so so so much
48:50 u guys, Jo doesnt love Teddy in dat way. u noticed it urself wen she said she'd rather be loved and that she wants to sorta try this path (of being loved by a man and as a wife) coz she is quite like that in nature (thats what makes her a great writer). Anyways so dont feel bad for the Laurie thing. Amy herself noted that she'd always loved Teddy, kept it managed for her circumstance and family. Teddy was rejected by Jo but remains a close friend of the family. so no need to feel bad in that sense or for this reason for jo.
I always loved how Laurie loved Jo but like he says his love for Amy is different. I truly think he meant it. That scene were he said she looked beautiful and they had that heart to heart about her being a failure is the moment he fell for her
This reaction means so much to me I literally screamed when I got the notification. Little Women shaped me into the woman I am today and Greta Gerwig is INCREDIBLE.
Yes Louisa May Alcott, like Jo, wrote about her life. She too lost her sister very young. The book is not an autobiography but definitely about her life and sisters.
Another good reaction. I love the analysis at the end of your reactions. This is one of my favorite stories. I am more used to the Winona Ryder version as me and my daughter watch that movie every Christmas season. I love Laura Dern's comment about being angry. Sometimes children forget that mothers are people, not just mothers and what may appear to everyone as a mom being in control at all times, is really that mom putting in so much effort. Any who..... Love your channel!
I love that you guys are watching Little Women but now I would love to see you watch the MUCH better 1994 version. 🥰 I started watching the reaction;and remembered why this version is good but 1994 is better. The earlier version I feel gives a much better understanding on the family and the backstory. You guys doing a comparison would be so interesting.
i cry a river every time i watch this movie. it's so beautiful and emotional and hits so hard, both the sad parts and Jo getting her dream at the end. i love it so much
Yes, Louisa May Alcott based much (but not all) of the book on her own life. I visited the Alcott home in Concord, Mass in 2019. The attic was actually the place where the Alcott sisters put on their own plays in real life. Lousia (whose family called her May) never married.
This movie is just stunningly shot. I remember being overwhelmed with how beautiful the scenes were in the studio. A wonderful retelling of a fantastic story too!
42:30 rewatching this, that is a very childish type of love, where you feel like you have to change yourself just for that person and where you would die or rather die than to not have them in your life. It’s like a dependency type of love he had for Jo.
I’m so so happy you guys reacted to this movie! They did a great job showing the different versions of life young women went through in that time, which many can relate nowadays too
Jo is the character I relate most to out of all fiction. This movie is really such an amazing adaptation for bringing the characters to life with so much heart and emotion
One of my favorite movies, also fun fact you can tell if its the future if the background is dark and bleak and the past if its light and sunny that's how you tell the difference between the timeline in this amazing movie!
Someone mentioned it already here but what I love about the time jumps in the movie is that you can clearly see the color grading changes drastically between the two time periods. The younger years of the sisters are shown in very bright, almost whimsical colors (deep reds, yellows, bright and energetic) while the later years are shown as gray, bluish coloring. The music is also different, the tone changes from bright and bubbly to more mature and somber throughout. those little details are some of my favorites in the movie ☺️
The Alcotts were huge into the Transcendentalism scene around that time (think Emerson and Whitman and Thoreau). The book is heavy with the morals of self improvement because they believed that people were able to achieve perfection by rejecting some of the more corrupting forces of society. Thus, Meg overcomes her vanity and desire for material things, Amy her jealousy, and Jo tempers her ambition. They were kind of the weirdo-commune-hippie folk of the Civil War era. That is why the Alcott (and therefore the March) sisters had more freedom of expression growing up than their contemporaries would have had at the time.
I saw this in theaters twice because I loved it so much. I sob every time I watch it and I relate to all the sisters in different ways. There were SO many moments that hit so hard and made me a blubbering mess. I actually haven't read the book or seen the '94 version but I definitely plan to. Loved your reaction as always, guys!!
I bet you'd all enjoy Far From the Madding Crowd (2017). It explores similar themes of young love vs mature love, sacrifices made for work and for love, beating stacked odds, grief and loss - not to mention great acting and cinematography.
A good way to tell the difference between the past and present scenes is the coloring of the scene. The memories are warmer toned, when Jo was happy and content. Present day is cooler, when shes more unhappy and lost
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React to Jigarthanda Doublex ....I hope its just made for you guyss....movie lovers....and for people who enjoy technicalities in movies
You guys should react to Juno
The ad was pretty entertaining lol. I didn't even skip it.
Okay I'm loving the commercials guys! 😂
Big fan! Love the videos! Give Mr. In-Between a try, I'm sure you guys will love it.
For people struggling with the time jumps, 7 years ago is filmed with warm lighting while current day is filmed with cool lighting. I love how it feels like the past is warmer and happier than the current day.
I thought that, too, but there is a winter flashback with cool lighting - when Amy falls in the frozen lake. I think the climax with Beth's passing is intentionally more challenging to determine if it's past or present so that the discovery of her loss hits harder. Even if you're familiar with the story, you wouldn't know when that moment is coming, and the jump-cuts really make you feel Jo's shock. The way this version is cut together makes it so much more rewatchable, imho. :)
The nostalgia lens :D
I love the fact this version really explores how Jo struggles with discontentment and loneliness in her life, exacerbated by losing Beth. In those moments, past decisions tent to feel wrong, you idealise alternative lives and often end up making wrong decisions trying to escape the discomfort of the present life. I love how the mother cut through the whole thing by pointing out that Jo still doesn't love Laurie (and therefore the original reason for the rejection has't changed). Even in her letter to him, Jo talks about marriage being more appealing, not that she changed her feelings. I am so glad the story went in the direction it did. Not many stories explore that sense of being stuck and discontent as a propellent for action (writing) not something to desperately escape from (idealised alternatives).
