Why So Blu?

Seriously?

/facepalm

Brack

Was joshing ya. Two of the worst RW movies I've ever seen, though Toys is up there.

Why So Blu?

Brack

FYI, the film has expanded to 212 AMC locations for this weekend. Must be doing pretty well.

dhmac

I think your nose is growing

Matto1020

Think I'm going to give this a watch for the first time. That being said... is this a movie better to watched completely stoned to mask some of the cheesy 80s-ness to it... or watch it sober?

Brack

If you're expecting it to be more "realistic" like 8 Mile, you'll be disappointed. I think it depends on how much of a fan you were of Prince or even the music of the time period, at least to a degree. Do you like Prince's songs from the 80s? Are you familiar with Morris Day and The Time? If you like that stuff, it will certainly add to the enjoyment factor no doubt.

The highlights are the musical numbers, but not the only good stuff. There is plenty of cheese, a lot of it intentionally for laughs, but it's not Rock of Ages (the movie, never saw the Broadway musical) cheese. The performances are pretty good even though Apollonia is pretty weak compared to the others, though not horrible. There is some silly backstage melodrama with the band, and it's not the deepest plot by any means. The family drama is surprisingly well acted and mostly overcomes how cliché it is.

This is coming from someone who's seen the movie as much as any movie I've seen (well, almost), and who grew up in the 80s (born in 81, so obviously didn't see it when it initially came out) and loving Prince's music back then, so if you think you need a little buzz, by all means go for it, but I wouldn't get hammered (and for your sake, please be responsible, especially given the likelihood of how Prince died last week). It is not a perfect movie, it has plenty of flaws, but I love it in spite of them. There are certain moments that really surprised me, and showed some true emotion from some of the lesser or more supporting cast who aren't/weren't natural actors.

mrhan

Watch it stoned. Most people remember this movie through rose colored glasses. Overall, it really isn't that good. The stage performances are good. The rest is so bad it's good; especially if your stoned. For me the worst part has got to be the Laurel and Hardy act. Totally cringe worthy.

TomOpus

My highlight of the movie is when Apollonia shows her highlights.

Maz Kanata

Saw the 8:00pm show here in Georgetown, D.C. last night. The theatre was 1/3rd full, which surprised the hell out of us. Was expecting to be the only ones for a movie that tmk is even streaming. Nostalgia is a hell of a thing.

davidlynchfan

+1. This movie is just total rubbish if not for the decent soundtrack and Apollonia.

mhg83

Yeah that was the same size when I saw it. It'll be interesting to see the final box office numbers. Would be awesome if it makes it in the top ten

PatD

Abbott and Costello, dude.

PatD

Saw it last night. Great music, especially "Jungle Love" by Morris Day and the Time and the title song by Prince. Otherwise, the plot is threadbare. Also, I think Clarence Williams III brings the best performance in the film as The Kid's abusive and disturbed father. I'm glad I saw it on the big screen--but I don't need to see it again.

mrhan

I stand corrected. I haven't seen it in a long, long time.

I saw it on the big screen in '84 and once on VHS...and yes, I was stoned.

mwbmis

Went today. It's a movie that I'd just never got around to watching for one reason or another (I've even owned it for a number of years). Worth it for the music alone. I do wonder if the movie would have been better if Vanity hadn't walked away from it; Apollonia is just not much of an actress, and I thought she and Prince had very little chemistry together.

The music is great though.

dhmac

An episode of The X-Files (S4E11 "El Mundo Gira") has my favorite quote about "Purple Rain"

Scully: "Purple Rain?"

Mulder: "Yeah. Great album. Deeply flawed movie, though."

Why So Blu?

d2cheer

He is not wrong...

devilshalo

We're all sitting in a roomful of hate.

iggystar

There was a 2-night showing of Purple Rain at the Redford Theater here in Detroit and they had a 35mm copy of it. The show was sold out, the 35mm was raw, no one watches Purple Rain for the story and it was an AMAZING experience.

The entire crowd was electric, we were all singing, laughing and having a blast. A fitting tribute!

EddieMoney

Not sure what's better in this movie: The music, or Appollonia's jugs.

dhmac

The music is the best thing in the movie, but I think the best music in the movie is Morris Day and the Time (yep, I think they're better than Prince and the Revolution are in the movie).

Brack

While Morris Day and The Time are great, they're not even in the same solar system as Prince and the Revolution. Subjective, I know, but The Time's songs are pretty much all the same, while Prince's songs hit a lot of different themes and rhythms. Prince's voice and guitar skills alone trump The Time.

EddieMoney

And "Purple Rain" also happens to be one of the greatest songs ever recorded, IMO.