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Movies / On DVD / Little Women
Little Women

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Little Women (1994)

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Reviews Counted:27

Fresh:24

Rotten:3

Average Rating:7.2/10

Runtime: 1 hr 58 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: The fourth screen adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's classic 1869 novel, LITTLE WOMEN, is given a realistic and rounded treatment by screenwriter Jo Swicord and Australian director Gillian... The fourth screen adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's classic 1869 novel, LITTLE WOMEN, is given a realistic and rounded treatment by screenwriter Jo Swicord and Australian director Gillian Armstrong, whose perspective emphasizes a feminist tone. The story chronicles the lives of a mother and four daughters and their daily toils during the Civil War in the absence of their father, a Union army chaplain. Winona Ryder (in an Oscar-nominated performance) is vibrant as Jo, the least conventional of the sisters. Christian Bale captures the ebullience of their neighbor, Laurie, whose company Jo enjoys so much it seems inevitable that they will end up together. Kirsten Dunst (at age 12) gives a fiery performance as the younger Amy, proving even more willful than Jo; Claire Danes brings a mysterious otherworldliness to Beth. LITTLE WOMEN, touchingly rendered, has many subtle moments and an appropriately moving visual sense to accompany the narrative. Susan Sarandon and Gabriel Byrne also star in this well-crafted film. [More]

Starring: Susan Sarandon, Winona Ryder, Gabriel Byrne, Trini Alvarado

Starring: Susan Sarandon, Winona Ryder, Gabriel Byrne, Trini Alvarado, Samantha Mathis, Claire Danes, Mary Wickes, Kirsten Dunst, Christian Bale, Eric Stoltz, Nigel Hawthorne, Hatty Jones, Frances McDormand

Director: Gillian Armstrong

Director: Gillian Armstrong

[See More Credits]

Reviews for Little Women

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1 - 20 (sorted by critic A-Z; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

Be prepared, however, for a large beaker of the milk of human kindness.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
02/09/06
Geoff Andrew
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

While adherents of the original will carp at some anachronistic themes, few will quibble about the quality of the performances.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
01/01/00
David Parkinson
David Parkinson
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Despite good casting, interesting sets and costumes and Armstrong's good direction, the viewers still might feel somewhat cheated -- instead of an interesting period piece they received ordinary melodrama.

Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
09/18/02
Dragan Antulov
Dragan Antulov
rec.arts.movies.reviews

It's the performances ... that make this movie special.

Full Review Source: ReelViews | comment Comment
01/01/00
James Berardinelli
James Berardinelli
ReelViews

Vibrant and appealing screen interpretation of Louis May Alcott's classic story about family as an evolving energy field of love.

Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice | comment Comment
08/26/02
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Spirituality and Practice

Little Women grew on me.

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
01/01/00
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Meticulously crafted, and warmly acted.

Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | comment Comment
01/01/00
Edward Guthmann
Edward Guthmann
San Francisco Chronicle

This time Winona Ryder plays Jo, and she is radiant.

comment Comment
01/01/00
John Hartl
John Hartl
Film.com

Ryder makes the character of Jo her own with a solid performance that takes her from girlhood to womanhood.

Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | comment Comment
01/01/00
Chris Hicks
Chris Hicks
Deseret News, Salt Lake City

The sixth filming may well rank as the most beautiful and compelling version, though certainly some will still prefer George Cukor's classic 1933 version.

Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
01/01/00
Mark R. Leeper
Mark R. Leeper
rec.arts.movies.reviews

It is a tale of love, strength, and self-esteem, sentiments which rarely go out of fashion.

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
01/01/00
Alison Macor
Alison Macor
Austin Chronicle

Ladies, get out your hand-hemmed handkerchiefs for the loveliest Little Women ever on screen.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
05/20/03
Janet Maslin
Janet Maslin
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

An outstanding version of Louisa May Alcott's perennial, one that surpasses even the best previous rendition, George Cukor's 1933 outing starring Katharine Hepburn.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
05/27/08
Todd McCarthy
Todd McCarthy
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Ryder has Gillian Armstrong to shape the surrounding story, etching scenes of the March girls into indelibly lovely images while emphasizing the underlying strength of Louisa Mae Allcott's family tale.

comment Comment
01/01/00
Lucy Mohl
Lucy Mohl
Film.com

The story of Little Women is given a new breath of life with this film, and it is still as relevant about our place in the world and overcoming its man-made obstacles as it was when it was written.

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
01/01/00
Christopher Null
Christopher Null
Filmcritic.com

It is a delight for anyone who appreciates genuine emotion, insight, and beautiful filmmaking.

Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
01/01/00
Scott Renshaw
Scott Renshaw
rec.arts.movies.reviews

The characters are two dimensional stick figures. They do absolutely no wrong.

Full Review Source: Internet Reviews | comment 1 Comment
01/01/00
Steve Rhodes
Steve Rhodes
Internet Reviews

Director Gillian Armstrong and writer Robin Swicord have fashioned an entrancing film from this distinctly unfashionable classic.

Full Review Source: TIME Magazine | comment Comment
01/01/00
Richard Schickel
Richard Schickel
TIME Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Director Gillian Armstrong's feminist spin on classic material retains the moving humanity of Louisa May Alcott's novel while reworking it with welcome freshness.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
12/04/06
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Devoted and lovely retelling of the classic story.

comment Comment
08/07/03
Nell Minow
Nell Minow
Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by critic A-Z; UK critics are listed first)
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Latest News for Little Women

December 19, 2006: RT's Top Seasonal Dramas -- Christmas Countdown, Day Two
Welcome to Day Two of RT's Five Days of Christmas Countdown, where we serve up a different list each day of the best holiday flicks around. Today, we've got some heavier... More...

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