MovieChat Forums > The Color Purple (1986) Discussion > A really bad movie

A really bad movie

posted 14 years ago by meisterjaan
51 replies | jump to latest

Just to equalize the scales here..

What was good in this movie:
*Spielberg's handicraft skills
*Some true moments. I liked most the scene where Harpo and his ex-wife were dancing in the joint and his ex keep telling "be nice now, be nice now" and then he goes "naww..alright". This was good.

What was bad:
*The lead actress.. or the way Spielberg had made her act. I didn't believe her. It seemed she had just been told to do a sad face for most of the time.
*The unreasonable misery. Okay, I aknowledge many people have had and still have the kind of lives like Celie, but in this movie as a hole, I didn't understand the cause of all this. Okay, Albert beat Celie, but why.
*Yes, the absencse of the WHY was the biggest flaw of the movie. Celie told Shug that Albert beat her for not being Shug, but these are only words which doesn't work for me.

This movie was mostly the display of violence but I've had enough of violence. After watching this movie, I start to more and more agree with Aristoteles who has said that a noble drama shouldn't display violence but only the causes and consequences of the violence.

For users who vague wheter to watch this movie or not and who read my post and try to figure out which taste I have, then my favorite movies dealing with Deep Purple kind of subjects are "White Ribbon" and "A Serious Man"

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] echobabe-876-874706 10 years ago

This post reminds us all to keep in mind when reviewing a beloved, award winning film: if we disagree as to the importance of a film, we should view it again on a day with a different mood. Or even after we have aged a bit, experienced some defining life events.

I first saw this film in my early 20's, I did not understand why there was so much violence, or why the characters (who were clearly older than me at the time) were driven to such futile life choices. I watched it again last night and found it to be a triumph of the human spirit, the courage to persevere and the redemption that comes from acknowledging each of us is entitled to happiness, and to receive kindness and respect from each other.

[–] jajceboy 10 years ago

OP:s criticism of the film does seem a bit off. He don't have to like it but the reason he states for not liking it are quite stupid.

Not liking the character cause she is depressed and taking issue with that: Well, depressing stuff happens to her. Of course she will be depressed. You can't expect her to smile really.
Being depressed is part of her personality, you might not like the character because of that but not dislike the film because of that.

As for violence, it needed to be shown. It was necessary to establish a part as to why Celie was the way she was. By not showing that something would be lost with the character.

Should we just stop make films about misery and depression and violence just because we feel bad during and after watching it? Should every film be filled with joy and laughter and comfort?
Sometimes we need to feel bead as well, to be aware of things we perhaps weren't aware of before.

[–] great_one_32789 9 years ago

Personally, I preferred the book myself but either you don't watch movies that often or you don't know much about them but this was not a bad movie. However, I do appreciate you giving your opinion buddy.

[–] Degree7 9 years ago

A really bad post.

~ I'm a 21st century man and I don't wanna be here.

[–] gtbarker 8 years ago

Hurry along now, Trumpies calling you home

'Well I've got two words for you - STFU'

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] DrgnChld5 8 years ago

I'm truly sorry you feel this movie is bad. To those of us who have lived even one minute of the hell Celie lived this is therapeutic it brings home the truth that we are not alone. We spend our lives suffering in silence wishing for someone to understand. I first saw this movie at an age far to young to understand every aspect but felt connected several years later after living 5 years of hell at the hands of my stepfather. Now as an adult with a grown daughter I'm sitting down to watch it again after 20 years I hope with this viewing a year after my stepfather's death in feel the relief that should come by knowing my nightmares are dead and should be buried. I hope you can bring yourself to view it again with new eyes and compassion. If my story doesn't help please find the book and read it I was a simple 10 year old when I first watched 17 when it all clicked and now 40 with a grown daughter that I'm thankful never had to live one second of the hell Celie did.

[–] jdberner 8 years ago

I understand the dilemma: If one cannot understand the characters' motivations, one cannot appreciate the story. In this case, the movie was designed for a US audience expected to be very familiar with mistreatment of people of color, and of women in general. One CAN perhaps capture that necessary motivation by watching the nuanced behavior of white shopkeepers, acquaintances, etc.

Without the knowledge of how badly people of color were treated until the civil rights movement, and without an understanding of human reaction to mistreatment, this movie could seem incomprehensible.