By John Corrado

Please note that this is a review of the Blu-ray release of The Color Purple. For my full thoughts on the film itself, you can read my original review right here.

Director Blitz Bazawule’s glitzy The Color Purple serves as both a big screen version of the Broadway musical, and a reimagining of Steven Spielberg’s 1985 adaptation of Alice Walker’s original novel.

Fantasia Barrino stars in the film, reprising her role from the Broadway show as Celie, an African-American woman living in the South in the first half of the 20th century. The story spans several decades in her life, including her marriage to the abusive Mister (Colman Domingo), and the women who come into her life.

The film is carried by a stacked cast. Taraji P. Henson commands the show as Shug Avery, while Danielle Brooks received a Best Supporting Actress nomination – the film’s sole Oscar nod – for her role as Sofia, famously played by Oprah Winfrey in the original film. It’s a solid remake that is worth seeing for the strong acting and flashy musical performances.

Film Rating: ★★★ (out of 4)

Bonus Features (Blu-ray):

The Blu-ray includes four featurettes on the production. A code for a digital copy is also included in the package, which ships with a slipcover.

• Creating The Color Purple: A Bold New Take on the Beloved Classic (6 minutes, 21 seconds): A look at adapting Spielberg’s version into a musical, Bazawule’s direction, and various aspects of the production, including the colourful costumes and cinematography.

• Hell Yes! The Iconic Characters of The Color Purple (7 minutes, 0 seconds): A look at the all-star cast of the film, and the roles they are taking on.

• In the Flow: Creating The Color Purple‘s Biggest Musical Moments (8 minutes, 3 seconds): A closer look at the music in the film, drawing upon the rich history of African-American music, and the choreography by Fatima Robinson.

• A Story for Me: The Legacy of The Color Purple (6 minutes, 38 seconds): Steven Spielberg and Oprah Winfrey – who both serve as producers on the film – discuss the differences between their 1985 version and this new musical adaptation.

• Musical Moments (Play All – 43 minutes, 35 seconds): The film’s eighteen musical numbers, playable together or on their own.

The Color Purple is a Warner Bros. Home Entertainment release. It’s 141 minutes and rated PG.

Street Date: March 12th, 2024