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Ceticultsot Beautiful, moving film.

FuzzyTagz If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

Fleur Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

rat_202 Often labelled as Spielberg's first 'serious' film. What was Jaws, a comedy? But I understand. Watching this, in the 80's it didn't feel like what 'A Film by Steven Spielberg' should be. No aliens, Nazis or sharks. But even as a nine-year old, I found myself really getting involved in the story. I just couldn't stop watching. So yeah, it's a Spielberg film in that respect. Danny Glover gives one his best performances as the cruel 'Mister.' Jeez, after this my sister and I hated him! Oprah Winfrey is impressive in her debut as the fiery Sofia, and Margaret Avery is wonderful as Shug, the beautiful singer who gives Celie something she is sorely lacking - love and friendship. But ultimately, this is Whoopi's movie, and while she's good in Ghost, this is the movie she really should have won the Oscar for. Ah, yes the Oscars. This movie famously received eleven nominations (though not one for Director) and went home empty-handed. There are reasons for this. Margaret Avery's OTT Oscar campaign was ill advised, but Spielberg's omission seems vindictive. I think the Academy hadn't forgiven his somewhat presumptuous move of inviting a camera crew to watch his reaction to the Oscar nominations for Jaws, expecting to see his name on there. But the real message they were sending was 'Stick to blockbusters, Steve. Leave the serious films to the big boys.'That year, Out Of Africa took the big prize, and it's an overlong film with nothing to say. It wasn't until Schindler's List that the world finally appreciated what a truly great filmmaker Spielberg is, yet the evidence is all here. No, the film isn't perfect. Spielberg's love of sentimentality creeps in at times, and John Williams is very notable by his absence. The explicit lesbian scenes of the book are also markedly toned down. But there are worse ways to spend an afternoon than in the company of The Color Purple.

