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Whistle Stopper - Little Men (1997)
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List Price: $14.98
Our Price: $2.95
Your Save: $ 12.03 ( 80% )
Availability:
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
Starring: Mariel Hemingway, Michael Caloz, Ben Cook, Ricky Mabe, Chris Sarandon
Directed By: Rodney Gibbons
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 9786304965689
Format: Color
ISBN: 6304965680
Label: Warner Home Video
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Warner Home Video
Release Date: 1998-07-28
Running Time: 98
Studio: Warner Home Video
Theatrical Release Date: 1998-05-08
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Nothing like Jo Bhaer.
Comment: This movie was a grave disappointment to me, but perhaps that is because I first saw the television series "Little Men" (now available here at amazon.com on VHS/DVD). I thought Mariel Hemingway's portrayal of Jo Bhaer was deplorable - no emotion, no spunk...no personality. The boys were entertaining at times, but with Jo being so bland and cardboard-like, the movie was terrible. I recommend purchasing the TV show "Little Men," but beware that there is no Fritz Bhaer on the show. Being a L.M. Alcott enthusiast, I actually did not mind the elimination of Fritz, especially since his "replacement" is a much better fit for Jo.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Gotta recommend it
Comment: This should be three and a half stars, but I don't know how to do that :). Personally, I thought this was a good movie. It wasn't the best movie I've ever seen. It did leave out a lot of important characters, so that when I read the book later I was a little confused. But the actors were great. Ben Cook did a great job with the movie's Dan (I say that to differentiate between the Dan portrayed in the movie and the slightly different Dan in the book). He is a good actor and I'm sorry to see he didn't go farther with his career. The girls were pretty good too, and the movie altogether caught a feel of innocence that the book also had, regardless of which characters were "perfect" for which roles. I gotta recommend this to you because, while the film wasn't fantastic, it really wasn't all that bad either.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Doesn't Pass
Comment: I can't recommend this film. If you are expecting a continuation of "Little Women", you won't find it here. We learn nothing of Marmie, Laruie, etc. The movie focuses on ONE boy character (a 14 year old orphan from Boston) and all the mischief he gets into. How he hurts the other boys, burns down the house, plays with knives, etc. The ending is major cheese and Mariel Hemmingway as Joe? No. The film doesn't explore her relationship with her husband (German professor, what's his name). Was this film made for TV? Its of an average TV movie quality. On the other hand, it has no sex, language, etc. So if you are looking for something to watch with your 10 year olds, you might give it a whirl.
Customer Rating:
Summary: very disappointing
Comment: Although I am a great fan of movie adaptations of books, this is one of the most disappointing of that genre that I have seen in a long time. It seems the author has gone out of her way to leave out some of the most endearing characters (the Lawrences are nonexistent, and the Brookes--especially Daisy&Demi--are shells of Alcott's characters), while Jack and Emil are central characters. Although the actors are entertaining, I have to wonder at the casting director's choices; not one character looks as they are described by Alcott. Additionally, crucial scenes (like Nat's entry to Plumfield and Dan's homecoming) lack that certain something, while precious minutes are spent on games of sticknife and boxing matches. Although the actors do their best, character development is almost nill--disapppointing when Alcott spent so much time on personalities in the book.
Basically, if you have never read "Little Men" you might enjoy this, but if you are expecting anything resembling the book--don't get your hopes up.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Wow!
Comment: The Movie is very good. But READ THE BOOK. The movie left out lots of important people, and most of where Mr.Brooke comes, its actually, Laurie in the book. But the movie is superb!!! If you like the movie, you will definitly love the book. In the movie there is no Bess, Rob, Josie, Laurie, Amy....all the important people. I like the way the movie was produced. But I think my imagination was much better. I don't want to sound negative, this movie is worth more than 10 stars, but my personal opinion is of not of that deal. My Parents loved that movie, and I think they're ready to give thousand stars. Any ALCOTT books and movies are a great deal reading and watching!!!!!
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Editorial Reviews:
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Mariel Hemingway's stern but upstanding schoolmarm Jo Bhaer epitomizes the mood of Little Men, the video version of Louisa May Alcott's under-celebrated sequel to Little Women. Levity levels hit an all-time low here: it's 1871 Boston, and hard knocks aren't hard to come by, particularly if you're an orphan boy like Nat and his street-smart buddy Dan. The lucky few, Nat among them, find benefactors and land at Plumfield, the school set up by Jo and her husband, Fritz (Chris Sarandon). All is apple-pure at Plumfield--mischief is at its maximum during Saturday-night pillow fights. But then the wayward Dan descends on the Bhaers' doorstep, setting in motion a string of small catastrophes; one boy is bullied into boxing lessons, another is challenged to a daredevil drop-the-knife stunt. Dan gets the boot after a late-night poker game (complete with stolen stogies he arranges for) leads to a fire. He's sent to a stricter school, but his heart's still at Plumfield, and, though he's been banned, that's where he returns. Jo's arms are open but Fritz is reluctant. Only when Dan displays genuine valor by taking the rap for a theft blamed on the innocent Nat is Jo's faith validated; Dan is rewarded with a permanent place at Plumfield, and whatever street-urchin associations still surround him are soon socked away in the history books. As family entertainment goes, Little Men scores major points for warmth and wholesomeness; what it lacks in lightheartedness is made up for in period-piece charm and strong performances. --Tammy La Gorce
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