YES YES YES. That's why I preferred this version. That one line saying how women are all these different things but then also feeling that loneliness is SO perfect and how I feel sometimes. It's part of why I loved Captain Marvel so much (though so many others didn't like it) because it was such a RELIEF to have a theme of a movie about a woman be resiliency instead of "love is a strength!" I do wonder if Jo would've been more open to marriage if same-sex couples were more socially acceptable at the time.
I'm sure there's a biological reason but I always thought resiliency was why women live longer.
@@megroy6396 i kinda hate this thought process, that seems to be a trend nowadays, that just because she wanted a real, dedicated career and not get married means she's lesbian. Straight women can still not want a marriage with a man. And no don't start with the asexual bs
@@SurprisedEagleRay-ic3fy Okay, well, first of all, I *am* a lesbian. And there's a difference between a teenager (like in Brave) not wanting to be married and someone significantly older saying they want to be alone permanently.
But also, even fifty years ago marriage meant something very different for women than it does now. Men really had control over the life of their wives, birth control was rarer, and it also meant you were expected to stop working. I have a great aunt who didn't get married specifically because she loved teaching and a husband would've expected her to stop working. Marriage meant the loss of freedom back then in a way it doesn't today. Point being that there were reasons to turn down marriage, but the movie (and book) don't specify why she didn't want to be married. So I was musing on if it was companionship she didn't want, or the lack of freedom that came with marriage back then.
@@megroy6396 she already stated that lack of freedom was the agency though, multiple times
Well, there's been deep speculation about Alcott's gender and sexuality back in the day (there have been really fascinating academic papers writer about it).
I can tell you first-hand, I translated one of her books: there's a novel called Work, that is also semi autobiographical, about a young woman having to do the small jobs that were allowed to women back then, to support her family - governess, elderly companion, seamstress, hat maker, laundress. All of them jobs that Alcott had to do in real life.
Now, in that novel, she writes *very extensively* about her infatuation with another woman, a coworker at the hat making atelier. She describes her as the most incredibly gorgeous vision she has ever seen. She follows her, trying to find where she lives. She writes her passionate letters, and gives her gifts. They become bosom buddies.
Of course, this being the 1800s, she couldn't write a same-sex romance. Her solution? Well, the woman she actually loves has a brother, and our Alcott stand-in quickly marries said brother about a month after meeting him.
The *very night* of the wedding, the war gets worse, and he runs to enlist to save the North.
Immediately, he gets killed on the front lines.
Now, his very respectable widow can live together with his bereaved sister in the big house, as ~very respectable roommates~ and sisters-in-law for the rest of their lives!
It's just so hilariously transparent, it's great.
And if we consider how very autobiographical her novels are, well...
As people are saying, the semi-autobiographical novel Little Women is written by Louisa May Alcott who herself never married, but as depicted with Jo in the movie was made to marry off her heroine by publishers.
By cutting together the end of the film the way she did, Greta Gerwig attempted to honor both endings - the book ending out of respect for returning audiences who have long-loved the novel and various film adaptations (all of which have ended with Jo married), and an alternate ending in which Jo, true to her convictions, is married only to her craft by the end having successfully found her voice and her path to autonomy and freedom.
Even before this film came out, to many, this hypothetical ending felt like it would have been a little more authentic to Jo’s trajectory as a character and of course to Louisa May Alcott's life. In 2019, giving the audience the option to choose which ending they prefer for Jo now that it is no longer mandatory that a woman be married or dead by the end of her story, I think is a brilliant choice.
Greta ADDED greatness and complexity to an already timeless, worldwide loved, great, complex classic. A favorite of mine. I will admire and love her forever for it.
Well said!
I’ve always watched it and chosen the third ending: where Jo gets it all, the published novel, the school, and the marriage.
@@ashlyn8185 yeah, maybe Louisa was gay an so she wouldn't have been happy with a Bear(d), but Jo canonically does love him and they're happy and fullfil together and in their lives. That's how I always took it. But what Greta did was an alternative ending that I feel in my heart Louisa would have preferred, leaving it ambiguous as to whether she married (or was gay), and the way she did it gave us the experience of both.
Agreed, I wasn’t sold on the ending at first because I’ve always liked Professor Bhaer and he is important to both sequels. His and Jo’s personalities complement each other really well. But the ending has really grown on me because Greta Gerwig did such a good job of making the ending sort of ambiguously work for everyone. It was a really well executed, even though I do wish we’d gotten a good adaptation of that chapter in the book. The conversation between her and Bhaer is really beautiful. But I can’t complain with giving Alcott the ending she wanted, but in the most faithful way to the book possible.
I saw an interview where she said instead of it being “girl gets boy” she wanted to make it “girl gets book” and honestly I think Alcott would have adored that attitude. The male characters did take a back seat in the film but not in a way that made them unimportant. It just emphasized that the story was more about life, ambitions, and family than it was just another romance.
a note of the time jumps: if you noticed, the color palette is very different, warm yellow tones for the flashbacks vs the cold blue tones for the current/now time :)
jo's conflict with getting married is so real. as someone that has seen many women close to me lose themselves after marriage, it is extremely scary. constantly seeing the negatives of it is unavoidable. its the endless battle of being alone VS being scared of choosing the wrong guy and being under control of him.
also her being conflicted on whether to choose to love or be loved is a reason why so many marriages that occur end up failing. you love the way they treat you but do not love them back. for a centuries old book, the things that happen are still so relevant today!
