After watching the 1994 version of the movie "Little Women", I was deeply moved and still had more to say, so I looked for the 2019 new version of "Little Women" online. Fortunately, I watched the old version first. Only by understanding the synopsis of the story and the relationship between the characters can I understand the new version of the movie in one go. The new version’s non-linear narrative style left me a little confused. But it highlights Joe March’s creative path. Each has his or her own merits.

First, Joe’s emotional experience is slightly different.

In the 1994 version of "Little Women", Joe basically stayed in the stage of liking the boy next door. Although he regretted that he rejected the boy's proposal, he just lamented that he had given up a worldly meaning. A beautiful marriage. When she learned that the boy had married his sister, she was even more blessed.

The soul-to-soul connection between Joe and the professor is what makes people yearn for it. Although the professor is not handsome and looks like Qiao's father, he plays the dual role of close friend and spiritual mentor in Qiao's creation. In particular, it played a direct catalytic role in Qiao's abandonment of clichés and writing about real life. The professor is the only one who understands Joe. Beth's support is just the trust between sisters, and the professor is in love with Joe's soul.

In the new version of the movie, the professor feels like a spare tire. Joe's true love is for the boy next door. The professor is just the next best thing for Joe to satisfy his publisher's demands that the heroine of the story get married while the boy next door marries his sister.

The new version of the boy next door is really handsome. As a viewer, I feel sorry for Joe. The exquisite and picturesque facial features and the decadent and unruly lazy look are all heart-stirring. In addition, the image of the professor is weakened, and the audience's balance is easily tilted towards the boy next door.

In terms of handling emotional issues, I account for 94 pages. Appearance, character and family background are important, but soul friendship is hard to come by. It is enough to have a close friend in life, and this world should treat him with sympathy.

Second, the new version of Beth has a fuller image.

The casting of Beth in the 1994 version is very ordinary, and the story is relatively simple. She is the most overlooked of the four March sisters.

The new version adds the plot of Beth’s friendship with old Mr. Lawrence. The old gentleman regarded Beth as a daughter and invited her to play the piano at his home, and later gave the piano to her as a gift. After Beth passed away, the old man didn't even want to go home. Although it is a simple plot, it is touching.

Third, the images of Mrs. March and Aunt March are slightly different in the two versions.

Mrs. March in the 1994 version is a very great mother. It had a significant influence on the growth of the March sisters. Its brilliance is not even inferior to that of the protagonist Joe. The screenwriter of the new version may not like to be preached to, so he deleted many of Mrs. March's wise words, making the image of the mother less shining.

The aunt in the 1994 version is basically a passerby and has very few roles. As the opposite of Joe, the new version of Aunt has many "insights" about women and marriage. The collision of ideas became more intense, which made it even more valuable for Qiao to stick to the path of creation.

Fourth, the focus of the movie is different.

The old version focused on showing the different personalities of the March sisters and the warmth and beauty of the family. The new version is similar to "Becoming Jane Austen" and shows Joe's journey as a writer. Therefore, the 94 version is narrated in chronological order, and the story is simple and clear. The new version keeps Joe's reality and memories intertwined, and the main thread is not lost amidst the chaos.

It is difficult to distinguish between the two versions. In view of the fact that the 94 edition is ahead of others, if the new edition wants to surpass it, it must find another way. Compared with many remakes of classic dramas, the 2019 version of "Little Women" is unique and does not fall into the mold.