TheLittleSongbird Alice Walker's book is truly riveting, being hard-hitting, powerful and incredibly poignant. Anybody who hasn't yet read it, it is very highly recommended.In 1985, a film adaptation directed by Steven Spielberg was released garnering several well-deserved Oscar nominations but sadly winning none. While the book is more detailed and has more depth, and the film is not quite as hard-hitting (though hardly sugar-coated and definitely not Disneyfied), this is in no way denouncing a wonderful early effort from Spielberg.Not quite one of his best films (not among his worst either), but, despite the worry as to whether his style would mesh with the tone of the story told, 'The Color Purple' is a strong sign of Spielberg taking on a very mature subject early on in his career (being before 'Schindler's List') and making a film, that regardless of how it compares to the source material, that's still powerful and moving. For me its only fault is that for my tastes everything felt too neatly wrapped up at the end.Spielberg directs impeccably however, under him the powerful drama never gets heavy-handed despite that it easily could have done and it is also genuinely poignant without falling into over-sentimentality that Spielberg has often been criticised for. 'The Color Purple' looks wonderful, being exquisitely shot and with evocative production design.Quincy Jones' score works remarkably well too, one that sears and soars with ease without being jarring or intrusive. The script provokes a lot of thought and has a lot of honesty and emotion. The hard-hitting story is as hoped told powerfully and movingly, not trivialising the horrors of its themes and the consequences of what happens to the characters.Whoopi Goldberg was rarely better than she is in 'The Color Purple', a wonderful performance with her face and eyes telling so much and one can really see how much damage what she went through has done. Danny Glover is sublimely nasty in one of his best performances worthy of an award nomination but overlooked. Pre-TV career Oprah Winfrey is in a different role, and does remarkably well, while Margaret Avery is affecting.Overall, a powerful and moving film, a worthy adaptation of an even better book. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Riddler2 The Color Purple where do I begin with this important and wonderfully poignant masterpiece of American Cinema where do I begin? This film is so beautiful and heartfelt and just so wonderfully enriching and thoughtful it really is so enriching you really connect with the film I was really connected to the film I have a strong meaningful connection to the film and that is the strong emotional and heartbreaking story that Unfolds and it never lets you relax right until the end which I won't spoil here I want everyone to experience the film for themselves I just was lost for words and I am now writing this review because I want the film to connect with all who see it I really do feel a strong connection to Celie and Nettie the sisters at the heart of the story and all the other characters Shug Mister Harpo Squeak Old Mister Sophia everyone in this film has a story and a connection to the main story and I feel really strongly that this film is for all time and will live on for new generations to experience and connect with these extraordinary women of such courage and such strength and sheer determination to not tolerate the abuse and the suffering they are forced into it really touched me at the end when everything is resolved because they learn an vital lesson in life stand up for yourself and never tolerate suffering and abuse and the film is very timely for me because the news always reports on sexual violence by dominant men and women which should not be tolerated and it really should not be happening and sadly people still feel the need to treat people with no compassion or dignity or kindness and that is what I took away from this unforgettable film never force yourself to dominant forces of malevolent evil I really feel strongly towards this film that it teaches the world that sexual violence or discrimination towards any race of gender inequality is an act of pure evil and an injustice to all man kind and all race religion and all people! Back to the Film the direction is unforgettable and so pristine it reminded me of the old films of the 30s and 40s it really touched me the film has a strong directional style it effortlessly moves from one time period to the other with ease The film is presented over a 35 40 year period or time frame if you will and the first few scenes are so beautiful because they capture all emotions in a split second Happiness, Joy and wonder when Celie and Nettie are playing together and doing their signature hand clapping motion which is their way of connecting with each other they know they are together because they have connected with their hand clapping motion and song that they sing every time they are on screen together they love each other and are very close you can feel that! Celie at the tender age of 14 is pregnant 14 forced to have a baby by her own father yes her own father and one of the most brutal sequences of any motion picture is when her newborn is taken away from her by her own father I knew I was in for an unforgettable movie experience after those opening scenes because I cried my eyes out I lost all happiness and joy and cried and I cried all the way through in the right places of course and when the end comes you have earned it it just does not happen straight away this a long film but boy is it it worth your 2 hours and a half but you have to watch it alone no one else you need to gather yourself at the end of the film and sit through the credits just so you can process what you have just experienced and to think this landmark Masterpiece was nominated for 11 Oscars and won none is a travesty a real tragedy it is awful that this film was not Best Picture and was beaten by Out of Africa out of blooming Africa it is a real travesty the biggest mistake the Oscars ever made The Color Purple is the Best Picture of 1985 and here's why, the direction the performances the emotional connection you have to the characters and the uplifting ending! One Last note I want to thank Steven Spielberg for giving us this film so we all can share this film with the world and connect with it as much as I did and always will for all time! And no John Williams score can you all imagine what he would have composed for this masterpiece instead we get Quincy Jones why I have no flipping idea! I will always love this film and after the credits finished I cried for hours so I urge all people to see this heartbreaking and thoughtful film as it should be loved and it will always be loved for all coming time!

Thomas Atseff Coming in 1985, this was Steven Spielberg's first attempt at melodrama; he had directed Raiders of the Lost Ark and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial 3 and 4 years previously. This inaugural bid for Spielberg as a dramatic director feels a bit clumsy at times, and at times he struggles to portray harrowing oppression suffered by Celie Johnson, the film's protagonist. This may be the result of the film's PG-13 rating, as the harsh themes of domestic violence and incest are at times brushed over too lightly. Despite these issues, Steven Spielberg's dramatic debut is shot tremendously and full of brilliant performances. Danny Glover, while subdued by the film's hesitation to portray violence, is convincing as the abusive husband of Celie. Whoopi Goldberg is fantastic as Celie Johnson, and was undoubtedly robbed of an Oscar in 1986. Margaret Avery is also great as the inspiration to Celie and performs a few great songs, at least one of which also should have won an Oscar. But the real standout performance is from Oprah Winfrey as the empowering Sofia, giving by far the most moving performance in the film. The original music and musical collaboration in the film is superb, adding a lot of heart to the film. If you are a fan of Steven Spielberg, and want to see his origins in drama, this movie will not disappoint. It is a great film for black and female empowerment, but is not as brutal as films like Schindler's List, making it a great introductory drama to Spielberg's decorated career.