I so relate to everything you said. But I'll always prefer the few rare moments of extreme loneliness over the horrors I've witnessed. Men don't get it, but for women especially back then it was a very deal. Jo would not have ended up like her aunt.
I also related to the expectation the family had for Jo to love Laurie. Growing up I had a close (male) friend that my siblings and mom were all convinced I'd get together with. Explaining I cared for him, but not in that way, always just got me smirks and nods. Thankfully my friends were on my side, and it all worked out in the end with him finding someone (else) to love.
But so much literature pushes the expectation that you HAVE to fall in love with your childhood best-friend, when that's simply not a give-in.
For this book to have captured the reality that you can love a boy like a brother, without ever loving him like a (potential) husband is so refreshing.
@@yuukinoyuki9064 I had a similar situation with a close male friend. Friends and family assumed we'd get together, encouraged him to ask me out despite knowing I had no romantic feelings. They got angry with me and said I was "being unfair" to him when I turned him down, as if I owed him physical intimacy for being my friend. I was no longer their friend after that. He was hurt by my rejection, understandably, and I told him to take as much time as he needed - even forever if necessary, and I'd still be here, happy to be his friend or wishing him well; whatever he was comfortable with. He took a couple years away, had some other relationships. Decades later, he's married with kids and we're friends again. He's been very encouraging of my career.
I hate the popular resentment around the so called "friend zone," as if anybody owes sex to anyone for any reason. As if people can't just be nice and supportive of each other. As if everyone must want the same things you want, and when you want them. I wouldn't expect that from my partner even if we were married. Some people are strange.
There have been FOUR feature film adaptations of this novel, and the films had the same trouble the novel did when it came to appealing to wide audiences: boys and men cannot be bothered to read it or watch it. It warms the heart to see four grown ass men watching this film and enjoying themselves. Good on you, fellas!
This is why your channel is one of the BEST!!! The diversity of your reactions are second to none!
Yes!!!
Yeah never thought they would react to such a feminine movie.
@@toshtao1they did Barbie (I think oak missed the point of the filmed though) also they reacted to Pride and Prejudice. Legally Blond 1 and 2, Clueless and Mean Girls. Lots of variety
@@toshtao1 feminine? Please keep the stereotypes at home
@@SurprisedEagleRay-ic3fyTo be fair the entire movie is about the woman experience. Its a feminine masterpiece
A lot of people says that Laurie and Jo should have ended up together but I dont believe so. Laurie's love for Jo was a boy's love. What he feels for Amy is a man's love. Laurie said it himself. " i've always loved you, but the love I feel for Amy is different. "
Jo and Laurie had this childish, innocent first love. Laurie and Amy has the realistic, authentic, adult love.
Its not better nor worst. Just different.
I agree! Amy was the one who pushed Laurie to become a better version of himself, to grow up in a way that Jo didn't. I think Jo was right that if she and Laurie were married they would make each other miserable, they're too much alike.
Yes agree
Totally agree
@@bookworm598 exactly! Jo and Laurie were made to be friends, to laugh and play and be angry at each other for stupid things like kids do. The innocent, free childhood. And thats absolutly ok.
Amy and Lauire were also " friends " since childhood but not in the same way. Not close enough. So when they met again as adults, they realize that THAT version of themselves is the right one.
I don't think he should have ended up with Jo but I think he settled for Amy. It has nothing to do with a man's love. He simply is still grasping at Jo
"I'm angry everyday of my life" damn that hit close to home. Sometimes that's all it takes.
mason quinn: meg
the answer: amy
diamond dave: jo
the oak: beth
I wouldn’t liken Oak to Beth, but the others are perfect!
@@melanie62954 With his insights and depth, I can see the Bath connection ❤
@@melanie62954 I think The Oak is very emotionally intelligent, and that often translates to goodness of character.
@@ariadnepyanfar1048 Good points! I see it now.
@@melanie62954 and hes the quiet one
20 dollars in 1860, is roughly 757 dollars today, so it was still a nice sum she got
thank you :)
Damn that puts into perspective the amount that Meg spent on the fabric too. No wonder why her husband was frustrated
That gasp Answer let out when Teddy let it drop that he married Amy is everything I could have ever hoped for. 😂
so cute
I grew up constantly rewatching the Winona Ryder version so for me that is the best version but there are SO MANY incredible acting moments in this one. My favorite scene is still when Laurie tells Amy not to marry Fred. Florence's face gets me every time :(
I agree. That one was star packed. Winona Ryder, Susan Sarandon, Claire Danes, Christian Bale, Gabriel Byrne, Eric Stoltz. It's still my favorite version today. This one is ok.
I love that one too, but this one lets me like Amy more.
I love it too I shipped them from the beginning 😂❤
I know people love that version, but this one makes a much better work on showing the greatness of Amy. She was the meant half for Laurie and this version did it perfectly
@@MTech07 I prefer the Rider version (largely because I prefer Jo as a character) but I agree that this movie was better for Amy's character. If for no other reason than I understood her marriage to Laurie in this one
I'm so glad you guys watched this! The novel is my one of my favorite childhood books and the 1949 version with Liz Taylor is actually my comfort movie when I don't feel good. I love this entire reaction and yes, to answer Mason's question, this is loosly based on Louisa May Allcott's experiences growing up in Massachusetts with her three sisters.
