... However, I'd heard good things about The Color Purple and when I saw it for only £3 in HMV I bought it and after being put off watching it by someone with a strong hatred for Oprah Winfrey I didn't watch it for a while.
The Color Purple tells the story of the life of Celie. We first meet ... Read review
Steven Spielberg, proving he's one of the few modern filmmakers who has the visual fluency ... more
to be capable of making a great silent film, took a melodramatic, DW Griffith-inspired approach to filming Alice Walker's novel. His tactics made the film contro...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Steven Spielberg, proving he's one of the few modern filmmakers who has the visual fluency ... more
to be capable of making a great silent film, took a melodramatic, DW Griffith-inspired approach to filming Alice Walker's novel. His tactics made the film contro...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Steven Spielberg, proving he's one of the few modern filmmakers who has the visual fluency ... more
to be capable of making a great silent film, took a melodramatic, DW Griffith-inspired approach to filming Alice Walker's novel. His tactics made the film contro...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Steven Spielberg, proving he's one of the few modern filmmakers who has the visual fluency ... more
to be capable of making a great silent film, took a melodramatic, DW Griffith-inspired approach to filming Alice Walker's novel. His tactics made the film contro...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Based on Alice Walker's Pulitzer prize-winning novel The Color Purple is the richly ... more
textured decades-spanning story of Celie and uneducated woman living in the rural American south. Forced to marry a brutal man she calls "MR." Celie turns inward an...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Based on Alice Walker's Pulitzer prize-winning novel The Color Purple is the richly ... more
textured decades-spanning story of Celie an uneducated woman living in the rural American south. Forced to marry a brutal man she calls "MR." Celie turns inward an...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Steven Spielberg, gifted creator of Jaws, the Indiana Jones sagas, E.T. The ... more
Extra-Terrestrial and other mega-hits, turned The Color Purple into one of his most remarkable successes - a film that won the National Board of Review's Best Picture Award, ap...
Color it fuller, color it richer, color it even more of an enthralling movie experience: ... more
the Color Purple shines anew in this expernsive, deluxe 2 disc edition DVD.Celie. 'Mr.' Sofia. Nettie. Shug. The unforgettable characters of Alice Walker's Pulitze...
York Notes for GCSE offer an exciting approach to English Literature and will help you to ... more
achieve a better grade. This market-leading series has been completely updated to reflect the needs of today's students. The new editions are packed with detailed summaries commentaries on key themes characters language and style illustrations exam advice and much more. Written by GCSE examiners and teachers York Notes are the authoritative guides to exam success.
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One of the most haunting books you could ever wish to read...it is stunning - moving ... more
exciting and wonderful' Lenny Henry Set in the deep American south between the wars this is the classic tale of Celie a young poor black girl. Raped repeatedly by her father she loses two children and then is married off to a man who treats her no better than a slave. She is separated from her sister Nettie and dreams of becoming like the glamorous Shug Avery a singer and rebellious black woman who has taken charge of her own destiny. Gradually Celie discovers the support of women that enables her to leave the past behind and begin a new life.
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Production Year: 1995 - Drama - Director: Ang Lee - Original Language: English - Classification: Universal - Starring: Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant, Greg Wise, Hugh Laurie, Robert Hardy
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Advantages: Great story and acting Disadvantages: Directing wasn't always great
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_The Color Purple_ tells the story of the life of Celie. We first meet her as a 14 year old girl who has become pregnant by her father. It is her second child both of whom are sold by tyrannical father. She is later married off to a local farmer called Albert Johnson (Danny Glover) but known only to Celie as 'Mister'. Mister rapes Celie, he bullies her and he beats her. Her life is a living hell which is brightened up by of her sister Nettie. ... ...a very emotional scene and the two young girls put up astounding performances as two sisters who are pained to be torn apart. Definitely the best performances in the film and strange that they got little recognition for it.
