TYLER PERRY BRINGS 1975 CLASSIC ABOUT BLACK WOMEN TO FILM
Tyler Perry
Director Tyler Perry's big-screen adaptation of "For Colored Girls" -- the landmark theatrical journey through several black women's lives -- opens to great anticipation this week. And some trepidation.
 A movie and television director and producer  Perry is best known for his films about black women under duress  most often featuring Madea  a gun-toting auntie with lots of attitude portrayed by the filmmaker. His movies use camp and gallons of sweet tea to wash down some authentic truths.
 This month's issue of Essence  the premier magazine for African-American women  features the movie's cast. And "For Colored Girls" is populated by intriguing performers  from Phylicia Rashad to Thandie Newton  Janet Jackson to Whoopi Goldberg  Kimberly Elise (Perry's breakout hit "Diary of a Mad Black Woman") to Tony winner Anika Noni Rose ("Caroline  or Change").
 Still  not everyone cheered when news broke that Perry would be taking on "For Colored Girls."
 "Literally  I was like 'No. ... No! Don't do it ' " says Ashara Ekundayo  who hosted a special screening of the film for Denver audiences last week. "I was 6 years old when this play came out. I remember the book was on my mother's nightstand. When I heard Tyler Perry was going to make a movie  I thought that's like the holy grail. Why on Earth is anybody trying to make that into a movie? Let alone Tyler Perry? This is a genre unto itself  that choreopoem."
Director Tyler Perry's big-screen adaptation of "For Colored Girls" -- the landmark theatrical journey through several black women's lives -- opens to great anticipation this week. And some trepidation.
 A movie and television director and producer  Perry is best known for his films about black women under duress  most often featuring Madea  a gun-toting auntie with lots of attitude portrayed by the filmmaker. His movies use camp and gallons of sweet tea to wash down some authentic truths.
 This month's issue of Essence  the premier magazine for African-American women  features the movie's cast. And "For Colored Girls" is populated by intriguing performers  from Phylicia Rashad to Thandie Newton  Janet Jackson to Whoopi Goldberg  Kimberly Elise ([TGT]'s breakout hit "Diary of a Mad Black Woman") to Tony winner Anika Noni Rose ("Caroline  or Change").
 Still  not everyone cheered when news broke that [TGT] would be taking on "For Colored Girls."
 "Literally  I was like 'No. ... No! Don't do it ' " says Ashara Ekundayo  who hosted a special screening of the film for Denver audiences last week. "I was 6 years old when this play came out. I remember the book was on my mother's nightstand. When I heard [TGT] was going to make a movie  I thought that's like the holy grail. Why on Earth is anybody trying to make that into a movie? Let alone [TGT]? This is a genre unto itself  that choreopoem."