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Purple Rain [VHS]
 
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Purple Rain [VHS] (1984)

Starring: Prince, Apollonia Kotero Director: Albert Magnoli Rating: R (Restricted) Format: VHS Tape
4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (148 customer reviews)


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Product Details


Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
The late Albert Magnoli directed this ragged but effective 1984 drama (with lots of musical interludes) starring (the artist formerly known as) Prince as a Minneapolis musician whose ego is his biggest obstacle to fame and love. In the backdrop is a strong story about the character's violent family life and a father made monstrous by broken dreams. Prince's film debut as an actor is not bad at all, and he is surrounded by a few people (Apollonia Kotero, Morris Day, and members of his own band) for whom he has served as a mentor in real life. The music is loud and good: "When Doves Cry," "Purple Rain," "Let's Go Crazy"--you remember the soundtrack. --Tom Keogh

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Customer Reviews

148 Reviews
5 star:
 (76)
4 star:
 (42)
3 star:
 (13)
2 star:
 (6)
1 star:
 (11)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.1 out of 5 stars (148 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Great movie....not so great DVD unfortunately..., July 9, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: Purple Rain (DVD)
Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Purple Rain and Prince 's (the artist) music, but this DVD was kind of disappointing. The video quality of the transfer looks pretty good for its age, but why isn't there a widescreen version? The production notes that Warner puts on their DVDs are annoying and glare off the TV. Oh, and a trailer. I know this isn't a special edition, but there was so much stuff that could have been used. I guess you get what you pay for though. The movie gets 5 stars, but the DVD gets a 2/5.
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars It's Not Just A Music Video, July 27, 2000
This review is from: Purple Rain (DVD)
Leonard Maltin's review missed the main point of this movie. The movie is not primarily about a young musician who "struggles to gain acceptance for his own brand of ... rock music". Instead, the movie is about a man who has acquired his not only some of his father's musical interest and talent, but also his father's emotional instability and occasional abusiveness towards others, especially women. Maltin is correct that Prince's character is sexist and unappealing, but that's crucial to the movie. By playing his character as emotionally unstable, insensitive, and occasionally cruel, Prince de-glamourizes the cool, rebellious rock star image, showing that fame and talent are neither a guaranteed road to happiness nor a good excuse for being cruel to your girlfriend. This movie, rather than being a "soppy story" wrapped around concert footage, is instead genuinely literary. The concert footage is not an excuse for a movie; some of the concert footage is integral to the story. The title song, "Purple Rain", is used very effectively in the movie as a point of conflict between Prince and two of his female bandmates.

This movie, like Quadrophenia, would make a good subject for an English literature class targeted towards aimlessly rebellious under-achievers (rather than the 4.0 GPA high school students that most English literature classes are designed for).

[This review is based on the VHS version of the movie.]

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39 of 45 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Purple Rain 20 years later, April 22, 2004
By DEAN M. Dent (SAN LEANDRO, CALIFORNIA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Purple Rain (DVD)
I remember when I recently saw Jay and Silent Bob Strikes Back,Jay showed his affinity towards Morris Day and the Time.Then some teenagers called Purple Rain "a crappy 80's movie".Although most of Y generation view Purple Rain like the second coming of Grease 2,Purple Rain rocked back in '84 with people actually dancing in the isles.
This movie finally brought Prince into the mainstream and showed the genius that he was.Although he'd been making records since 1978,he made his mark with such albums as Dirty Mind, Controversy,and 1999(his breakout album with his first top ten hit Little Red Corvette)but only to a limited R&B and underground market.But once Purple Rain hit,things were never the same.The movie also brought Morris Day and The Time to the mainstream which unfortunately they would soon break up to never enjoy the fruits.
The movie is pretty much about a musician called The Kid (Prince) who dreams of making it despite his troubled homelife and a rival band, The Time.The movie has it's fair share of bad acting as well as misogyny ("That ain't Lake Minnitonka")it's the musical numbers as well as Morris Day's comic timing that steals the show.The music still sounds fresh, especially the minimalist When Doves Cry which could even be released today.
Hopefully Warner brothers will release a 20th anniversary edition DVD with loads of extras as well as deleted scenes which were featured in the trailer.And with Prince's comeback in 2004 including his Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame induction, Grammy performance and tour,it would really be the year of Prince.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Prince at his best.
Just like his 'Sing 'O The Times' concert movie, this is prince at his purple best!! This is a great two-disc set with lots of good extras.
Published 24 days ago by G. Tuggle

4.0 out of 5 stars GOOD JOB
It is what I expected. Great picture and great sound. The delivery needs to a little faster. Thanks
Published 27 days ago by THE MAN

5.0 out of 5 stars Erotic Narcissism with Lots of Purple and Very Little Rain
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. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Unlucky Frank

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Music, Mediocre Acting
Prince's Purple Rain soundtrack is one of his greatest achievements and easily one of the best albums of the 1980s. Read more
Published 2 months ago by C. Ingraham

5.0 out of 5 stars Prince's classic movie on Blu Ray at new low price!!!
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. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Jason Pumphrey

4.0 out of 5 stars Still lots of fun after all these years
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. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Paul D. Ward

3.0 out of 5 stars A fine way to revisit the 1980s, and the music's not bad
When PURPLE RAIN was shot in 1983, Prince was a newly mainstream act, finally celebrated outside of his hometown of Minneapolis. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Christopher Culver

4.0 out of 5 stars Good movie
I'm a huge Prince fan and this movie is a classic. The acting is not that great but you'll get over that because of the music!!!!
Published 5 months ago by Kasandra

4.0 out of 5 stars Purple Rain HDDVD
Us Gen-Xers were big fans of Prince "back in the day" and I still love this movie. The entire soundtrack is one hit after another. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Video Guy

5.0 out of 5 stars OLD SCHOOL
THIS PURPLE RAIN DVD WAS JUST AS I REMEMBER IT. I BROUGHT BACK A LOT OF MEMORIES OF DAYS GONE BY. SIMPLY GREAT!
Published 8 months ago by A. Murphy

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