Torn apart from her sister Nettie (Halle Bailey) and her children, Celie (Fantasia Barrino in her major motion picture debut, reprising her 2005 role from Broadway) faces many hardships in her life, including an abusive husband simply called Mister (Colman Domingo). With the support of sultry singer Shug Avery (Taraji P. Henson) and stand-her-ground stepdaughter Sofia (Danielle Brooks, Tony-nominated for the role on Broadway), Celie ultimately finds extraordinary strength in the unbreakable bonds of a new kind of sisterhood.
For in-depth thoughts on The Color Purple (2023), please see my colleague Dom Fisher’s review from its original theatrical release here.
Video Quality
The 4K UHD Blu-Ray of The Color Purple offers a stunning presentation that treats this move with ample respect, but the lack of an accompanying Blu-Ray makes it impossible to judge the degree of upgrade. Skin tones appear to be detailed and natural with subtle facets apparent on faces such as perspiration, pores, and makeup. This film is a visual treat as the transfer reveals so much texture in the costumes, within the production design, and throughout the environment.
The implementation of Dolby Vision/HDR achieves a level of brilliance that must be seen to be truly appreciated. Although this story is often narratively dour, there is a hopefulness to the proceedings that comes through in the visual aesthetic with vibrant colors and deep hues. The increased range of the color spectrum is a major benefit to this production. The highlights in the film are heroically defined with whites stable and balanced with no instances of blooming. Black levels are likewise impressive, staying deep and inky with impeccable detail. Warner Bros. has delivered something special with this 4K UHD Blu-Ray release.
Audio Quality
This disc springs to vivid life with a Dolby Atmos presentation that achieves everything you want from it. With this being a musical, the fidelity of the songs is of the utmost importance, and every single moment knocks you sideways throughout this journey. This track delivers an immersive experience that puts you right in the midst of these grand emotions. The instrumentation permeates the room with an infectious energy that wraps you up in the experience.
Sounds are perfectly executed with flawless directionality when it comes to both the songs and the dialogue. The overhead channels support the main channels which allows the world to feel a bit more lived-in and authentic. The low end is engaged ferociously thanks to the energy of the songs. Dialogue is presented clearly without ever being overshadowed by any of the competing sonic elements. Ambient details flesh out the speakers in a way you won’t soon forget in the rear and overhead channels. This audio track does everything right thanks to careful handling from Warner Bros. There are optional English SDH, French, and Spanish subtitles provided.
Special Features
- Creating The Color Purple – A Bold New Take On The Beloved Classic: A nearly seven-minute featurette that takes a look at the process of bringing this musical to the big screen, how it differs from the Spielberg original, the sensibilities of director Blitz Bazawule, the casting of the talent in front of and behind the camera, the hair and makeup team, the musical numbers, and much more.
- Hell Yes! The Iconic Characters of The Color Purple: A seven-minute look at the magic of the ensemble, what the performers bring to their characters, the dynamic between the performers, and much more.
- In The Flow – Creating The Color Purple’s Biggest Musical Moments: An eight-minute exploration of how the musical numbers were created, how to translate them to a cinematic landscape, the challenges that were faced, and much more.
- A Story For Me – The Legacy of The Color Purple: A seven-minute piece that takes a look at the legacy of the original film featuring interviews with Steven Spielberg, Oprah Winfrey, and numerous members of the new film.
- Musical Moments: An option is given to jump directly to the musical numbers in the film.
Final Thoughts
The Color Purple is a very energetic interpretation of the classic source material that chooses to embrace hopefulness over lingering on depictions of Black trauma. This is a smart choice considering it makes for a less tonally unsteady musical, yet the execution still leaves you a bit underwhelmed. The biggest issue with this adaptation is the pacing; typically modern films feel a bit sluggish, yet this one feels a bit too swift. The movie does not know how to stay in a moment and build up the emotions, so very few of the “rousing” moments land with any kind of impact. Character development is sped through to a point where pivotal arcs are almost completely eliminated. It is a shame since the performances are pretty great across the board. The movie is still a fine viewing experience, but it all feels a bit hollow in the end. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring an amazing A/V presentation and a nice assortment of special features. If you love the material, this is a great release.
The Color Purple will be available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray, and DVD on March 12, 2024. The film is currently available on Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.