We then skip a few years and Celie is older and now played by Whoopi Goldberg. This not her debut film performance as many people seem to belie but definitely the early performance that gained her the most attention. ... more
Stephen Spielberg has made a vast array of films in his time and I've always found most of his films very enjoyable and great to watch (new Indiana Jones was terrible amongst others) but in my opinion he has only ever made one truly great film and that is Schindler's List a film I never get tired of watching. However, I'd heard good things about The Color Purple and when I saw it for only £3 in HMV I bought it and after being put off watching it by someone with a strong hatred for Oprah Winfrey I didn't watch it for a while.
The Color Purple tells the story of the life of Celie. We first meet her as a 14 year old girl who has become pregnant by her father. It is her second child both of whom are sold by tyrannical father. She is later married off to a local farmer called Albert Johnson (Danny Glover) but known only to Celie as 'Mister'. Mister rapes Celie, he bullies her and he beats her. Her life is a living hell which is brightened up by of her sister Nettie. Nettie has ran away from her father before she too was raped and is allowed to stay by Mister who also has a sinister interest in her. However, after he makes his advance on her she fights back and is thrown out by Mister. This scene is brilliant, a very emotional scene and the two young girls put up astounding performances as two sisters who are pained to be torn apart. Definitely the best performances in the film and strange that they got little recognition for it.
We then skip a few years and Celie is older and now played by Whoopi Goldberg. This not her debut film performance as many people seem to belie but definitely the early performance that gained her the most attention. She is very, very good as the shy, meek Celie. All I know Whoopi Goldberg from is Sister Act, Rat Race and couple of other comedy films in which she always plays a rather similar lively character so to see her play Celie is quite a contrast and I think her nominations and awards for the part are well deserved. Celie doesn't talk a lot due to her oppression and the complex she has formed so a lot of Whoopi's acting is all about body language and facial expressions and she carried it off very well.. She has grown a lot meeker after years of servitude to Mister. She has not heard from Nettie for years as Mister won't allow her near the post. To top the miserable life she lives her husband tops it off by moving his lover Shug Avery (Margaret Avery) in to the house. There is a lot of comedy here which seems misplaced and a bit too quirky and cartoon-ish for the film.
At first very rude to Celie, Shug and Celie become best friends and she starts to give Celie hope and improves her self esteem. Shug and Celie then have a lesbian affair and Celie learns about affectionate sex as opposed to merely submitting. Another person who Celie learns from is Harpo's wife Sophia played by Oprah Winfrey (Harpo is Mister's son). Oprah is very fat here and doesn't take any crap from Mister or Harpo. Whenever Harpo beats her she just beats him back worse. Her character was rather amusing and I personally don't think Oprah was a bad actress even if she does have a crap TV show (so shut-up Fiona) Sophia however, gets into trouble with a rich white lady and ends up going to jail for years and ten into forced servitude. Yet again here the directing was too cheery for the mood. Sophia had had her soul crushed she was no longer the woman she used to be and she is facially deformed but what we see is an eccentric woman racing through the town with people diving out of the way like they're in Who Framed Roger Rabbit . It is a problem I had throughout the film. The story material is rather dark and I don't think Spielberg created an atmosphere for what was going on. Of course comic relief maybe a necessity but I found it excessive and it made the film a little patchy.
I'll not say too much more about the plot but the film is all about reconciliation, forgiving and love. The title of the film is taken from the fact Shug finds purple flowers beautiful and thinks that God wanted us to find them beautiful and it is a sin to over look them as everything should be shown the affection they deserve. Getting what you deserve is a string theme as well but religion plays a strong role. Throughout the film we hear Celie's narration of events through her letters to God that she writes. Shug's father is a preacher who has disowned her due to her sin-full life style as a singer. I find the fact that this film ha something to say to be a major advantage. There are far too many pointless films.
Racism is not a strong theme in the film and to an extent this is refreshing. You are viewing African-American culture in the film and how it gets on independently. It does make an appearance and it is interesting to also see the European impact on Africa as well shown in the film but I like the fact it wasn't the soul focus. Feminism on the other hand is a very strong facet of the film. Throughout the film we watch Celie escape a man's world and become an independent woman. I do think that in the film men are all negatively portrayed. Two of the male characters are rapists and bullies. One is an idiot who beats his wife and the other disowns his daughter. I think Walker does rather sensationalise to prove her point. The cinematography in the film was outstanding (so much so that I'm actually mentioning it for once) The scenery looked great but I do think that there could have been some sort of visual onomatopoeia if you know what I mean (where the set matches the mood - there's a word for it, I just can't think of it) but maybe that would have made it a bit unrealistic.
