I really wanted to enjoy this, but, well, there's just something lacking straight from the beginning. It's all filmed very nicely, albeit in a modern way, but that doesn't always fit the type of story we're being presented. However, if you want to see how to film a period setting in a modern way that works, just watch 'Anne with an E'.
Perhaps the oddest thing about this version is that despite the added running time provided by a TV mini-series, it manages to feel rushed and incoherent. If I didn't already know the story, I'd be wondering why these characters were doing what they were doing. It's as though they forgot to include the scenes that join events together. In a much shorter running time, the 1994 film manages to feel positively sedate in comparison, and scenes lead naturally from one to the next.
Then there's the casting. There's a lot to like here (Angela Lansbury, Michael Gambon), but the younger cast, through no fault of their own, just don't jump out. Jo, Meg and Beth aren't different enough. It feels as though the casting director had the same look in mind for all three, so you don't get a sense of them being truly different sisters. Then there's Amy. The actress, again through no fault of her own, is far too old at the beginning. She appears to be a similar age to Jo, Meg and Beth, yet is supposed to be the youngest by at least a noticeable margin. As a result, behaviour that should simply feel like that of an occasionally vain and impulsive child becomes immature, petty and unlikeable.
Lastly, the soundtrack is far too contemporary. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it has to be old-fashioned, but it also has to feel appropriate. For example, there's a scene where the characters are playing in the snow, and the music felt so out of place that I wondered if the composer thought the scene was set in the Caribbean. Then again, it's difficult to compete with 1994's score by Thomas Newman.
Perhaps the score is a perfect example of where they went wrong. In trying so hard to be different and not simply repeat what's been done before, they've managed to lose the atmosphere and spirit of the original story. As a result, despite the impressive production values, I couldn't warm to this version. Let's hope the new version (due in 2019) does a better job...
Perhaps the oddest thing about this version is that despite the added running time provided by a TV mini-series, it manages to feel rushed and incoherent. If I didn't already know the story, I'd be wondering why these characters were doing what they were doing. It's as though they forgot to include the scenes that join events together. In a much shorter running time, the 1994 film manages to feel positively sedate in comparison, and scenes lead naturally from one to the next.
Then there's the casting. There's a lot to like here (Angela Lansbury, Michael Gambon), but the younger cast, through no fault of their own, just don't jump out. Jo, Meg and Beth aren't different enough. It feels as though the casting director had the same look in mind for all three, so you don't get a sense of them being truly different sisters. Then there's Amy. The actress, again through no fault of her own, is far too old at the beginning. She appears to be a similar age to Jo, Meg and Beth, yet is supposed to be the youngest by at least a noticeable margin. As a result, behaviour that should simply feel like that of an occasionally vain and impulsive child becomes immature, petty and unlikeable.
Lastly, the soundtrack is far too contemporary. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it has to be old-fashioned, but it also has to feel appropriate. For example, there's a scene where the characters are playing in the snow, and the music felt so out of place that I wondered if the composer thought the scene was set in the Caribbean. Then again, it's difficult to compete with 1994's score by Thomas Newman.
Perhaps the score is a perfect example of where they went wrong. In trying so hard to be different and not simply repeat what's been done before, they've managed to lose the atmosphere and spirit of the original story. As a result, despite the impressive production values, I couldn't warm to this version. Let's hope the new version (due in 2019) does a better job...