The author was Louisa May Alcott. She did say that she used a lot of her life to write the book and she said that she was Jo. She was a tomboy, with sisters she adored, one of them died still very young. All and all lots of similarities. Although she never married. Thank you for watching this movie guys.
You probably saw the most growth in Amy because in the past, she's meant to be the youngest of the sisters at 12 years old. As a result, she's a bit more spoiled and immature. Granted, Florence Pugh is a grown woman so it can be a bit hard to get the age she is meant to be at. However, I think Florence did a great job at portraying a young capricious child
Mr. Laurence was grieving for his daughter because the piano Beth was playing belonged to her.
I read the book and have seen every version of this movie, and this is the first one that genuinely made me feel for Amy. Florence Pugh did an amazing job bringing her to life.
In so many of the other versions, it truly feels like Laurie just settles for Amy. But in this one, she challenges him and inspires him to finally grow up for real. And the scene where he asks her not to marry Fred Vaughn, and she pours out her heart and says she has been second to Jo all her life and will not accept being “settled for” just because he can’t have Jo. Them getting together finally actually feels earned and like the more mature, grown up love that a couple needs to succeed and have a happy marriage. I like it ❤️
@@juliewagner3023 I couldn't have said it better myself!
It doesn’t matter who you are, Beth’s purity of heart, meekness, and bravery in the face of a shortened lifespan breaks just about anybody 💔
The book "Little Women" is considered a classic of American writing. It was an immediate hit and has never been out of print. The book is loosely based on her experiences growing up with her three sisters and although Jo in the book married, Louisa Mae Alcott never did. The house that they filmed in was an exact replica of Louisa May Alcott's house. One word about women being forced to look to a marriage to survive and how they were perceived as property. It's a common thought that that was long ago. But within my lifetime is when it just began to change. It was the 1970's when women were finally allowed to have credit on their own terms without a male co-signer. I remember when women did not own property without a male's consent for things like a mortgage. It was truly not that long ago at all as it is within my memory of how and when it changed.
Exactly. It's funny to me how uncomfortable some guys get with the topic of equality between men and women. I love that these guys are open minded enough to watch films like this, but they struggled with Amy's very accurate speech about marriage being economic for women. "Some would say she's not wrong," lol. I guess "some" means historians?
And yeah, it really wasn't that long ago that American women *started* having similar rights to men. Roughly 200 years since this novel, and women still face a wage gap even with the same or better education/experience, discrimination in STEM, and they're struggling to be elected into the White House while open s*xual predators are paraded as their "best" competition. Not to mention the loss of reproductive rights & bodily autonomy. Like, hi, yes, we live here, too.
This movie is set some 50 years after Pride and Prejudice which was in Regency era England around 1811 while Little Women is set in the 1860s during the American Civil War.
That ad btw, give Answer that Oscar right now!!!
I grew up on the ‘94 version. It’s a comfort movie, so it will always be my favorite, but this one is great. Glad you guys enjoyed it!
We've e seen the cast for the 94 film. We do want to do that one of there's interest from folks.
@@BaddMedicine I hope so🤞🏼the production on it is beautiful and the cast is perfect.
@@BaddMedicineI personally would be thrilled if you reacted to the 94 version. It’s the best version of this story in my opinion. All good if not though.
Yes, please do the 1994 version! This one is beautiful but nothing beats the 90s classic -- it's perfect.
@@BaddMedicine I'd love to see y'all's reaction to that one. TBH I actually like like the 2019 version better. Having seen it out of order I think the story works better that way, I've never been a Christian Bale or Susan Sarandon fan, and I hate that they switch actresses for Amy, since she was only one year younger than Beth. Though anyone who doesn't completely fall in love with Claire Danes's Beth in the 90's version is WRONG because she is 100% perfect.
Oh I can't believe you guys are doing this one. I love Little Women. I've seen multiple versions of it over the years. Honestly I shouldn't even be surprised. Y'all always pick such varied and awesome movies and series to watch for/with us.
Just started watching the reaction and had to immediately add this edit: Answer landing "oblique first" had me dying. Holy sh*t 😂😂 I can't with y'all. LMFAO
😂 glad you picked up on the "oblique" 🤜🤛
@@BaddMedicine what'S that about? :D Is it an insider?
@@voyance4elle so many movies people get shot or stabbed buts it's never fatal since it's pretty much always in the oblique muscle...so the guys have been making little comments on here for years about "it's okay, they got it in the oblique." It never ceases to make me crack up.
It's the same kinda thing when people joke that someone is still alive in a movie (even if it's a seriously bad injury) if their shoes are still on...but if their shoes are knocked off, even something super minor, that they somehow won't survive.
@@scarlettsugar8159 Aaaaah that's funny :D Thank you for explaining!! :)
To answer Mason Quinn and the Oak's question Louisa May Alcott did draw from her own life when writing Little Women. She wrote about her sisters and Jo is very much based on herself. Everything from being able to write with both hands. However, Louisa May Alcott never married. So, Gretta did an amazing job with this film because during the conversation with the publisher Jo is almost playing Louisa May Alcott. So, this is an absolutely amazing film and I loved your reaction.
Love the way Greta Gerwig solved the issues with the ending of the original two-part novel, by restoring Louisa May Alcott's original intent (and changing the actual ending of the story.)
