‘PURPLE’ & STEVEN

I’m sick of the recent round of Steven Spielberg-bashing over “The Color Purple” (“Seeing Red Over ‘Purple,’ ” Outtakes, Dec. 22).

Why are critics questioning his motives in making this movie? I didn’t see anyone scrutinize Richard Attenborough’s reasons for filming “Gandhi.” Now, there’s a noble and prestigious picture that was begging for Academy Awards.

It seems that critics are taking Spielberg to task because he’s become too successful. That’s a shame. Spielberg has turned a beautiful book into a warm and wonderful movie.

More important, as an Asian-American playwright, I can’t tell you how happy I am to see someone treat minorities as people rather than paper cutouts. Celie’s triumph is everyone’s triumph, as it always was and always will be.

WAYMAN WONG

San Leandro