I love this musical. I saw the original production on Broadway twice and the revival three times. In my eyes it is close to a perfect musical. It flows well, The music is fantastic, and the script is pretty strong. So I will be honest. I went into this movie pretty hesitant and would be hard to beat the stage productions for me.
That being said. My problem wasn't the cast or the direction. It was what they did to the original material. They cut 14 songs from the show and replaced them with songs to feature the smaller roles. They cut a pivotal scene before "I'm Here" that gives that song so much more depth and feeling. The struggle they cut from the stage version was missing a little.
Don't get my wrong. There was still struggle obviously. But the relationship between Shug and Celie was much deeper. Shug actually leaves Celie for the piano player. Leaving her devastated in the middle of her happy moment of having success with her shop and learning her family is alive. It seemed in this version she got everything she wanted in life. Which is nice, but not how life is. The whole point of the song is she is broken yet again, but still here. Instead she gets an apology from Mister.
The only story they started true to was Sophia. And that's why she's getting rave reviews and probably an Oscar nomination. They cut a duet of her and Harpo, but that song was a comedic filler. But otherwise the story kept the most rounded depth to the character.
It's a good movie. But as a fan of the source material (not the book or the original movie, but the stage musical), I left liking it, but I didn't love it. And the people who were with me didn't see the stage show and loved it. It just lacked something. I really wanted it to be one of those movie musicals I return to over and over, but once was enough. If it's playing on TV I might stop and watch. But it's not something I'm going to seek out to watch.
That being said. My problem wasn't the cast or the direction. It was what they did to the original material. They cut 14 songs from the show and replaced them with songs to feature the smaller roles. They cut a pivotal scene before "I'm Here" that gives that song so much more depth and feeling. The struggle they cut from the stage version was missing a little.
Don't get my wrong. There was still struggle obviously. But the relationship between Shug and Celie was much deeper. Shug actually leaves Celie for the piano player. Leaving her devastated in the middle of her happy moment of having success with her shop and learning her family is alive. It seemed in this version she got everything she wanted in life. Which is nice, but not how life is. The whole point of the song is she is broken yet again, but still here. Instead she gets an apology from Mister.
The only story they started true to was Sophia. And that's why she's getting rave reviews and probably an Oscar nomination. They cut a duet of her and Harpo, but that song was a comedic filler. But otherwise the story kept the most rounded depth to the character.
It's a good movie. But as a fan of the source material (not the book or the original movie, but the stage musical), I left liking it, but I didn't love it. And the people who were with me didn't see the stage show and loved it. It just lacked something. I really wanted it to be one of those movie musicals I return to over and over, but once was enough. If it's playing on TV I might stop and watch. But it's not something I'm going to seek out to watch.