Press Release SPHE Press Release: Little Women (1994) (4k UHD) (1 Viewer)

[Ronald Epstein]

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​ THE ACCLAIMED CLASSIC CELEBRATES ITS 30TH ANNIVERSARY

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​ DEBUTS ON 4K ULTRA HD™ NOVEMBER 19TH

​ SYNOPSIS Winona Ryder (in an Oscar® nominated role) and Academy Award® winner Susan Sarandon (1995, Best Actress, Dead Man Walking) star in this "affectionate, superbly acted" (Los Angeles Times) family favorite. With her husband off at war, Marmee (Sarandon) is left alone to raise their four daughters, her LITTLE WOMEN. There is the spirited Jo (Ryder); conservative Meg (Trini Alvarado); fragile Beth (Claire Danes); and romantic Amy (played at different ages by Kirsten Dunst and Samantha Mathis). As the years pass, the sisters share some of the most cherished and painful memories of self-discovery, as Marmee and Aunt March (Mary Wickes) guide them through issues of independence, romance and virtue. Gabriel Byrne, Eric Stoltz and Christian Bale co-star in this "handcrafted valentine" (Newsweek) of a film.

​ DISC DETAILS AND BONUS MATERIALS 4K ULTRA HD DISC Feature scanned from the original camera negative, presented in 4K resolution with Dolby Vision English 5.1 DTS-HD MA, English 2-Channel Surround DTS-HD MA Special Features: Commentary with Director Gillian Armstrong Deleted Scenes with Commentary The Making of Little Women Costume and Production Design Featurette Theatrical Trailer

​ CAST AND CREW Directed By: Gillian Armstrong Produced By: Denise Di Novi Screenplay By: Robin Swicord Cast: Winona Ryder, Gabriel Byrne, Trini Alvarado, Samantha Mathis, Kirsten Dunst, Claire Danes, Christian Bale, Eric Stoltz, Mary Wickes and Susan Sarandon SPECS Run Time: Approx. 118 minutes Rating: PG for two uses of mild language 4K UHD Feature Picture: 2160p Ultra High Definition, 1.85:1 4K UHD Feature Audio: English 5.1 DTS-HD MA, English 2-Channel Surround DTS-HD MA

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[Konstantinos]

Aaaaah, great! I am glad I held off buying the blu-ray!
I think this is my favorite rendition of Little Women. (haven't seen the latest)

 

[titch]

I'm pretty sure the powers that be decided to include Greta Gerwig's version in the Columbia Classics Collection: Volume 5, in order to have films from different decades. But this will really please those, who feel that this is the superior one.

 

[David Weicker]

Personally I have a problem choosing between any of the versions of Little Women.
All four versions have been excellent, each with their own charms. All an enchanting way to spend a few hours.

(I've never seen the 2018 'modern' version, or the two silent versions)

 

[Konstantinos]

All four versions have been excellent, each with their own charms.

What are the four versions?
I have seen the 1933, 1949 and the 1994 ones.

 

[Robert Crawford]

What are the four versions?
I have seen the 1933, 1949 and the 1994 ones.

This is the fourth version:

 

[Konstantinos]

This is the fourth version:

Oh, I thought this was the 2018 version he hadn't seen, but apparently he meant this one:

Little Women (2018) ⭐ 5.3 | Drama, Family

1h 52m | PG-13

www.imdb.com

 

[Robert Crawford]

Oh, I thought this was the 2018 version he hadn't seen, but apparently he meant this one:

Little Women (2018) ⭐ 5.3 | Drama, Family

1h 52m | PG-13

www.imdb.com

Critic’s Picks: The Best (and Worst) of the Major ‘Little Women’ Adaptations

Ahead of the Christmas Day release of Greta Gerwig's 'Little Women,' check out how this new film ranks among the novel's many other large- and small-screen adaptations.

www.hollywoodreporter.com

 

[octobercountry]

Great news! Each of the theatrical versions of Little Women has its own particular strengths and weaknesses, but this version is easily my favourite of the lot (even when you add the many television adaptations to the mix).

 

[DanH1972]

Greta Gerwig incorporating some of the sequel novel material was interesting in telling the story as a flashback, but the way the film was carved up in the editing booth, I really didn't give two figs about most of the characters. Way too choppy and modern for my tastes. The film needed some developmental breathing room, and it didn't receive any.

 

[Konstantinos]

Has anyone received review copies for this one?
I'm eagerly waiting for reviews before ordering, but since it's Sony I guess the results will be good...

