It is sad to read some of the negative reviews, like those who question why this was made as a musical. My reply would be, "See the original if you don't like musicals, just don't watch this one then complain."
The story is a very dark tale of a young black woman in the early 1900s who was abused at home, had two children that were given away without her consent, and who was married off to an older man, "Mister", who also abused her.
Making it a musical does not take away from the plight of Celie but it does brighten up the whole movie and I thoroughly enjoyed, as did my wife. All the singing is top-notch, as well as the harmonies in many of the musical numbers.
Fantasia Barrino is the grown up Celie and, as a former winner of the American Idol competition is of course very good in the musical numbers plus she is a credible actress.
But my favorite is Taraji P. Henson who I know mostly for dramatic roles, as in the 2016 "Hidden Figures" where she was in the role of the mathematician who solved the orbital issues for NASA. But she is an accomplished singer too, for my tastes better than Barrino, and she plays the entertainer and "loose woman" Shug Avery.
Danielle Brooks is also an accomplished singer with a very strong voice, she is a key character Sofia.
To me Colman Domingo is the best actor here, as "Mister." He is a dangerous, unforgiving man, he has to play this part to perfection to complement the roles of the women and his adult son.
Overall a very good and entertaining telling of the "Color Purple" story, the title a reference to a line about noticing the purple flowers in the field among the other colors.
Spielberg directed the older movie, here he is one of the Producers, which means something regarding the quality of the movie.
My wife and I watched it at home on DVD from out public library.
The story is a very dark tale of a young black woman in the early 1900s who was abused at home, had two children that were given away without her consent, and who was married off to an older man, "Mister", who also abused her.
Making it a musical does not take away from the plight of Celie but it does brighten up the whole movie and I thoroughly enjoyed, as did my wife. All the singing is top-notch, as well as the harmonies in many of the musical numbers.
Fantasia Barrino is the grown up Celie and, as a former winner of the American Idol competition is of course very good in the musical numbers plus she is a credible actress.
But my favorite is Taraji P. Henson who I know mostly for dramatic roles, as in the 2016 "Hidden Figures" where she was in the role of the mathematician who solved the orbital issues for NASA. But she is an accomplished singer too, for my tastes better than Barrino, and she plays the entertainer and "loose woman" Shug Avery.
Danielle Brooks is also an accomplished singer with a very strong voice, she is a key character Sofia.
To me Colman Domingo is the best actor here, as "Mister." He is a dangerous, unforgiving man, he has to play this part to perfection to complement the roles of the women and his adult son.
Overall a very good and entertaining telling of the "Color Purple" story, the title a reference to a line about noticing the purple flowers in the field among the other colors.
Spielberg directed the older movie, here he is one of the Producers, which means something regarding the quality of the movie.
My wife and I watched it at home on DVD from out public library.