The Color Purple (1985)

Steven Spielberg, proving he's one of the few modern filmmakers who has the visual fluency to be capable of making a great silent film, took a melodramatic, D.W. Griffith-inspired approach to filming Alice Walker's novel. His tactics made the film controversial, but also a popular hit. You can argue with the appropriateness of Spielberg's decision, but his astonishing facility with images is undeniable--from the exhilarating and eye-popping opening shots of children playing in paradisiacal purple fields to the way he conveys the brutality of a rape by showing hanging leather belts banging against the head of the shaking bed. In a way it's a shame that Whoopi Goldberg, a stage monologist who made her screen debut in this movie, went on to become so famous, because it was, in part, her unfamiliarity that made her understated performance as Celie so effective. (This may be the first and last time that the adjective understated can be applied to Goldberg.) Nominated for 11 Academy Awards, including best picture and actress (supporting players Oprah Winfrey and Margaret Avery were also nominated), it was quite a scandal--and a crushing blow to Spielberg--when it won none. The digital video disc requires flipping to play the whole movie. --Jim Emerson Amazon.com

Swine Husband

Unforgetable. Portrayal of an abusive, ungrateful spouse and long suffering wife. Love to see this fellow get his comeuppance. Great acting. June 18, 2008

Not for the faint of heart.

I read some of the other reviews that gave the movie one star.
Hmmmm....having never read the source material I can't make further comment.
I however, loved this movie.
Brilliantly directed, Brilliant performances.
I loved Oprah's character. Strong, tough, BAD!!!
I wish that was the Oprah we would have seen when Tom Cruise was jumping on her couch.
WHAM!!!
A brilliant movie and a must see.
June 16, 2008

A must see

My mom let me see this movie when I was very young. I consider it a classic, necessity to the black movie experience. I've read people's reviews and heard a lot of negative comments about this movie that never crossed my mind while watching it countless times over approx. 15 years. I never got the message that all the black men were evil or that all the women were victims. I took it as ONE woman's experience, ONE woman's story. We cannot sit here and say that this story is unrealistic. No, we don't like to see this because it may "makes us( african americans) look bad",especially the men, but we cannot scoff at what may be MANY women's truths. If anything what happened in this movie should be encouragement for us to never let those things happen in our lives or the lives of those we love. I will always love the color purple for its music, scenery, characters, laughs, tears, and lessons. February 13, 2008

My Favorite Movie Ever

I watch this over and over. The 2nd disc is very interesting in the making of the movie. Whoopie Goldberg is great in this. January 11, 2008

The Color Purple

Absolutely loved it! Received it in plenty of time B4 our Galz Nite Out event. January 2, 2008

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