Watch The Color Purple For Free

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Blistering performances.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.

The Color Purple outlines the life, marriage, friendships and family of Celie Johnson played by Whoopi Goldberg an African American women at the turn of the nineteenth century in the southern United States. Celie is essentially given to her husband she refers to as "Mister" or Albert Johnson. Albert is in need of a women to care for his children as he is widowed. Celie has great difficulties in life and relationships with the exception of her sister Nettie played by Akosua Busia. Celie evolves greatly within the film and develops strong relationships with other women in her life as she longs for her sister. Celie is determined to survive this life and frequently prays to God for help and salvation.Celie feels alone in her life with little enjoyment. Celie befriends her husband's mistress Shug Avery played by Margaret Avery and relies on her immensely to get through life with a husband she despises. Celie's step-son Harpo played by Willard Pugh marries Sophia played by Oprah Winfrey- Celie is ill prepared to give marital advice to Sophia as Celie only knows violence in her relationship. Celie silently observes her family around her and as she narrates the film allows movie goers know her thoughts. The Color Purple is racially charged as Sophia is punished for defending herself to a white man. Another movie that a deals with the injustice of racism is 42 a movie about Jackie Robinson. Different scenarios yet two people that overcame racism in pursuit to find happiness. The determination of the female characters- Celie, Nettie, Sophia and Shug to create a bond and a family in a time that was difficult for women and African Americans. The director used angles to zoom into times when Celie was so angry at Mister has she contemplated revenge on him. Along with the sound of sharpening the razor to shave Mister. Celie uses voice over narration during the film as her feelings and thoughts are not allowed to known to anyone but herself. This is impactful to the theme as Celie struggles to be a person in this film as she feels worthless and is conditioned not to speak for herself. The film is thought provoking and can even spark anger at the great injustices that take place throughout the film. Ultimately admiration arises for Celie as she develops as a person and friend all the while her prayers are answered.

Far from reaching the level of excellence of Alice Walker's original novel, the movie is still a good one, with great and heart-warming performances from Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey and Margaret Avery. When the movie was released in 1985, it was a very unusual thing with an all African-American cast and a story devoted completely to the lives of non-Caucasians in the US. "The Color Purple" is still in many ways a milestone and movie that deserves being watched.

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

Coming in 1985, this was Steven Spielberg's first attempt at melodrama; he had directed Raiders of the Lost Ark and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial 3 and 4 years previously. This inaugural bid for Spielberg as a dramatic director feels a bit clumsy at times, and at times he struggles to portray harrowing oppression suffered by Celie Johnson, the film's protagonist. This may be the result of the film's PG-13 rating, as the harsh themes of domestic violence and incest are at times brushed over too lightly. Despite these issues, Steven Spielberg's dramatic debut is shot tremendously and full of brilliant performances. Danny Glover, while subdued by the film's hesitation to portray violence, is convincing as the abusive husband of Celie. Whoopi Goldberg is fantastic as Celie Johnson, and was undoubtedly robbed of an Oscar in 1986. Margaret Avery is also great as the inspiration to Celie and performs a few great songs, at least one of which also should have won an Oscar. But the real standout performance is from Oprah Winfrey as the empowering Sofia, giving by far the most moving performance in the film. The original music and musical collaboration in the film is superb, adding a lot of heart to the film. If you are a fan of Steven Spielberg, and want to see his origins in drama, this movie will not disappoint. It is a great film for black and female empowerment, but is not as brutal as films like Schindler's List, making it a great introductory drama to Spielberg's decorated career.