Phoenix43Song

i mean, fine, i admit i hated that the movie mocked the umbrella scene by implying it was a work of fiction (which in itself makes no sense because are we then supposed to question if everything else that’s happened until that point also really happened?), but that’s just me being a romantic. you’d prefer that jo remain unmarried, great, all the more power to you.

but no one can convince me that long ass book binding sequence followed by jo standing there all alone hugging her book while the scene at plumfield where she’s surrounded by all of her loved ones is portrayed as maybe-fictional is a happy ending (or even a satisfying ending), and especially compared with the heartwarming and wholesome original ending in the screenplay that paints jo’s ultimate happy ending as being with her family and her book getting published is just the cherry on top of that.

there’s so much shipping discourse surrounding little women that sometimes people forget that at its core it’s about family. it’s about sisterhood. jo march as a character is so attached to her family (and that attachment is in part the reason why she was so against marriage at the beginning, because marriage spelled the end to childhood and all of them being together). to have an ending where she’s not with her family is a betrayal to the character. it’s a betrayal to the spirit of the book.

Greta’s original script ending was so much better; it baffles me on why she changed it to this stupid woke bullshit. Fritz is not a character in this movie: we don’t get to know him and his story nor see his friendship with Jo (no nephews and no playing with children and going to intellectual gatherings- I did love the beer hall dance scene though and that Greta did have Jo’s family getting to know when he came to visit).

"Darkness rises and Light to meet it"

Kylo, that was the character that [Rian Johnson] was most excited about getting into and writing, because in the first Star Wars films, Vader was a great villain, but he was never someone you identified with. Whereas, with Kylo, it’s almost like Rey and Kylo are two halves of the protagonist. And, if this is all about the transition from adolescence into adulthood, Kylo is that anger of adolescence.

“But do you have anyone to take you seriously? To talk about your work?”

Which sealed the deal for me early on– that he was essentially the one meant to simply see her. That in a single line Greta Gerwig had ‘essentiallized’ his character. (And I, of no former knowledge of Little Women, came into a 151 year old plot delighted to know I was right an hour later.)

Anyway major respect to Gerwig for her take on the entire book, because each (even beyond Friedrich) left me so fond. I adored Jo, Laurie, Amy, Beth and Meg so much…………….. lord.

Of course, as I’ve actually admitted 2019 Friedrich was my first version of Friedrich, and he still managed to catch my attention for all he was worth– it was nice reading book two and finding out that Alcott wrote him in as a worthy addition (rather than a cop out, as I’ve had the misfortune to read criticisms as of late.) Fleshed him out so thoroughly that I was shocked at all that anyone would argue otherwise. While she was obligated to write a romance at all, she did so on her own terms and did so with all the determination to stir. And with such poignant cause to stir, considering she clearly decided against Jo and Laurie narratively. (To which, I do have to toast to shippers because everyone has their own cup of tea and that also delicately requires respect.)

I have no doubt that Alcott would have wanted Friedrich to be taken with as much weight as one would have for the author crafting him– for if she was determined to be a good writer, she would write her secondary love interest in full investment, regardless. And Alcott’s a d/mn good writer for one determined to subtly/unsubtly preach between the lines. Basically, as a writer myself, I respect her hussle and wish others would too. Sure, she was obligated to tie it up with a romance but she sure as hell managed to finesse an entire character who she took entirely seriously, herself. (Really, really wishing Gerwig added the Kant/Hegel argument in though. Loved that bit in the book so much.)

They decided to make a movie taking into account feedback and complaints that certain fans had about the first two films in the trilogy. That resulted in a fan service and nostalgia filled mess that made little cohesive sense and has been slammed by critics and fans and is now the worst reviewed Star Wars movie.

They had a stellar cast, in particular Academy Award Nominee Adam Driver, one of the best actors of this generation.

He played Kylo Ren/Ben Solo, arguably the best and most popular character of the ST.

They gave him no dialogue in the second half and completely underused this immensely talented actor yet he still gave it his all and stole the movie.

They killed off his character in the most tragic, unsatisfying way.

Now, a month after the movie was released, this character they killed unceremoniously is all anyone can talk about. The one thing everyone can agree on is that Ben Solo and Adam’s portrayal of him was the highlight of the film and the ST.

#BenSoloChallenge was trending.

In memory of this character over $80k has been raised for Adam’s non profit organisation, Arts in the Armed Forces.

Reylo has skyrocketed in popularity and the fandom has created so much new content.

The Rise of Kylo Ren #1 was one of the best selling comics of 2019, even though it was only released on December 18, two weeks before the end of the year.

Adam Driver has been nominated for an Academy Award for the second year in a row.

No one is talking about the trio, Palpatine’s return, Rey Skywalker or any of the nostalgic fan service. It’s all about Ben Solo.

They in no way did this character’s journey justice. They threw him under the bus for their own selfish reasons even though it didn’t make sense for the narrative. They tried to throw him into a pit never to be seen again but the jokes on them because now Ben Solo is more alive than ever!

Boy looks super young and fresh at that emo phase. Power is everything to him and he just wants to be like Vader.

Has grown into a man now who has met his match in the Force. Has become more stone like rather than an angry emo mess. He has seen his match and because of her, he has started to feel a pull to the light. She became his beacon. But still, he wanted power. He wanted her to rule alongside him.

Has officially become the man. The Ben Solo. He has gotten rid of his mask, he has synced with his soulmate. No longer is he on a quest for power, he is there to save the one person who has finally shown him love and care and even through the awful things he did, she still wanted him. So he comes to her rescue. He becomes Ben Solo.