Overall I found a lot of the acting to be very good. Whoopi, the two young girls stealing the show. I found the character of Mister to be rather inconsistent to be honest. Sometimes he seemed really evil whilst at others he had a rather amicable relationship with Celie and rather a pleasant man. I don't know if that was particularly a flaw in Glover's acting (and he's a good actor I've enjoyed him in several other films and Lethal Weapon doesn't do him justice) or the script. Winfrey also put up a good show whilst to be honest I can't really say a lot for Avery. Her performance had no flaws in it that I saw but there was nothing outstanding about it, however, she was a really good singer and the music in the film was rather good whilst the actual soundtrack I must say was just pretty standard. One thing I wish to commend Spielberg for is that he managed the sex scenes rather tastefully, of course in this film they were necessary to the plot unlike a lot of other films but Spielberg didn't make an excess of them which I think was not only wise due to the nature of some of them (the young girl) but rather astute in reaching his target audience.
An enjoyable film that is at times very, very sad. Not one though that I would be too keen to watch again in a hurry. It's one of those films that once you've seen it you're satisfied and I doubt it would have the same affect a second time. I've tried to think of similar films so people could see if it's like a film they like but all I can think of at the moment is The Green Mile. Not a similar story but the do seem reminiscent of one another to me at least.
Awards
The film won several awards. It was nominated for 11 Oscars but didn't win one!
Certificate
The film is a 15 due to scenes of a sexual nature that are rather mild. Bad language and violent scenes.
The DVD extras are abit weak. We have two trailers. Cast filmographies and the recommendation of A Time to Kill and Giant. Production Notes and a list of Awards and Nominations.
Advantages: Superb performances and an excellent story to work with Disadvantages: Spielberg's adaptation of the book does not do it justice
The Color Purple, based on the book by Alice Walker, is the emotional story of a woman's search for happiness and love. Made in 1985 by Steven Spielberg, it was nominated for a whopping 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actress, two in Best Supporting Actress, and Best Song and Score; although this is slightly spoiled by the fact it failed to win any. Nevertheless, it remains a good piece of work.
The story is based around Celie (played ... ...raped by her father at the age of 14, and then forced into a marriage with Albert Johnson (Danny Glover), where she is beaten and split up from her beloved sister Nettie. However, when Celie meets Albert's former lover, the exotic singer Shug Avery (played by Margaret Avery), her life begins to improve, and she gets the courage to stand up from herself, leading to ultimately uplifting conclusions. Along the way the film deals with the multiple story ...
l-m-n-o-p 08.12.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Color Purple (DVD)
Advantages: Superb acting, especially by Whoopi Goldberg Disadvantages: None
...by this film. Set in the American South in the early twentieth century, it tells the story of a young black girl growing up under less than happy circumstances. Based on the book by Alice Walker, it deals with the subject matter in a beautifully sensitive way without being sickening. The story
Celie and her younger sister Nettie have a reasonably happy childhood until they reach puberty, when their father begins to take a little too much interest ... ...her life is changed by the influence of two women. First, her step-son's wife, Sophia, who shows her that she does not have to put up with being beaten by her husband. Then, her husband's lover, Shug Avery moves in and the two become friends. Can Shug save Celie from her predicament? And will Celie ever meet her sister again?
The characters/actors
Celie is played by Whoopi Goldberg, in a debut role that made her name for her. Celie is educationally ...
sunmeilan 08.08.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Color Purple (DVD)
Advantages: A fantastic story told in film Disadvantages: Maybe too long for some, you may cry at the ending
...proposed it myself. Based on the Pulitzer Prize winning book of the same name by Alice Walker, The Color Purple, is not your run of the mill drama, but tells the story of Celie, from a young girl being abused, to her final triumph over adversity. Please excuse the terminology used in this review, but it is based on the actual vocabulary used in the film.
