Customer Reviews

Under the Cherry Moon

5 star:		(39)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

I shouldn't like this movie, but I kind of do. It's a total vanity project for Prince, but it's charming and funny so I enjoy watching it. Prince plays Christopher, a gigolo who plays piano in the French Riviera. He sets his sights on a rich heiress, and then finds himself falling in love. Meanwhile the father does not approve, and wants him hurt or dead. The movie is photographed extremely well by a legendary lensman called Michael Ballhaus. It looks phenomenal! And Kristin Scott Thomas seems to breathe some real life and class to her role as Mary. Jerome Benton is just fun to watch as he goofs on everyone. And Prince is Prince - mysterious and fully decked out in stack heels and full make-up.

The DVD is nice. It includes all the videos, and a trailer. But the real treat is seeing it in widescreen after all these years. Filmed on location in Nice, France ... mmmmm! South of France.

Hits include "Kiss" and "Girls & Boys". Some of Prince's most exotic and rythmic music.

This is not nearly as good as the Purple Rain and Sign o' the Times movies... however, if you are a child of the 80's / hardcore Prince fan, then you already love every corny / self-indulgent second of Under the Cherry Moon. This is Prince at the height of his post Purple Rain out-of-control narcissism and that's what makes it so much fun! Cryptic in-jokes and costume changes run wild to the beat of Prince and the Revolution's quirky funk-pop. The movie isn't given any special treatment in it's transfer to DVD. No 5.1, no commentaries of any kind but the inclusion of the music videos for the songs Mountains, Kiss, Girls & Boys and Anotherloverholenyohead is a nice touch. I wish they would've added the live performance of Prince and the Revolution from the MTV Under the Cherry Moon premiere at Sheridan, Wyoming but I guess that will have to wait for the Under the Cherry Moon: Special Edition. STOP LAUGHING! IT COULD HAPPEN!

I guess I understand why this movie was so savagely criticized during it's year of release, 1986. Prince was still enjoying huge popularity based largely on the success of "Purple Rain," both the film and the soundtrack. And critics love to knock someone off a pedestal, which is what they did to Prince in those days. Many claimed that the movie was nothing more than an ego trip. They couldn't believe Prince had the nerve to fire the director and then assume that role himself. It was all way too harsh criticism for a movie that isn't trying to be anything more than a fun romantic comedy.

Of course, poor critical response alone doesn't usually keep the public from making a movie popular. Yet "Under the Cherry Moon" was a bomb at he box office. Probably the main reason for this is that the movie, although shot in color, was released in black-and-white. For some unfathomable reason, the general movie-going public is more often than not horrified at the prospect of seeing a black-and-white movie. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not claiming that had the movie been released in color that people would have flocked to it in droves. I'm only saying that it would have attracted more of an audience if it had been in color. I will acknowledge that this movie's target audience is Prince fans. Since I am one myself, and have been most of my life, I'm not the most entirely objective viewer.

But I make no apologies for my love of this movie. It's not a "guilty pleasure" for me, because I proudly hold this as one of my favorites. I had only seen it a couple times before the DVD release - and unfotunately I missed it in theaters (I couldn't get anyone to take me, I was only 12 and none of my friends were into P and certainly not my parents - though my dad went with me a few years later to see "Grafitti Bridge" on opening night, but that's for another review). But since it's DVD release in 2004, this has become one of my most-watched discs in my collection.

The soundtrack is KILLER, the tunes make up one of the best Prince albums ever. There's even some great stuff heard in the movie that didn't make the album (some of which was issued on 12" vinyl). Plus, I think the movie looks great - the cinematographer was Michael Ballhaus, who has multiple Academy Award nominations to his credit (and was the DP on numerous Martin Scorsese classics). I wonder how the movie would feel in color, but I do think black-and-white was the right way to go. Even though the movie is set in then-contemporary times, it has the feel of something from the '30s.

There are so many classic moments in this movie, I won't try to list them all. But here are a few... Christopher Tracy (Prince) giving his "Bela Lugosi eyes"...Tricky (Jerome Benton) tossing rose petals into the tub while Christopher takes a bath...Christopher freaking out when he sees bats at the eatery...the "Wreka Stow" scene...the car race between Christopher and Mary Sharon (Kristen Scott Thomas).

As for the acting, I've heard a lot of people saying that Prince's performance was no good. I don't see much truth in that claim. After being so serious in "Purple Rain," it was a nice contrast to see him so loose and funny in this. Jerome Benton proved he could do just fine even without Morris Day at his side (as in "Purple Rain") - I'm surprised Jerome hasn't done much additional acting outside of Prince movies. And obviously Kristen Scott Thomas moved on from this, her first major role, to become an Oscar-nominated, highly repected leading lady.

