Purple Rain
by Albert Magnoli
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DVD details
Actor: Apollonia Kotero, Clarence Williams III, Morris Day, Olga Karlatos, PrinceDirector: Albert Magnoli
Brand: Warner Brothers
Cinematographer: Donald E. Thorin
Editor: Albert Magnoli
Writer: Albert Magnoli
Producer: Joseph Ruffalo
Producer: Robert Cavallo
Producer: Steven Fargnoli
Writer: William Blinn
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Full Screen, NTSC
Picture Format: Pan & Scan, 1.33:1
Running Time: 111 minutes
DVD Release Date: 1997-06-25
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Warner Home Video
DVD Reviews of Purple Rain
DVD Review: Erotic Narcissism with Lots of Purple and Very Little Rain
Summary: 5 Stars
I just caught this again on TV. And I must say, I absolutely adore this campy piece of pure nostalgic 80's MTV schmaltz! (Yiddish for sentimental music or art.) Definitely a guilty pleasure.
The Purple One gets to brood, smash, slap, pump, preen, pout, pose, possess, and posture his way through, what's essentially, just one long 80's music video, with lots of montage and wide-angle shots of Prince riding his purple Honda thru The Motor City and the surrounding Detroit countryside. I've always wondered if Prince got to pull off his own "brodies" on that bike. Or, was it a very short stuntman? (For those of you too young to remember, a "brody" was a showy donut or skid performed on a motorcycle or a bike.)
The plot is almost laughable, and at times, the story arc makes absolutely no sense. Angry young man as misunderstood genius gets caught up in the abusive pattern of misunderstood father figure, mixed into a traditional battle-of-the-bands rivalry between two flamboyant Funksters trying to make it into the music biz, while out maneuvering each other on their way to the top.
However, what's really brilliant about this screenplay, for those that can spot it, are the romantic role reversals of sexual attraction between the male and female archetypes that sometimes played themselves out during the sexual politics of the 80's, and more tellingly, in Prince's private fantasy world. The film utilizes the androgynous nature of Prince's sexuality in a reverse game of sexual tug-of-war with the glamorous Apollonia to the full effect of Prince's male fantasy ego. Prince takes the feminine passive/agressive role of playing hard-to-get while Apollonia follows along as the libidinously loved-starved male submissive. (Until of course, Prince begins to emulate his abusive role model and starts slapping her around as the object of his derision; a mother figure with little or no self-esteem.) Prince frequently turns to the camera, bats his eyes, shoots that come hither look at the females in the audience with a whisper that says, "You know you want me. If you can catch me, you can have me." Pure sexual dynamite!
There is an overt depiction of violence against women here that is supposed to serve the storyline. At times, it just looks like an excuse for Prince to play out his real-life passive/agressive male fantasies with his female proteges, and just slap some chicks around a little to show them who's the boss. Pimp! Granted, Prince will always kiss and make up with the objects of his affection.
Objectification of male and female sexuality is Prince's trademark. Not only does he want to cream all over the ladies, but he also wants you ladies to cream all over him. Prince wouldn't have it any other way. And as a longtime fan, neither would I.
This film is the erotic essence of Prince at his narcissistic best. One gets the feeling that between takes, Prince and the others in the cast were continually fixing their hair and checking themselves out in the mirror. While I would argue that Madonna was merely copying the fashions of what hot young girls were wearing in New York night clubs at the time, Prince was pushing sexual fashion to the very limits with his female proteges. The objectification of his singers was obvious, as they were only allowed to perform scantily clad in the hottest lingerie imaginable.
Gents take note: Apollonia is nearly bursting out at the seams of her skin tight bustiere during her sultry sex number in this flick. Very Nice. Prince also takes his turn at objectifying himself as well. Ladies take note: Prince definitely sexes it up in fine style. The concert shots of Prince thrusting, licking, and stroking himself during his energetic dance routine is a pure self-masturbatory celebration of sexual awakening and awareness. It's really a marvelous example of why Prince and his music were so important towards the end of the Free Love Era. (Right before it was destroyed by the looming death spector of AIDS.)
SIGN OF THE TIMES: The hair styles are priceless. Geri curls, heavily teased bouffants, hair relaxer, and waves of combed over pompadours. The clothes are vintage. The jackets, ties, and hot lingerie are a total throwback to the 80's. And who could ever forget Prince as The Funky Purple Toreador in his puffy dandy blouse, purple overcoat, skin-tight buttonfly pants, and flamenco boots? Classic!
The acting is sometimes wooden and totally camp. Morris Day and Jerome have the funniest parts in the film. Jerome is downright hilarious.
The music of course, is CLASSIC! Prince and The Revolution at their Best! And, who can forget Morris Day and The Time? I miss those guys. They don't make funk like this anymore!
The film itself is 3 Stars at best.
