 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Little Women
- Review Date: June 25, 2003
- PG
- Genre: Drama
- 1994
Common Sense Media says
Lovely Alcott adaptation tugs at the heartstrings.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that in this adaptation of the book by Louisa May Alcott, beloved sister Beth becomes dangerously ill, recovers, but eventually dies young in a very sad sequence. The youngest sister, Amy, falls through the ice while skating but is pulled to safety. Kids will learn a bit about the time period during and just after the Civil War and will get to know an amazing group of role models in the March family. They are supportive of one another and wonderful members of the community, even giving away their Christmas dinner to those less fortunate.
What's the story?
LITTLE WOMEN is not so much about what happens to the March family as about who they are. Their parties, meals, chores, games, romances are hardly high drama but, through individual personalities, they illustrate the highest human values: love, family, selflessness, loyalty. Known to be innovative thinkers, the Marches -- as one character observes -- had "views."
Is it any good?
Acting upon those views in day-to-day life, the girls capture our attention and, more, stir our souls. Excited about such holiday luxuries as a bit of butter and an orange, they give them up to feed an even poorer family. The gifted Claire Danes delivers a touching, very real, portrayal as Beth. When she dies, it's painful and viewers share the family's loss. Likewise, the climactic reunion between Jo and her professor is deeply moving. Rarely is such a low-key movie so uplifting. Meaning springs from the unaffected performances, the believable tensions among the sisters, the realistic contrast of their varied goals, and forthright, simple statements of authentically virtuous character. Lovely settings frame the story perfectly.
No pretense is made about the purity of the world in which the Marches live. As women, they confront and cope with second-class status, especially the free-thinking Jo. But society's flaws just reinforce the integrity the Marches bring to it. For a breath of fresh air that's anything but old-fashioned, choose Little Women.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about how the movie compares to Louisa May Alcott's novel. Which do you like better? Why?
When Jo says she is "hopelessly flawed" do you agree? What were the traits valued in girls back then and how have things changed?
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AGE
Heart warming movie
This is an excellent movie for all ages!
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AGE
Amazing.
This is probably my favorite movie ever. So beautiful... something the whole family can thoroughly enjoy. As an aspiring writer, Jo is a wonderful role model for me, and the sisterly love between all the March's is lovely :)
I'd also like to add that I know a good many guys that loved this movie too!
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AGE
it could have been better...
ok, considering how much i loved the book, (not the revised edition) i expected way more! i mean, it cut out lots of cool parts, and hello! the scene where jo rejects laurie is like, totally off! lol, i mean, they cut and junked it up! don't get me wrong, it's a cute movie, but they could have made it waaaaaay better. but that's just my opinion.
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AGE
Heartwarming
This touching film was created in the same vein as the novel - an honest but optimistic look at the 19th century and an affirmation of the power of love. Though sad at moments, the value of the film is not in the events but rather how the March family reacts and copes.
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AGE
perfict family movie
I liked it.It was cool little movie.
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Kid, 12 years old
April 2, 2011
AGE
Ok
I liked it but I truthfully think that Jo should have married Laurie and that it was horrible when Beth died. Other than that it was a pretty good movie.
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| Topics: | book characters, great girl role models, history |
| Studio: | Columbia Tristar |
| Director: | Gillian Armstrong |
| Cast: | Kirsten Dunst, Susan Sarandon, Winona Ryder |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Run time: | 115 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | December 21, 1994 |
| DVD release date: | April 25, 2000 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | emotional intensity |
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