Review of The Color Purple (1985) by Hassan I — 24 Jun 2013

Whoever thought that such a fantastic book could be adapted into a great film. Certainly not me. Yet Steven Spielberg's "The Color Purple" is a heartbreaking, powerful, and emotionally resonant motion picture that holds up as a masterpiece even today.

Mostly staying true to the novel, Spielberg's film is made with love, passion and respect for Alice Walker's novel of the same name. Its a tale that reaches beyond what one usually expects from a book-to-film adaptation, capturing some of the greatest moments in the history of Cinema.

Although it plays out at a long running time, "The Color Purple" allows director Steven Spielberg to plunge the audience deep into the inner psychology of each of the characters, especially Celie.

What we're witnessing isn't a film anymore, but real people interacting and contemplating. Spielberg manages to get the very best out of his actors; the cast isn't playing the characters, they live each of their roles deep down.

Its one thing to make a powerful story, but you're in a completely different league if you get each of the characters right in a book-to-film adaptation. That rarely ever happens, and is one of the main reasons why "The Color Purple" is the defining classic of its time.

Each scene flourishes with beautiful cinematography and a fantastic soundtrack. Its only about time that you realize that you're not watching a movie, but something greater that understands even the most despised subjects such as racism.