sotoole05 A couple of years ago this would be one of my very rare 9+ votes. I admit, I lost it every time Celie's kids come back from Africa.But the past couple of years have solidified my stance that politics and Holywood SHOULD NOT MIX.It is Winfrey and Goldberg's outspoken politics and rhetoric that have turned me off. I can no longer watch them. It is because of them, and that reason, that I give it a "1"

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

wigginsams This movie is the epitome of the Southern pre-World War I to post World War II climate and attitudes. While following the plight of a young Black woman,forced to marry at a young age, it addresses issues such as gender biases, racial stigmas, religion and even those matters which some may still consider taboo in today's society. Poignant and dramatic this movie is well worth its weight in gold. I am so fond of this movie that I wrote a 15 page term paper on it and the various topics explored for a sociology course. I have not read the book,although I plan to someday but it's my understanding that the book is as good, if not better, than the film version. Samotta Wiggins

Vivekmaru45 I consider this film to be the best that acclaimed director Steven Spielberg has ever made. I rank this film higher than his others: Empire of the Sun 1987, Jaws 1975, The Indiana Jones trilogy: Raiders Of The Lost Ark 1981, Indiana Jones And Temple Of Doom 1984, Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade 1989, Duel 1971, Close Encounters Of The Third Kind 1977,Catch Me If You Can(based on the true story of Frank Abagnale), Amistad 1997 and lastly, Jurassic Park 1993.The film is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by Alice Walker. It introduced actresses Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey who would later achieve much success in the movie industry.Plot: Taking place in the Southern United States between Winter 1909 and Autumn 1937, the movie tells the life of a poor African American woman named Celie Harris (Whoopi Goldberg) whose abuse begins when she is young. By the time she is fourteen, she has already had two children by her father Alphonso "James" Harris (Leonard Jackson) and is pregnant with another. He takes them away from her at childbirth and forces the young Celie (Desreta Jackson) to marry a wealthy young local widower Albert Johnson, known to her only as "Mister" (Danny Glover), who treats her like a slave. Albert makes her clean up his disorderly household and take care of his unruly children. Albert beats and rapes her often, intimidating Celie into submission and near silence. Celie's sister Nettie (Akosua Busia) comes to live with them, and there is a brief period of happiness as the sisters spend time together and Nettie begins to teach Celie how to read. This is short-lived; after Nettie refuses Albert's predatory affections once too often, he kicks her out. Before being run off by Albert, Nettie promises to write to Celie saying, "Nothing but death can keep me from it!".Verdict: I was very much impressed with Spielberg's style of direction in keeping with the settings of that period of time. Oprah Winfrey immediately captivated me with her sincere and mature acting. Actor Danny Glover is a big favorite of mine and he gives a thoroughly professional performance as Albert Johnson, a man who treats women as mere sex objects. Other notable actors are Willard E. Pugh(RoboCop 2 1990), Rae Dawn Chong(Commando 1985), Margaret Avery and veteran actor Laurence Fishburne(Just Cause 1995).