7.1 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
With their father away fighting in the Civil War, Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy grow up with their mother in somewhat reduced circumstances. They are a close family who inevitably have their squabbles and tragedies. But the bond holds even when, later, men friends start to become a part of the household.
Starring: Winona Ryder, Gabriel Byrne, Trini Alvarado, Samantha Mathis, Kirsten DunstRomance | 100% |
Family | 87% |
Coming of age | 15% |
Drama | 6% |
Period | 6% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English, English SDH
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Classic, beloved literature has often made the transition to film, but it has not always made that transition well. Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women is one of the classic works that's enjoyed several film adaptations through the years (in addition to various stage and television performances), and Director Gillian Armstrong's (Oscar and Lucinda) is an adaptation that's amongst the very best. While it's not a perfect recreation of the book (few, if any, film adaptations are, for any number of legitimate and, all too often, illegitimate, reasons), its various alterations aren't likely to dismay readers of the source, as has been the case with other, and far lesser, films. Armstrong's Little Women, adapted for the screen by Robin Swicord, captures the essence of Alcott’s novel without altering the core that makes it a literary gem, the end product so fluent and enjoyable that it begs the question of why neither of Alcott’s companion works, Jo’s Boys and Little Men, have yet to be brought to life on the big screen.
Little Women may not have earned more than a BD-R burn as part of Sony's controversial "Choice Collection" line, but there's no room for complaint with the studio's transfer. The 1080p presentation is gorgeous, right up there with Talladega Nights and Jerry Maguire as amongst the finest film-sourced Blu-ray transfers the studio has released to market. It's not clear what the source for the Blu-ray is, but it looks like it's from a meticulous 4K master, and a gorgeous one at that. The movie was shot on film and the Blu-ray retains a fine and attractive grain structure. Details are resplendent. Facial close-ups are intimately revealing. Period clothing -- knitted sweaters, lacy nightgowns, fine suits on the men -- reveal stitch work and fabric textures with ease. Environments are gorgeously defined, whether snowy backdrops or warm and green springtime and summer backdrops. Warmer interiors around the home show terrific fine-point texturing on everything from woods to worn piano keys. Colors are beautiful, presenting with a handsome neutrality that springs to life in the delivery of rich natural greens, solidifies old and warm interior woods, and dazzles on appropriately bright colors of clothing, flowers, or other accents. Black levels are naturally rich and pleasant. Flesh tones appear natural. The image shows no signs of print wear or encode fumbles. Despite the labeling and relative cheapness of the release around the edges, it soars where it counts and delivers fans a pristine 1080p image that's unequivocally the best the movie has ever looked for home consumption.
Little Women's soundtrack isn't by its nature particularly dynamic or vibrant, but Sony's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless presentation handles its mostly meager, straightforward needs without a hitch. Music plays with commendable balance against dialogue, dipping a bit as necessary and soaring when given the opportunity. It largely stays along the front end, with any surround activity more a trickle than anything else, a small support element that's barely noticeable, if at all, against the thriving front side. Clarity is excellent, too, with strong distinction to elements throughout the range. Minor ambient effects are pleasing, including assembled crowd din around the 41-minute mark. A bit of thunder rolls along the distant background at about the 87-miute mark, and there's a very good positive thunder crack and accompanying rainfall in the film's final minutes that offers a tangible overhead sensation even without the added benefit of an Atmos configuration. Dialogue is well prioritized and clear, enjoying a grounded and realistic front-center positioning. Again, and like the video, Sony's technical presentation leaves little, if anything, to be desired for the material in question.
Little Women's "Choice Collection" Blu-ray release comes housed in a Blu-ray case thicker than standard, even as it's just a single-disc release.
It does contain a couple of
special features, outlined below. No "top menu" is included. Subtitle options and special features must be accessed in-film via a very crude "pop-up"
menu. Note that the back of the box promises more supplements than actually exist on the disc. The deleted scenes do not offer optional audio
commentary as the listing states and there is no "Historical Timeline" to be found on the disc, either.
Little Women is a fine little film. Beyond its stunning attention to period detail and sense of authenticity, the film is further beautifully acted, costumed, scored, and photographed. It's a pleasure and one of the defining films of how well classic literature can translate to the cinematic medium. Sony's "Choice Collection" release is admittedly rough around the edges. A needlessly oversized case, a packaging supplements list that misrepresents what actually appears on the disc, an uninspired in-film menu system, and lazy disc artwork are the drawbacks. But the release excels where it counts, boasting gorgeous 1080p picture and excellent lossless sound. Spiff it up around the edges and it's nearly as good as anything Sony has released. Highly recommended.
2005
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55th Anniversary Edition
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Ultimate Collector's Edition
2004
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Deluxe Remastered Edition
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BD is Bonus Features
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