Louisa May Alcott's beloved 1868 novel Little Women has been adapted many times for film and television. Prior to 2019's take, there have been five adaptations of the novel, coming out in 1917, 1918,1933, 1949 and the most recent, 1994 - which stars Winona Ryder and Susan Sarandon.
For a book with so many passionate fans it will never be easy to please everyone, but Greta Gerwig's 2019 Oscar-winning adaptation came the closest - racking up the best reviews of any of the other blockbuster movies based on the story. With a star-studded cast including Saoirse Ronan, Meryl Streep and Timothee Chalamet as well as authentic locations, here's why Redditors think Gerwig blew everyone else out of the water and knocked 1994's adaptation off the top spot.
The Setting
The novel is set in Massuchusetts during the American Civil War. Whilst the majority of the 1994 Adaptation was filmed in and around Canada and Vancouver, many Redditors appreciated the authenticity of the location in 2019's version.
Redditor Nan_adams notes that the film was made almost entirely on location in Massachusetts, and that because of this, the movie "feels closer to the source material" and therefore more authentic. A relatively small detail, but important to the overall impression of the film.
Amy's Character Arc
Amy is a notoriously difficult character to like in both the novel and 1994 adaptation. She often comes across selfish and spoilt, but Redditor Lastduckalive commented that "Pugh as Amy is absolute perfection", and others agreed that Florence Pugh - in one of her best roles yet - made Amy more likeable and therefore her marriage to Laurie felt earned by the end.
Although JuanJeanJohn stated that "Pugh in the younger years isn’t really convincing as a young girl" most seem to agree that she brought something special to a previously unpopular character.
Jo's Character Arc
Redditor Earthsea_wizard puts it well when they say that the 2019 version portrays Jo's struggle to conform to ideas about marriage and family very well, and this reasonated with many fans as "cis gender roles and/or getting married are still perceived and praised as the norms for many people" in today's society.
Jo is more interested in her creative pursuits, and fans were pleased with how Gerwig's tongue-in-cheek ending playfully made fun of the novel and 1994's ending which saw Jo getting married to Professor Bhaer, which many saw as uncharacteristic.
Laurie's Character Arc
Before he was Batman, Christian Bale played Laurie in the 1994 version and Redditor ExleyPearce felt he was "way too intense" in the role, favouring Chalamet's portrayal. Others felt that 2019's writing for Laurie was an improvement and gave Chalamet more to work with, especially during the proposal scene.
He portrayed the raw emotion to perfection and it felt that Jo and Laurie were on more equal footing than in the 1994 adaptation. In addition, the portrayal of Laurie's debauched playboy phase after Jo's rejection was much more tragic and moving in the 2019 version.
Meg's Character Arc
Trini Alvarado's Meg was extremely faithful to the books and Strtdrt commented that "Emma Watson is not a good actress". Many complained about her less-than-stellar American accent - but her Meg has more depth than previous incarnations and is more opinionated.
Emmanuellaw commended Gerwig for dedicating "more time and effort to develop Meg" - evidenced by the scene where Meg stands up for herself against Jo, advocating for her own desires despite the sisters' differences in a way that feels distinctly feminist.
The Structure Of The Story
Whilst some fans were confused by the structure of the 2019 adaptation of Little Women, many saw it as a strength. Gerwig chose to deviate from the typical chronological order of the novel's events, and VineStellar commented that "the manner in which the film folds in on itself in the end is genius".
The scenes fit together well thematically and due to the visual color clues it was easy to follow, and definitely add to the nostalgic feel of the movie as a whole.
Jo And Laurie's Relationship
For some fans Winona Ryder and Christian Bale's pairing was hard to beat, but many were delighted with the casting of Ronan and Chalamet as Jo and Laurie. Brownidegirl noted that "Timothee Chalamet and Saoirse Ronan have better chemistry" and others said they were just how they had imagined the characters when reading the novel.
The relationship between the best friends was well-developed, making Laurie's eventual proposal more believable and natural than in the 1994 version.
Costume Choices
Despite 2019 Little Women's Oscar win for best costumes, many fans took issue with the fact that many of them were historically inaccurate - but Rkgk13, appreciated the detailed and "character motivated" costumes.
Whilst 1994's Little Women lent towards more traditional dress, Jacqueline Durran (costume designer for the 2019 adaptation) spoke to Vogue about having the characters express themselves through their clothing, noting that Jo's costume "doesn't include a corset" - signaling her non-conformist personality.
Shot Composition
Redditor Macklunker called the shot composition "beautiful" and mentioned especially the scene where Beth and Jo talk on the beach. The contrast between the colourful scene of the girls at the seaside earlier in the timeline and this darker, more dreary shot of the sisters in the future perfectly encapsulates one of the films main themes - coming-of-age, the end of childhood and the beginning of adult life.
Despite the beautiful shots, Macklunker also noted that "some of the takes should've been longer" so that the audience had more time to enjoy them, as the film is very fast-paced.
Creative Execution
Out of the two, 1994's Little Women is widely considered more accurate than 2019's, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's better. Considered one of Great Gerwig's best films, she added her own artistic flair the story, and as Peppermintgumbodrop states, 2019's Little Women is an "intelligent version from someone who knows the story in and out".
Due to this, the movie is able to put forward and to a degree modernize the true message and heart of Alcott's beloved novel - despite taking some creative liberties.