The Setting
*************
The colour Purple is set in southern America, during the time when ... ...she couldn't even drink from the same water fountain as a “white”.
Although, I found it hard to believe people could be treated like this, I know from my history lessons that this was actually very realistically portayed.
The Characters
*******************
There are many very strong characters throughout the film, and I believe it is this that makes the film so compelling. All of the characters have a trait that brings out our sympathy, except ...
sandemp 03.01.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Color Purple (DVD)
Advantages: a great film Disadvantages: lots of tears
...it is about it, probebly the thought of what the main charater is going through, but thats how life really was for some people back then. One of the big things that draw me to this film is my love of Whoopie Goldburg. I can not think of one film that she has done that does'nt appeal to me. I am sure other people could name a few but i always will like her work. This particular film though has it all, great cast, great director and on top of that ... ...sit through, the trials and tribulations of 14-year-old Celie (Whoopie Goldberg)
If i was in 14 year old Celies place im not so sure if i could have coped with what she had to put up with.
The 14 year old child had a baby by her violent father, as soon as the baby was born he took the baby from her gving it away to god knows who.
How could any child deal with that, not once but twice.
The only family that love this poor gilr is her little sister ...
GOLDENANGEL 11.10.2008 (07.12.2008)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of The Color Purple (DVD)
...Here is a tale of the true strength of a young girl who against all odds develops into a strong admirable woman.With what seems to be the world fighting against her happiness she, Celie played by Whoopi Goldberg,survives her abusive rapist father only to be forced into the hands of another wicked man, her husband. Her children, fathered by her own father who where taken from birth an with the final straw Celie than has her heart riped from her as ... ...also keep you glued to the screen, with sofia , played brilliantly by 'oprah winfrey ' who will inturn make you laugh, cry an truly dispair
definatly an inspirational film, and i would definatly recommend reading the book before watching the film, gives the whole thing a little extra magic, personally i loved this film an it has been my favourite ever since, ...
stacetendai 08.07.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of The Color Purple (DVD)
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THE COLOR PURPLE focuses on the life and times of Celie, a black girl, who suffers years of abuse at the hands of two men. Based on the novel by Alice Walker and starring Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover and Oprah Winfrey, and is considered to be director Steven Spielberg's first 'mature' film.
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
WARNER HOME VIDEO; CINRAM LOGISTICS
Release date
25/09/1998, 21/07/2003
No of Discs
1
Catalogue No
D 011534, D 018319
Barcode
7321900115346, 7321900183192
Languages
Main Language
English
Subtitle Language
Arabic, English
Hearing Impaired Language
English
Technical information
Special Features
Interactive Menus, Production Notes, Scene Access, Trailers
Aspect Ratio
Full Screen
Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1
Dubbing Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Professional reviews
Review
"...Momentum, warmth and staying power....[Goldberg] eventually grows into a tremendously compelling figure..." (New York Times, p.C18, 18/12/1985)
"...Remarkably faithful in incident and detail to Alice Walker's original..." (Sight and Sound, p.135-6, 01/03/1985)
DVD Description
Steven Spielberg's masterful adaptation of Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel stars Whoppi Goldberg (GHOST, SISTER ACT), in her impressive screen debut, as Celie, a sharecropper's daughter living in rural Georgia. The film opens in 1909 when Celie is a young girl, a victim of incest, pregnant with her father's child. Ugly and unloved, separated from her children and her sister, Celie's only option is marriage to an abusive, philandering husband (Danny Glover – LETHAL WEAPON, BOPHA) who treats her little better than a slave. Her life changes forever when her husband brings his mistress, a beautiful blues singer named Shug (Margaret Avery), into the house. THE COLOR PURPLE was also the film debut for Oprah Winfrey, who beautifully plays Celie's sister-in-law, Sofia. THE COLOR PURPLE was nominated for 11 Academy Awards (including one each for Goldberg, Avery, and Winfrey) but surprisingly won no Oscars, and although the film was nominated for a Best Picture award, Spielberg was snubbed by the academy and was not nominated for Best Director.
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