I love the way the ending is done. Imo it HEAVILY hints at Jo with her book beeing the true ending and the romance etc beeing fiction. That train station scene just felt beyond cheesy and over the top to me and rhe way its edited clearly implies it being the ending Jo added to satisfy the publisher. I love it.
The other brilliant thing Gerwig does with this material is the time jumps. Anyone who's read the book knows that the second half (the second volume as originally published) is serious and sad and full of gravitas and lost chances. It gets kinda grim. By time-jumping, Gerwig manages to avoid the other issue with Alcott's original book: turning the back half the movie into a total bummer to watch. (Lots of other Little Women movie adaptations just leave the 2nd half of the book for like the last 20-30 minutes of the film to try to push through it.)
the GASPS after “my wife” took me OUTTT
I’m another long time Badd Medicine watcher who ADORES the ‘94 version of this story! This one has its charms, and the acting is great, but I think it changes the characters SO much compared to the ‘94 version, and I like the characters more in the ‘94 version.
They also have very different feels to them.
I saw you guys comment somewhere here that if there’s enough interest, you’ll watch the ‘94 one too, and I for one would JUMP at that! 😍
I adore Florence Pugh as an actress, but man her age really takes me out of the plot of the book. Amy is 12 at the beginning of the book. Obviously all these actresses are way older than their characters (Meg 16, Jo 15 and Beth 13) but I feel like Florence looks so adult, maybe even more adult than Saoirse, and it is made worse bc Beth's actress is 3 years younger than Florence. The 1994 version actually has 2 actresses for Amy because she is so young at the beginning, with then 11 year old Kirsten dunst playing her as a 12 year old. I get why they didn't do it, but it makes it harder to understand why she is left out (shes simply too young, and thus it would be widely inappropriate for her to be at parties or at the theatre that late- Marmee would not allow it either. It's not Jo's fault, its a societal rule) when she looks the same age as Meg and Jo. It also takes away any patience I have with the book character for burning Jo's book as it comes off more childish bc the person doing it looks like a grown woman instead of a 12-13 year old girl. She is utterly perfect as 20 year old Amy in Paris, but I don't like her when shes 23 playing a 12 year old
i totally understand what you mean! personally tho the actress switching in other versions takes me out of the experience more especially cause the other sisters aren't switched. also changing the actress in this non linear storytelling wouldn't work at all. i agree its hard to believe Florence as a 12y/o but she has enough of a baby face that its passable added to her mannerisms and costumes plus the demeanour change in comparison to the present
This is my favorite adaptation of Little Women! And I love the little nod to the fact that Louisa May Alcott was forced by her publisher to make Jo marry somebody at the end of the book.
They are based on her family. The real Amy was actually really successful. She was the first woman to have work displayed at the Paris Salon, and acted as tutor and mentor to American sculptor Daniel Chester French, who went on to create the Lincoln Memorial.
this movie is such a rollercoaster of emotions. ive heard talks about mischaracterizations and comparisons to the 90s version and whatnot but i simply do not care😂its a perfect movie in my eyes. the filming, colors and tones, the soundtrack, and the acting and script 10/10 id be so proud of this project if i was greta and im sure she is!
edit: the thing with time jumps i think colors help a lot for me. every time its the past the room oozes of warmth, even in scenes where Beth was sick it was still warm. in contrast to the present where everything is cold and stiff. makes you feel like Jo is living through the sad reality of adulthood. a neat trick
another thing greta and the cast did so well was capturing the chaos of having four kids/teens talking and fighting over each other in one room haha! must be a nightmare for camera work. theres a clip on youtube of greta pulling apart one single scene piece by piece and it was eyeopening for me how much thought is put into framing in movies
*I try so hard not to be That Person but I think you mean "adulthood" instead of "adultery?" Adultery means cheating on a spouse.
People feel it mischaracterizes them?? I watched the 90s version, it is my favorite, and I've read the book, too. My whole family was excited to see this adaptation when it dropped, and I walked away from it smiling.
The 90s version is still my favorite, but I'd have never thought to say this movie got any of the characters wrong?!
@@megroy6396 whoops! im not a native so thank you for that haha
@@yuukinoyuki9064 i once saw some folks talked about how they didnt like how jo&Laurie is portrayed in a random comment section i think. i dont rmb much unfortunately😅
@@GummyCalico Ah, fair enough. Little Women is a classical tale that's often adapted, or acted on stage, much like Shakespeare. People will have opinions on their favorite actors/acting choices. But as long as the characters make the same choices they did in the books (these characters did) it's wrong to say they weren't being true to character.
Although I'm sure some people would say that, instead of what they meant, "I prefer how Jo/Laurie were portrayed in..."
Saoirse Ronan has said in interviews about how to pronounce her name: “Sersha like Inertia” ☺️
Also, the ‘94 version is incredible, we’d love to see you guys react to it, and that one is told chronologically so you guys wouldn’t get lost ☺️
Also also, I LOVE the fact that the Oak got so into it, his only wish would be sooo much more of this story and this cast. I love that so much, you guys are the best!
Thank yall SO MUCH for watching this!!!
It's pretty inspired by her life with her sisters. Her relationship with the sister that inspired Amy at least was pretty similar in how complicated it was. Louisa May Alcott also had a collection of novellas/short stories that are 'scandalous' or 'violent' like Jo wrote that she published incognito but that have been found since then. Also, in being pressured by the publishers to have Jo marry by the end of it.