As a Music Video of Prince in the 80's, this is 5 STARS ALL THE WAY!!
Enjoy this nostalgic trip down Memory Lane.
I have to get this! You have to get this!
DVD Review: Great Music, Mediocre Acting
Summary: 4 Stars
Prince's Purple Rain soundtrack is one of his greatest achievements and easily one of the best albums of the 1980s. The accompanying film works much like an extended music video and includes some rousing, high energy performances from the Purple One and his band, the Revolution. Pseudo-live numbers like "The Beautiful Ones" and "Baby I'm a Star" are high energy masterpieces. However, the plot line, which follows The Kid (Prince) amidst struggles with domestic violence and a budding romance with the beautiful Apollonia all while he and his band try to make it big, falls short due to some especially poor acting. Nonetheless, this movie packs a punch thanks to its elaborate musical numbers from The Time and The Revolution, making it essential viewing (and owning) for Prince fans. 3.5 Stars.DVD Review: Prince's classic movie on Blu Ray at new low price!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one of my faves,this movie was made back when Prince was in his prime!!! I've had this on VHS,Standard Full Frame DVD,The 2 DVD 20th Ann. Special Edition and now I bought the Blu Ray,the PQ,sound and extras are top notch and the good news is that it contains ALL the extras that were on the 20th Ann 2 DVD set,go you get 2 DVD's worth of great content on one nice Blu Ray Disc,plus you get better pic,sound etc!!! And the Blu Ray is actually cheaper than the 2 DVD set!!! Recommended! A+DVD Review: Still lots of fun after all these years
Summary: 4 Stars
I was surprised to see that this made such a great transfer to blu ray. What I didn't like about the disc is that none of the extras were transferred to hi def either. They are grainy as if I was watching it on a EP recorded video tape. The movie itself looks really good. One star off for not giving a better budget to fix up the extras.DVD Review: A fine way to revisit the 1980s, and the music's not bad
Summary: 3 Stars
When PURPLE RAIN was shot in 1983, Prince was a newly mainstream act, finally celebrated outside of his hometown of Minneapolis. Eager for more exposure, he sought out some producers and made this film. A hybrid film and music video, PURPLE RAIN describes the career of The Kid (Prince himself, of course), trying to make it in the music business in spite of the tough competition of swank Morris Day and violence between his alcoholic parents (Clarence Williams III and Olga Karlatos). The arrival of aspiring singer and dance Apollonia introduces some romance into the mix. Basically, things happen during the day, and then in the evening The Kid does his club act, where the songs Prince and The Revolution perform are vaguely related to what's going on between The Kid and Apollonia.
This format of a dramatic plot mixed in with gratuitous concert performance is in no way new. Elvis did a whole series of such films. What makes PURPLE RAIN memorable is how it captures a Zeitgest so broadly. It's a one-stop celebration of early 1980s fashion, car design, club life, and of course music. Of course the plot and much of the acting is risible, though often it descends into "it's so bad it's good" territory. Certainly one chuckles when the club manager tells The Kid, "No one understands your music but yourself", when the soundtrack sold 13 million copies.
The 20th anniversary edition DVD release contains a second disc with extras. There are three small documentaries, which describe respectively the Minneapolis venue featured in the film, the making of PURPLE RAIN, and the influence the film has had. They all feature interviews with the same people, including members of the Revolution and The Time. However, Prince, Moris Day, and Apollonia are missing from this documentary material.
Description of Purple Rain
Rock star Prince plays a headstrong vulnerable young musician known as "the kid." He struggles with his own psyche and family pressures ofan alcoholic father who beats his mother. He sees his father's madness infecting both his music and his own personal life.Running Time: 111 min.System Requirements:Interactive Menus Production Notes Soundtrack Remastered in Dolby Digital 5.1 Theatrical Trailer Scene Access Subtitles: English French & Spanish Pan & Scan Standard version has been modified from its original version; it has been formatted to fit your screen English: Dolby Digital 5.1 Video Format: Standard 1.33:1 (4.3) Format: DVD MOVIE Genre:?DRAMA Rating:?R UPC:?085391139829When Prince's dazzling and dynamic Purple Rain (movie and soundtrack album) and the hypnotic hit single "When Doves Cry" exploded onto the pop-culture scene in 1984, it seemed there was nothing the purple one couldn't do. The film is basically a feature-length music video, but no musician has ever had a better big-screen showcase for his many talents. The plot is really just a theme (about the son of an abusive father struggling not to continue the pattern) upon which to hang some of Prince's most dazzling songs (including "Let's Go Crazy" and the title tune), and some sizzling live-concert numbers. Apollonia Kotero is ravishing as the romantic interest, and Morris Day and the Time provide some terrific musical competition. Purple Rain is an essential artifact of the mid-'80s pop Zeitgeist. Prince took home an Oscar for the song score. --Jim Emerson
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