How is the DVD presentation? Pretty good, for such a largely overlooked movie. The widescreen transfer and 2.0 stereo mix aren't anything phenomenal, but get the job done nonetheless; the movie looks and sounds fine. As for features, anyone expecting a full-blown Special Edition like the 2-disc "Purple Rain" will be disappointed. But at least it's not a completely bare-bones release - four music videos are included, though unfortunately not presented in optimal audio/visual quality (though they are passable, I would've preferred 5.1 mixes). The highlight is the live performance of "anotherlover" which was taken from a never-released (at least not domestically, not sure if it saw the light of day anywhere outside the U.S.) concert video documenting the Parade tour.

MTV held an interesting (i.e.- very weird) contest to determine where "Under the Cherry Moon" would have it's world premiere. The ten-thousandth caller to an MTV hotline would accompany Prince to the premiere, which would be held in their hometown. MTV ran a special that covered the premiere party - and unlike the premiere of "Purple Rain" unfortunately this program is not to be found on "Under the Cherry Moon"'s DVD release. Lisa Barber was the contest winner, and the movie did indeed premiere in her hometown of Sheridan, Wyoming - a very unusual place for a big movie to premiere. When asked what he thought of the town of Sheridan, Prince summed it up with a single word: "Purple."

So "Under the Cherry Moon" is a sinfully self-indulgent movie built around a self-indulgent, narcissistic but supremely talented and charismatic star. That being said, it's a thoroughly enjoyable movie, particularly for loyal Prince fans like myself.

The cinematography of this movie is more beautiful with each viewing. It's also very funny (most times, where it's supposed to be). Prince and Jerome Benton have very good comic timing at certain spots, and some great lines emerge (who didn't laugh when Tricky said he'd "slap the waves" out Chris' head?).

Prince and Kristin Scott-Thomas do have decent chemistry. Scott-Thomas does her best with a limited role, and she demonstrates the appeal that led to better roles down the line. The movie only lags when it tries to get too serious, but it has always been an overall delight.

Last, but certainly not least, the score and the soundtrack are incredible. The soundtrack, "Parade," is a groundbreaking (albeit underappreciated) LP of avant-garde funk, and provides the thematic backbone for the movie.

I can't wait for the DVD . . .

(a modified version of my prior review)

This has to be one of my all time favorite movies. It shows a side of Prince that not to many people have seen until now. Despite the failure of this movie, I think the average Prince fan will agree that this is a cute and romantic comedy and I would definetly recommend it. Prince plays "Christopher Tracy" a lonely gigalo takes avantage of lonely rich women and uses them, unitl one day he falls in love with "Mary Sherrie" played by Kristin Scott Thomas and in the end he finds the true meaning of love. I meet Jerome Benton who plays Prince's sidekick "Tricky" in the movie he was a little embarrassed that I brought up that movie, I told him it was definetly better than Graffitit Bridge. I'm sure any Prince fan would agree with me on that one. I give the movie 5 stars! It you want to see a side of Prince in a funny romantic mood, this is a movie I would strongly recommend.

So what if Prince preens and pouts his way throughout this movie and everyone thinks it's all about his ego. The simple truth is he is playing a character full of himself who is changed by a woman he falls in love with.....so, he does a good job! Kristin Scott Thomas adds a regal and classy air to the proceedings, and while the script may not be the best ever written, the comedic banter from Prince, Jerome Benton and others on the bandwagon is lighthearted and delightful. Give this one a chance on a night when you're feeling care-free and want a few good laughs.

Even though this was one of Prince's underrated movies, I still love it. The DVD version includes all of the music videos (some in color) that were released in reference to the soundtrack. This was ingenious for the marketability of this DVD. Way to go!

I love this movie, but then I love Prince. If you don't, then you may find this movie silly and perhaps amateurish. It certainly isn't "Purple Rain." But, the b&w photography is beautiful and so are the locations. I believe this is also Kristin Scott Thomas' first movie and she is very good. Francesca Annis is also wonderful. Prince and Jerome Benton are very funny together and have great chemistry. Unfortunately, Prince looks funny running in high heeled boots, too. (Sorry, but that had to be said.) Anyway, there are much worse movies you could watch so give it a try, if only for the music! (Sometimes it Snows in April is such a sadly unrecognized song! But he is singing it as part of the Musicology tour.) Prince 4ever!

Yes, it's silly;yes, it bombed, but so what? In the days before video, this film would have been perfect late-night movie material. For a directing debut, Prince pulls of this film with style and panache. It's gorgeous to look at, and unlike the subsequent Graffiti Bridge, it actually has a snapper of a plot.Prince and partner-in-crime Jerome Benton trade hilarious bad-boy banter as two male hustlers preying on older, rich and very lonely women. The gags these two play are thoroughly evil, but irresistibly funny. When Christopher Tracy(Prince) decides to wheedle a young heiress out of her fortune, he bites off a whole lot more than he can chew, with simultaneously hilarious and tragic results. For the former, check out the "Wrecka Stow" scene; this film is crying for a DVD release.

Hello, what don't you understand?! The movie is supposed to be an overly melodramatic 'B' movie where Prince pokes fun of his legendary nacissism and ego. And plus, he's a cutie, and the music is funk heaven! So lighten up, since this was the one of the two times he did (and got trashed for it, I might add). A must see for purple people. Welcome 2 the dawn.