Bookworm

Self-torture 2

I watched Little Women last night. The 1994 version with Winona Rider. I saw it once before, when it first came out.

Why do I do this to myself? That movie is . . . dreadful. Absolutely dreadful. I don't even know where to begin. The casting of Eric Stolz as Mr. Brooke [sputtering with indignation]? The outrageous and totally pointless liberties they took with the plot [further sputtering]? Winona Rider's portrayal of Jo as a goody-two-shoes [even more sputtering]? The fact that not one actual line from the book was used in the movie except as a corny voice-over when Jo was writing her novel [really angry now]?

I did like their house, though. The exterior is spookily similar to the way I've imagined it all these years. And Laurie. I liked Laurie.

posted by Julie on 1/31/2006

21 Comments:

  • Next time you feel this "temptation", I have some other suggestions, all PG. *Hugs* (I'm sure you remember we share very similar views regarding movies of books!)

    (Oh, my I typed the word "masochistic" instead of "tempation" the first time, but I edited my comment before publication, something I rarely do. Then I just glanced down before adding that "Oh my blah blah and saw "masochistic". It's in direct line under 2006/0 comments.) That must be a sign to catch up on reading or well, or... ;)

    posted by Blogger Gel on 11:34 PM  

  • "Temptation" and if I made any other typos, that's life, or "loaf." NO time to trash it and redo.
    Still love the green background here and crips design, accented by sky blue! You do nice work designing blogs, J!

    posted by Blogger Gel on 11:37 PM  

  • crisp- I give up. Wish my voice software worked because I'm taking my fingers to the cleaners. lol

    posted by Blogger Gel on 11:38 PM  

  • Oh Bookworm, I have found something else upon which we must agree to disagree. Not that I liked Jo so much--she is pretty simpering--but all the other characters I thought were very well-cast. However, I have to agree about the script. But that doesn't bother a teenager much, and I was a teenager when I first saw it, and fell in love. Will you henceforth spurn me for my lack of taste?

    posted by Anonymous Anonymous on 11:56 PM  

  • I agree about Winona. I have never fathomed why anyone ever cast this extremely Generation X actress in period roles: she was horrible in The Age of Innocence, Dracula, and especially Little Women. Bleahh!

    posted by Blogger Suzanne on 8:30 AM  

  • Oh, I remember liking that movie! (Of course, I haven't seen it in years.) I agree about Eric Stoltz, though I did love Susan Sarandon as Marmee.

    posted by Anonymous Anonymous on 11:21 AM  

  • I'm with Laura -- you'll have to forgive me my lack of novel devotion (I'm to be forgiven, too, for loving the A&E Pride and Prejudice, too.)I like it mostly because the movie's great for a good cry. And I still cry every time I watch Beth die.

    At least you agree that Christian Bale (whom I have recently decided is worthy of a movie-star crush) is good as Laurie. I really enjoy watching it to see him.

    Sigh.

    posted by Blogger Melissa on 2:21 PM  

  • I'm with you on this one Julie. I expected to like it as I really like most of the actors in it, but I most emphatically did not like this version. I'll stick with the book!

    posted by Blogger Kate S. on 4:03 PM  

  • Haven't seen it. If the girls don't buy it, I usually miss it.

    Nice to see some posts. You seem to be busy changing everybody's blog. I think we should cast you as the lead in Extreme Makeover: Blog Edition.

    posted by Blogger Fred on 4:04 PM  

  • You should chewck out the A& E (BBC) version of Pride and Prejudice starring Colin Firth... it is excellent!

    posted by Blogger Rhodent on 9:47 PM  

  • I'm a first-time visitor to the Bookworm blog. I found you through Bluestocking.

    I have just begun reading Little Women -- one of those classics I've heard about forever but have never read or seen. When I finish, I want to see a movie version. The consensus of opinion I've read says the Winona Ryder version is terrible, and the best and most faithful version is the 1949 movie with June Allyson as Jo, along with Janet Leigh a young Elizabeth Taylor. That's the one I plan to see.

    As far as the Ryder version, what I heard is that they didn't go by the book very much, and made it very politically correct. Is this true?

    posted by Blogger Muley on 9:57 PM  

  • Many congratulations on your third place finish in the BoBs. You have a great blog here, and I hope lots of people find you. I'm glad I found you through the BoBs!

    posted by Blogger Anita on 4:40 PM  

  • Wasn't the house actually Alcott's own Orchard House? Because, well, it had to look right, didn't it? I'll agree that Winona really wasn't well-cast at all, but the movie LOOKED so nice . . .

    posted by Blogger --Deb on 11:10 AM  

  • I could rant for days about books made into movies. I think I saw only a moment of it on cable, but Winona's simpering immediately made me turn the channel.

    posted by Anonymous Anonymous on 7:50 PM  

  • agree with the winona-rants above, and agree with the LOOK of the film. I think that was stunning.
    Haven't seen it in ages,though...

    posted by Blogger Nerdine on 8:19 AM  

  • I'll vote for the Katherine Hepburn version and I'd love to see a long, leisurey BBC treatment - they did one some years ago but it was short and not well acted. I like Susan Sarndon but they turned "Marmine" into a 21st century feminst which didn't fit with the book or the "real" Marmie at all.

    posted by Blogger Unknown on 8:16 PM  

  • Little Women is one book that I have never read. I'm surprised that I haven't because I love to read the classics. I'm going to have to make it a point to borrow it from the library.

    I love the soothing green color. It's so easy on the eyes!

    posted by Blogger Adrienne on 6:12 PM  

  • Greetings, I once suggested to a coworker that she read Little Women and she was insulted...I was totally in ernest as it is/ was one of my favorites and I had just re read it as an adult with one kid under my belt. Watching an adaptation of a book so close to my childhood reading is a enormous NOT. I bet I couldn't not check out the movie though if I were to come across it on the tube. :) Why do follks insist on makin movies out of perfectly excellent books and taking liberties the size of gorillas? In the name of Money, fame or art.
    I don't think that the coworker ever got to experience the read, too cool for her own good. Shame. And how about Old Fashioned Girl, another of my faves. Have fun reading. I enjoy your take on books. Keep on.

    posted by Anonymous Anonymous on 10:11 AM  

  • Greetings, I once suggested to a coworker that she read Little Women and she was insulted...I was totally in ernest as it is/ was one of my favorites and I had just re read it as an adult with one kid under my belt. Watching an adaptation of a book so close to my childhood reading is a enormous NOT. I bet I couldn't not check out the movie though if I were to come across it on the tube. :) Why do follks insist on makin movies out of perfectly excellent books and taking liberties the size of gorillas? In the name of Money, fame or art.
    I don't think that the coworker ever got to experience the read, too cool for her own good. Shame. And how about Old Fashioned Girl, another of my faves. Have fun reading. I enjoy your take on books. Keep on.

    posted by Anonymous Anonymous on 10:12 AM  

  • Hello, hello...(knocking on wood)...anyone home?

    posted by Blogger Fred on 9:54 PM  

  • I've yet to read the book but I can imagine the differences....I wasn't a big fan of the movie...but the one thing I loved about it was the mailbox shaped as the house. So pretty. Mmm....I need a house so I can have a real mailbox like that. lol

    posted by Anonymous Anonymous on 1:35 PM  

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