 

[Bryan Tuck]

Heads up. The 5.1 track on this new UHD release (and apparently the 2020 remastered Blu-ray release before it) is botched in a weird way. The left & right front channels are silent, and the sound that should be coming out of them is instead coming out of the left & right surround channels.

I hate to keep badgering studios for replacement discs, but that's a pretty big technical goof.

 

[titch]

Heads up. The 5.1 track on this new UHD release (and apparently the 2020 remastered Blu-ray release before it) is botched in a weird way. The left & right front channels are silent, and the sound that should be coming out of them is instead coming out of the left & right surround channels.

I hate to keep badgering studios for replacement discs, but that's a pretty big technical goof.

Interesting - only one other person posted this issue previously on blu-ray.com (and the reviewer Martin Leibman claims "bustling sound and heavy surround support and music that fills the stage with impressively airy and wide spacing, punctuated by a horse galloping across the screen" 5/5 for audio - but I don't put any stock in his opinions).

Normally, when there is a flaw on a release, all and sundry suddenly wake up and start posting hysterically, whether they even want the film, or not. But....nothing here.

I've been waiting over two weeks for Amazon to actually get around to shipping my copy but they don't seem to be able to fulfil their preorders, without considerable delay, this holiday season!

 

[Konstantinos]

Oh no! Should I cancel my order?
I have ordered from Amazon too and it hasn't shipped yet...

edit: one person that watched it, over at blu-ray.com, didn't say anything about the audio. Maybe he watched it with the 2.0 track...
Are you Bnex99 over there @Bryan Tuck ?

edit2: Ok, I cancelled it until this is sorted out!

 

[Bryan Tuck]

Oh no! Should I cancel my order?
I have ordered from Amazon too and it hasn't shipped yet...

edit: one person that watched it, over at blu-ray.com, didn't say anything about the audio. Maybe he watched it with the 2.0 track...
Are you Bnex99 over there @Bryan Tuck ?

edit2: Ok, I cancelled it until this is sorted out!

Heh, looks like I've been found out.

It is odd that almost no one seemed to notice this on the previous Blu-ray, even reviewers. To be fair, the center channel is fairly robust, so it might not be immediately apparent from a normal sitting distance. But the fronts are definitely empty on the 4K.

At any rate, this isn't a subjective gripe about a questionable remix. It's a legitimate technical mistake that any decent QC department should have flagged immediately.

 

[titch]

Heh, looks like I've been found out.

It is odd that almost no one seemed to notice this on the previous Blu-ray, even reviewers. To be fair, the center channel is fairly robust, so it might not be immediately apparent from a normal sitting distance. But the fronts are definitely empty on the 4K.

At any rate, this isn't a subjective gripe about a questionable remix. It's a legitimate technical mistake that any decent QC department should have flagged immediately.

Oh - now they've picked it up. But only after they've read forum postings.

 

[titch]

I've just watched this, using the Stereo 2.0 track. Honestly - the sound was tremendous. It really filled the room from the Columbia logo and there was sound from my rear speakers, as well. I had to lower the volume during the opening titles, as the score was deafening! There was perfectly adequate dimensionality for this film - it's not a roaring action-packed thriller. I would really be hard put to argue how a 5.1 soundtrack would give a superior sonic experience!

 

[Todd Erwin]

Little Women (1994) UHD Review

Gillian Armstrong’s 1994 film adaptation of "Little Women" makes its debut on 4K UHD Blu-ray to celebrate the film’s 30th anniversary.

www.hometheaterforum.com

 

[Todd Erwin]

Heads up. The 5.1 track on this new UHD release (and apparently the 2020 remastered Blu-ray release before it) is botched in a weird way. The left & right front channels are silent, and the sound that should be coming out of them is instead coming out of the left & right surround channels.

I hate to keep badgering studios for replacement discs, but that's a pretty big technical goof.

I just amended my 4K review minutes after posting when I read your comment, and am going back to amend my review of the 2020 Blu-ray as well. It is difficult to detect because it is a very dialogue-driven film and the center channel is a mix-down of the L-C-R channels.

It is very similar to my complaint regarding the 2.0 track on Real Genius, which sounds like it was derived from an old and very dirty 35mm optical track. Yet, the studio refused to admit the issue and many reviewers either did not bother to sample the 2.0 track or failed to notice it.

 

[Todd Erwin]

If you have purchased this disc (or the 2020 Blu-ray) and your disc has the audio issue described in my review, please contact Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Customer Service at [email protected] or 1-800-860-2878.

As far as I know, Sony has not set up any kind of replacement program as of yet. The more complaints they receive, the more likely they will go forward with a replacement of some kind.