Louisa really didn't want that as she was a spinster and Jo was the character inspired by her. It led to her adding in a romantic partner later in the book last minute and she made him someone that wouldn't be considered attractive at the time as a bit of rebellion. He's described as pretty ugly, old and an immigrant (the horror lol) however movies have been making him hotter and hotter in each adaptation. Jo's and Frederick's relationship is meant to be a marriage of the minds, of intellects instead of romantic.
40:52 the thing is, aunt march’s promise was dependent on jo doing what aunt march wanted. the trip to europe was to find a wealthy husband to support the march family, and the big thing about jo is that she doesn’t want to get married and wants to make her own way in the world. on the other hand, amy understands marrying rich is going to be beneficial for her entire family, and was ready to marry Fred Vaughn (until Laurie basically admitted to loving her).
also, this might be an unpopular opinion, but i dislike the letter jo writes. i don’t recall it being in the book, and i don’t think it adds much other than confusion for people who aren’t sure who laurie should have ended up with.
this is such a comfort movie for me, my favourite little fun fact about this movie is that non of actresses that play the little women are actually american they are all doing an accent. emma watson and florence pugh are british, saoirse is irish and the actress that plays beth is australian!
Delightfully surprised by this watch!! I was also sometimes taken out of the story trying to figure out if we were in the past or present on my first watch, something I realized later was that all the past scenes were a lot more colorful and light hearted while the present was a lot darker, and this in all ways - lighting, set, clothes, actors expressions (maybe showing we view the past in rose tinted glasses but also that when we’re younger, we’re a lot lighter and don’t quite grasp the full struggles of adult life) Amy also confused people as in the original movie, they recast older Amy as she is supposed to be super young in the past (her burning the book makes a lot more sense with just how young she was) but I love Florence and think she did a pretty good job with portraying herself being younger!
Oak was on fire for this one. "Swing and a miss", and "what is this, speed-dating?" had me rolling on the floor.
I just now realised how in that scene where Beth gets the piano as a gift, the piano with the flowers on it looks like a coffin and is foreshadowing :( Please also watch the version from the 90s with Winona Ryder, it's also great and full of famous actors.
Also just wanted to point out that there’s a really strong asexual/aromantic reading of Jo’s character to be had in this film.
I would argue she does live and die by her heart as Laurie says she does. But her whole dilemma about desiring to be loved and feeling lonely comes about because she truly is not able to love in the way Laurie and Friedrich and society expects her to. This is a very relatable existential distress felt by many aro and ace people who may still love in other ways very fiercely
This film depicts the way ace people’s preferred forms of intimacy with others may become less and less acceptable and/or less and less common as they progress from childhood, leaving them to struggle to figure out their place in the world and find contentment and community
(Hence Jo’s dread of Meg getting married and 'leaving her' and her reconsideration of marrying Laurie despite her unchanged feelings)
The film also does a beautiful job depicting the many kinds of compassion and intimacy that can exist between people beyond romantic love
Yes!! I’m aro-spec ace and this is my personal favorite interpretation because I relate so so so strongly to so much of Jo in this film. This film makes me feel Seen and Understood, and I love it for it.
Wow, critics of the movie should read this.
What's great about this movie is the structure Gerwig decided on. The book/other movies start with all of the young stuff so it gets a bit saccarine and silly. Gerwig front loaded and spread out all of the older more high-stakes decisions that they all had to make about how to live their lives and support themselves or marry. That makes the movie so much deeper and more important and relatable. And you can see the parallels between the flashbacks and the adult decisions when it's structured this way. Also, the film is visually stunning. I think it's one of the most beautifully designed and films movies I've ever seen. If you notice, the flashback/childhood scenes are all yellow tones and the stuff when they're older are much more gray/blue tones.
I know some people don’t like the structure, but as someone who grew up watching Little Women on stage rather than on my TV screen, I LOVED it! Being able to immediately see where everyone is in their lives by flashing forward really helps to endear us to their growth and struggles. Especially for Amy! Seeing the immediate contrast between a more impulsive and immature Amy to a still-excitable (when she sees Laurie) but now-pragmatic and desiring of respect adult Amy shows the viewer that she matures and grows, which helps temper any dislike they have of her child self.
I absolutely love this movie with all my heart!! Just a quick thing, the time jumps you can tell when they are by the theme of the color background. 7 years ago and so on is more joyful warm feeling colors. The present moments are shown more cool tone and soft. Which i absolutely love the way they did it! When I first watched it I didn’t expect to cry the way I did lol. I get teary eye everytime I watch it. In a way I understood a lot of what the girls were going through, not just with their own struggles but with losing a sibling. The way Jo finally wrote what was in her heart and it was truly for Beth that’s when it hit me. When Beth told Jo on the beach “Do what Marmee says, do it for somewhat else”, I love that saying because in a way that’s what’s beautiful about creating not only your own piece for yourself but for others. I also loved each sister’s personality and feel on the way the world works. Thank you guys so much for watching this film!!
Little women is a remarkably wonderful book. This movie did it good service.
A few things about this story and this film:
* Although this is a period drama it’s in quite a different time and setting than Pride and Prejudice. Jane Austen’s novels were penned in the early 1800s and are set in that time period in England; think Napoleonic wars time period. Little Women is set in America during the Civil War, in the 1860s. The fashion is a good clue here since the way women dressed changed drastically from 1820s-1860s.
* The novel is considered semi-autobiographical for Louisa May Alcott. She did grow up in Concord, Massachusetts, had a sister that died young, and never married. Here parents were involved in the transcendentalism movement that originated in New England at that time and Louisa grew up near Ralph Waldo Emerson and Thoreau. At one point she also was a nurse serving in the civil war effort.
