http://www.freep.com/ente...040824.htm

NEW DVD RELEASES: Prince stands the test of time

August 24, 2004


BY TERRY LAWSON
FREE PRESS COLUMNIST


It's still too early to know whether the remarkable resurgence of Prince provides proof positive that brilliance will prevail (or whether it's just the latest case of one's longing for lost youth), but it has produced at least one lasting artifact: a 20th Anniversary special edition of "Purple Rain" (THREE STARS out of four stars, Warner, $26.99).

When it was released in 1984, the drama about a musician known only as the Kid who is struggling with identity and ambition in Minneapolis surprised critics and the public by being something deeper than the usual jukebox musical cash-in. It also exposed Prince to an audience that had been willing to dismiss him as another MTV-made novelty. The performance footage undoubtedly sold more than a few concert tickets.

Seen 20 years later, what was good about "Purple Rain" -- how the Kid was affected by his parent's volatile marriage, Prince's cocky confidence, the nightclub scenes and the humor -- remains good. "8 Mile" may be a better-made and more realistic movie, but the debt it owes "Purple Rain" is obvious.

The film's shortcomings, however, are also obvious, especially in its casual misogyny and the abuse the Kid heaps on the adoring Apollonia Kotero, who was no more an actor than she was a singer.

The musical sequences retain all their power, and the climactic performance of the title tune is stunning. Although we may wish the remix into 5.1 surround sound had been more dramatic, it still sounds pretty terrific, and seeing the concert sequences again in wide screen (the previous video was a full-screen crop job) allows us to appreciate the contribution of Prince's band, the Revolution.

The extras on the second disc are just passable. They include a look at the Fifth Avenue nightclub where Prince's craft was honed and his reputation was made, interviews with former members of the entourage (excluding his foil and protege, Morris Day) and a look back at '80s fashions. The inclusion of the music videos made to support the album and one for Apollonia 6's single "Sex Shooter" is very welcome.

The success of "Purple Rain' inspired a follow-up, 1986's "Under the Cherry Moon" (ONE STAR out of four stars", Warner, $19.96), a stylish but embarrassingly bad romantic comedy notable only for being the first film by future Academy Award nominee Kristin Scott Thomas and for including snippets of the songs that would show up on "Parade." That was followed by a lamentable sequel of sorts, 1990's "Graffiti Bridge" (TWO STARS out of four stars, Warner $19.96). Taken together, the two fed into a growing perception of Prince as an ego-driven exhibitionist and a very unreliable judge of his own strengths and weaknesses.

If anybody's asking, though, I'd love to see a DVD release of the blistering 1987 concert film "Sign 'o' the Times."

Come on!!
Surely Under The Cherry Moon deserved the 2 stars and Grotty Bridge the 1!!

Fifth Avenue, heh?

ninarockets said:

SpudMonkey said:

gotta agree. 'cherry moon' IMO is better than PR anyway, it's stood the test of time better and Christopher Tracy is more likeable than the kid.

Marrk said:

stood the test of time?!? being as god awful now as it was then does not make a movie stand the test of time.

I am buying my Purple Rain SE this weekend (it's on hold).

The other 2 are special order (not in the store yet).

SIGN O' THE TIMES!!!

I agree with the author. I can't believe that SOTT isn't on DVD yet. It is perfect for DVD. With widescreen format and sound, it would just be amazing. I still salivate every time I watch him perform Girlfriend in that white fur coat. OMG!!!!!
[This message was edited Tue Aug 24 11:37:46 2004 by bellanoche]

What's the prob -- is the SOTT film not a WB product? Otherwise, they all shoulda come out at once.

ninarockets said:

Can't fault Mr. Lawson for this, well, maybe you can. But he is from Detroit and in Metro Detroit there are three Fifth Avenue clubs. My favorite spot is Fifth Avenue downtoen at Comerica Park.

Maybe Mr. Lawson had fifth Ave on the brain instead of First Ave and 7th St. Entry.

But the Freep editors should have caught that.

SpudMonkey said:

Indeed, Under the Cherry Moon is better than Graffiti Bridge...and Purple Rain gets 4 stars from me...just because it's become a classic movie that will be remembered for ages!!

I have advice for cherry moon and GB ... that is hold off for a month or 2 and get them for about $5 each... as the prices will be cut very soon...

HMMMM... BRILLIANCE WILL ALWAYS PREVAIL! LONGING FOR LOST YOUTH??/ NAH, WE WERE BEHIND THE MAN THE ENTIRE TIME. BRILLIANCE TAKES TIME, AND IT'S BEING DELIVERED ONCE AGAIN.. ALL BRAND NEW!!! HOW BOUT MUSICOLOGY/ PRINCE IS THE TEST OF TIME!!!!! :

The Purple RainSE was(correction)IS T.I.H.T! the only downer on the 2 discs is the director faking like he is crying when he Prince told me that his father said once.."never get married!" How...lame.

bellanoche said:

u aren't talking about this one...are you? cause this one is out on dvd...twice actually.

http://www.freerecordshop...tid=328613

[This message was edited Wed Aug 25 13:39:48 2004 by kev1n]