The Color Purple: Critic Reviews

It is a great, warm, hard, unforgiving, triumphant movie, and there is not a scene that does not shine with the love of the people who made it.

...we can forgive Spielberg his indulgences when the outcome is so profoundly moving.

Inspiring, sentimental tale of survival.

Spielberg may not have been the best choice to direct this feminist text, making a clean, neat movie that lacks authenticity, but the movie has many touching moments and the entire female ensemble is good, particularly Whoopi Goldberg in the second half

Overrated, but still a good film.

Brilliant, disturbing storytelling by Spielberg with standout performances.

A far better film than is usually thought.

Spielberg's first big drama is often hokey in places but ultimately succeeds.

A work of heart and soul dazzlingly performed by Spielberg's tightest ensemble since Jaws.

It is unquestionably overwrought, but it is a truly lovely film with a lot of emotion in it. The meaning of all that emotion is unfortunately still up for grabs.