* Greta Gerwig’s choice to make Jo’s future with the Professor questionable was due to the fact that Louisa May Alcott never married and there is record of her sort-of being forced into writing a romance ending for Jo. Gerwig did this to honor the life of the author as well as her character. It’s a bit controversial though since it deviates so much from the source material. In the book, Professor Bhaer is a fat, old, lovable German professor who takes care of his two orphaned nieces and nephews - definitely nothing like the actor they cast in this production, lol!
I went to see this in the theater with my mom when it came out and i still remember the car ride back home. Pure feeling of womanhood :D
I totally understand
My favorite reaction channel, not only the movies and series they choose and the quality of the videos, but it is very easy to laugh or empathize with the guys. Quality and quantity of content. I'm a fan. Love, from Argentina.
I grew up on the 94 version and love it. It’s very different with linear storytelling and much more emphasis on the romance with Jo and the Professor, and the cast is impeccable as well.
When the 2019 version came out, I also loved it and both are in my top favorite movies of all time. I think the non-linear storytelling added something new, as well as the commentary they added on what it means to be a woman in this world, the content was made so relevant to now and the dual ending interpretation was brilliant. It was a joy to watch y’all watch this film!
Lol the haircutting is a very iconic scene from the book!
The golden glow of the scenes in thr past verses the cool tones of the present day showed the time jumps.
I'm glad you all enjoyed and appreciated this movie though, its very true to to original story 😊
Yes this is semi autobiographical. You can visit Orchard House in Concord Mass, and see where Louisa May Alcott grew up. There are pictures drawn on the walls by her sister (Amy) in charcoal. One is of a small tree with a bench and the view from the window is a Large tree that has grown around the bench. When I sat there I was hit by the fact I was sitting where she wrote these stories I loved growing up.
for some reason i always end up watching this around my birthday. not even seeking it out, it just finds me!! that's so funny it was you guys this time XD
Looked it up - Little Women was described as semi-autobiographic, as the characters were based on her sisters and male acquaintances.
Love you guys! Such a diverse spread of content and the films you watch. Love your reactions!
Recently, this has become my favourite reaction channel. Normally, most reactors have their discussion within the reaction, or just a short bit after it, but you guys spend adequate time discussing everything you see, and I never skip these discussions. Same with your AOT reactions.
The warm-toned scenes are past, the cooler bluish scenes are present.
exactly! it’s so genius.
The themes here really get me every time. Everything about sisterhood shown- the chaos, the fights, the playing, the selflessness. Every one’s own story being portrayed. My favorite version of Little Women this far.
I love throwing in the idea that Jo is a lesbian who knows she can't love Laurie, but due to society confining her she can't find love as openly as she wishes. So she has strong friendships instead - and when Laurie confesses, it intersects with her losing that strong friendship. She decides to herself it'd be easier to fake happiness with a man than be alone, so she wants to go back on her decision, and when he marries Amy it's perfect timing to save Jo for a horrible decision. This way she'll still have him in her life, but she isn't dooming herself and their 'marriage.'
I wish you guys would watch the 1994 Little Women. It has an excellent cast and it is very close to the book. This one was good too, and I appreciated the ending being ambiguous for Jo but the time jumps back and forth were annoying and ruined a lot of the story for me.
Little Women and Little Men were my favorite books as a kid, and Louisa May Alcott was an incredible author. I also read a book about her life. She really did lose one of her three sisters, and the story of Little Women was based off stories from her own life.
I love that you’re an unlikely audience that completely embraced the film and enjoyed the complex layers and simplicity! ❤ it is indeed based on Louisa’s life and her sisters. She really did cut and sell her hair. Beth really did pass away. And she never married, but was met with pushback from publishers on her ending and changed it. Her house can be found in Massachusetts where I grew up.
It would be awesome if you could watch the 90s version of this. It also has an amazing cast. Winona Ryder plays Jo, Claire Danes plays Beth, Kirsten Dunst plays Amy.. I can't remember the others right now. But for me the 90s version of Little Women is amazing! And it doesn't have all the time jumps . So it's much easier to keep up with the story. Please react to it. Honestly it's an even more heartwarming depiction of Louisa May Alcott's classic!
I grew up with my grandparents so my 'Little Women' was the 1947 one with Elizabeth Taylor as Amy. Looks like there's not many of us 😄
I love that this version honor's the author's wishes and let's Jo's 'happy ending' be the achievement of her goals.
You should react to Jane Eyre.
I recommend the 2011 version because of the cast. We are talking about Mia Wasikowska as Jane Eyre, Michael Fassbender as Mr Rochester, Sally Hawkins as Mrs Reed and Judi Dench as Mrs Fairfax.
It's one of my favorite adaptation of my favorite book
That is one of my favourite movies of all time.
The 1994 version is every bit worth reacting to! I love it equally to this one-both have their strengths and a few weaknesses. There was a miniseries version a year or two before this one, with Maya Hawke as Jo (before she was on Stranger Things), but sadly it was a rather milquetoast production compared to the most recent films. I still think your next period drama should be the 2020 Emma with Anya Taylor Joy though!
For anyone wondering $20 in 1868, when little women was first published, is about $440 today. So when Meg spends $15 on fabric for a dress she really spends over $300 in single income household, and her husband is a teacher.
As a kid I always thought this story was about really small ladies, like Thumbelina 😅
I think that's understandable ^^
No, there’s nothing better than the 1994 Little Women with Winona Ryder and Kirsten Dunst.
When Oak is too engrossed to take notes, you know it's good.
guys i think you would absolutely love the show "Anne with an E", every episode is just incredible, the story that characters.. i would love to see you watching it so so so much
Got him in the oblique with a screwdriver....hahaha. That made me laugh and visualize Oak's expression.
48:50 u guys, Jo doesnt love Teddy in dat way. u noticed it urself wen she said she'd rather be loved and that she wants to sorta try this path (of being loved by a man and as a wife) coz she is quite like that in nature (thats what makes her a great writer). Anyways so dont feel bad for the Laurie thing. Amy herself noted that she'd always loved Teddy, kept it managed for her circumstance and family. Teddy was rejected by Jo but remains a close friend of the family. so no need to feel bad in that sense or for this reason for jo.
I always loved how Laurie loved Jo but like he says his love for Amy is different. I truly think he meant it. That scene were he said she looked beautiful and they had that heart to heart about her being a failure is the moment he fell for her
As far as I know, from what I've read about Louis May Alcott, this was based on her real family and real life. Yes she cut her hair in the movie.
THIS IS THE ONE I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR! YAY, my two faves coming together at last.
This reaction means so much to me I literally screamed when I got the notification. Little Women shaped me into the woman I am today and Greta Gerwig is INCREDIBLE.
Yes Louisa May Alcott, like Jo, wrote about her life. She too lost her sister very young. The book is not an autobiography but definitely about her life and sisters.
Another good reaction. I love the analysis at the end of your reactions. This is one of my favorite stories. I am more used to the Winona Ryder version as me and my daughter watch that movie every Christmas season. I love Laura Dern's comment about being angry. Sometimes children forget that mothers are people, not just mothers and what may appear to everyone as a mom being in control at all times, is really that mom putting in so much effort. Any who..... Love your channel!
I absolutely loved the 90s version, grew up watching it. I love this version even more, brings me to tears everytime.
this version of the adaptation of the book will forever be my favourite. nothing can top the acting direction and cinematography
I love that you guys are watching Little Women but now I would love to see you watch the MUCH better 1994 version. 🥰 I started watching the reaction;and remembered why this version is good but 1994 is better. The earlier version I feel gives a much better understanding on the family and the backstory. You guys doing a comparison would be so interesting.
i cry a river every time i watch this movie. it's so beautiful and emotional and hits so hard, both the sad parts and Jo getting her dream at the end. i love it so much
Yes, Louisa May Alcott based much (but not all) of the book on her own life. I visited the Alcott home in Concord, Mass in 2019. The attic was actually the place where the Alcott sisters put on their own plays in real life. Lousia (whose family called her May) never married.
One of the best films of the last decade! Love that you guys will watch anything, keep up the amazing content!
This movie is just stunningly shot. I remember being overwhelmed with how beautiful the scenes were in the studio. A wonderful retelling of a fantastic story too!
42:30 rewatching this, that is a very childish type of love, where you feel like you have to change yourself just for that person and where you would die or rather die than to not have them in your life. It’s like a dependency type of love he had for Jo.
100% watch the 90s version!! It would be so interesting to see you watch and compare.
I’m so so happy you guys reacted to this movie! They did a great job showing the different versions of life young women went through in that time, which many can relate nowadays too
Jo is the character I relate most to out of all fiction. This movie is really such an amazing adaptation for bringing the characters to life with so much heart and emotion
One of my favorite movies, also fun fact you can tell if its the future if the background is dark and bleak and the past if its light and sunny that's how you tell the difference between the timeline in this amazing movie!
Someone mentioned it already here but what I love about the time jumps in the movie is that you can clearly see the color grading changes drastically between the two time periods. The younger years of the sisters are shown in very bright, almost whimsical colors (deep reds, yellows, bright and energetic) while the later years are shown as gray, bluish coloring. The music is also different, the tone changes from bright and bubbly to more mature and somber throughout. those little details are some of my favorites in the movie ☺️
You guys are lovely - so wholesome!
We hope everything is ok. 🤜🤛
@@BaddMedicine I'll see that tomorrow... ^^° job-stuff. I'm scared 😅
One of my favorite movies ANDDD books, it's a shame the other books don't get movie adaptations!
The Alcotts were huge into the Transcendentalism scene around that time (think Emerson and Whitman and Thoreau). The book is heavy with the morals of self improvement because they believed that people were able to achieve perfection by rejecting some of the more corrupting forces of society. Thus, Meg overcomes her vanity and desire for material things, Amy her jealousy, and Jo tempers her ambition. They were kind of the weirdo-commune-hippie folk of the Civil War era. That is why the Alcott (and therefore the March) sisters had more freedom of expression growing up than their contemporaries would have had at the time.
I saw this in theaters twice because I loved it so much. I sob every time I watch it and I relate to all the sisters in different ways. There were SO many moments that hit so hard and made me a blubbering mess. I actually haven't read the book or seen the '94 version but I definitely plan to. Loved your reaction as always, guys!!
I bet you'd all enjoy Far From the Madding Crowd (2017). It explores similar themes of young love vs mature love, sacrifices made for work and for love, beating stacked odds, grief and loss - not to mention great acting and cinematography.
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Watch the 1994 version!! While the main story obviously stays the same, the movies are quite different.
A good way to tell the difference between the past and present scenes is the coloring of the scene. The memories are warmer toned, when Jo was happy and content. Present day is cooler, when shes more unhappy and lost
Dang it, I wish you'd watched the 90's version with Winona Ryder, it's so much better.
Agreed!