Archive for the ‘Sex and the City’ Category
THE HEART OF THE MATTER
I promised, and so I deliver. Now that I’ve given myself a few days to absorb all that was Sex and the City (movie-style) – and all of you a fair chance to see it for yourselves – it’s time to talk.
Throughout the entire film, I felt excitement and elation and that sense of a fuzzy security blanket as I watched the ladies of Manhattan reunited. It had been more than three years since we left the ladies brunching at their usual spot upon Carrie’s return from Paris, and I couldn’t have been happier to play catch up. Miranda and Steve were well settled into married life with Brady in tow, Charlotte and Harry had their hands full with Lily (and finally a new baby on the way), and Samantha proved that some things don’t change – including her lust for Smith Jerrod.
Photo: New Line Cinema
Since hearing that Sex was being filmed for the silver screen, anytime the topic had come up, there was one thing I always stated: after six years, I simply cannot handle any further drama between Big and Carrie. But let’s be honest here – how can you not have a film that centres on Big and Carrie without the contents of Charlotte’s pants hitting the fan? I suppose it was inevitable.
After finding their dream penthouse on Fifth Avenue, Ms. Bradshaw’s insecurity over having no legal rights turns into a discussion about marriage, and so in a rather formal and contractual manner, Big and Carrie agree to get married. Like almost anything in life, the path to matrimony soon becomes a slippery slope, finding Carrie vying for Vivienne Westwood while inviting 200 guests to the New York Library. John James Preston, on the other hand, is vouching for a low-key civil ceremony (that man’s got the right idea).
Photo: New Line Cinema
‘A’ leads to ‘B’ and ‘B’ leads to ‘C,’ and before you know it, Miranda’s dispelling toxic love advice to Big on the eve of the wedding – a result of yet another fight between her and Steve spurned out of his heartbreaking infidelity. The day arrives, Carrie’s in couture and – to no one’s surprise – Big’s limo is headed in the opposite direction. In one of the most passionate and angry scenes between these two we’ve ever been witness to, Charlotte’s “no!” was the no heard ‘round the world.
The majority of the film, beyond that point, brings us to another level – something beautiful that showed the viewers that it wasn’t a movie about a love story gone wrong. Beyond all the cynicism and doubt the preceding events enforced in my own head and heart, I was open to the concept that it was about the two “F’s.” I’m not talking about another word for colouring (though there is plenty of that), but about forgiveness and friendship. Through the eyes of the girls, we’re actually shown how important it is to love others, to love yourself, to forgive others, to forgive yourself, to accept where one falls short and to celebrate triumph.
Photo: New Line Cinema
When all was said and done, Samantha decided that she had to be true to herself and leave Smith in Los Angeles while she returned to New York City, Miranda and Steve were able to let true and real love create forgiveness and move forward even stronger than before, while Charlotte, Harry and Lily welcomed Rose to the family. And as we watched as the now Carrie Preston and John James Preston left New York City Hall after a touching reuniting of the two, my feelings changed from glad to sad. Truth be told, I felt the marriage between the two was completely unnecessary.
In one particular scene, as ‘Auntie Carrie’ is reading Cinderella to young Lily, she wisely states “you know, things don’t always happen like this in real life. I just think you should know that now.” And you know what? She was right, and that’s the irony of it. In this film, Cinderella did get her prince and they did live happily ever after. While it didn’t bother me that John and Carrie found reconciliation, but the actual marriage was unnecessary. They seemed perfectly happy in a common law relationship, having found the right balance between them.
Photo: New Line Cinema
That being said, the fact that all four of the ladies got a perfect ending, while it created closure to the story, seemed like a bit of a slap in the face. What I’ve always appreciated about Sex (as Jennifer also wrote), is that it’s better to lean on your friends and not be with a man out of desperation. The show always made me feel like it was okay to not be living a fairytale life, and that sometimes fairytales are just that.
However, do not get me wrong. In retrospect, I enjoyed the film very, very much. It was precisely what any Sex fan needed to make the circle complete and it won’t be the only time I see it on the big screen. It’s all perfectly peppered with sweet memories, humour, laughter and tears. If you haven’t seen it yet, and I haven’t already completely ruined the film for you, get thee to the theatre immediately…and make sure you wear something fabulous.
And so for those of you who have seen it, thoughts? Comments? Critiques?
BIGGER THAN BIG
Would you believe me if I told you that by the time last night arrived, I wasn’t really all that excited to see Sex and the City on the silver screen? Maybe I’d hyped it up too much over the last several months, or maybe it was a subconscious way of not allowing me to feel disappointed if the film fell short of what I had hoped it’d be. Either way, once the curtains lifted and the screen glittered in shades of blue and pink, my apathy had been dispelled.
Photo: miss604 on Flickr
Watching Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte together again brought on a huge surge of relief. Each of the four actresses (Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis, respectively) slipped back into the roles they made famous as comfortably as a favourite pair of Manolos. And don’t be fooled into thinking that you’re going to see a really, really, ridiculously long episode of the HBO hit; the film plays like the movie that it is (especially considering that it clocks in at just over 2 hours and 20 minutes). Much to this girl’s delight, the fab foursome are joined in their big screen venture by the men in their lives: Mr. Big (Chris Noth), Harry Goldenblatt (Evan Handler), Steve Brady (David Eigenberg) and Smith Jerrod (Jason Lewis).
Despite expectations, predictions, leaked storylines, possibilities and probabilities (not to mention the countless images we’ve seen of the girls’ costume changes over the last few months), Sex still delivers surprises, tears and more laughter than you ever experienced in your living room. The truth is, I’m dying to discuss the details, but I have to be fair. That being said, I am giving you, my readers, until the end of the weekend to see the film for yourselves. After that, all bets are off and anything from the film is fair game for discussion on my blog.
Click here to visit the film’s official website.
SEX AND THE CITY OF COURTENAY
Yes, my faithful readers, the week has arrived - the week. Sex and the City: The Movie hits screens on Friday and I think it goes without saying that there are countless women everywhere sitting on pins and needles. I have no clue what will happen or won’t happen, but let me be the first to say that…I hope Carrie doesn’t marry Big. As much as I love the two of them together, I have my reasons; I’ll explain in my re-cap post once I’ve laid eyes on the silver screen.
However, in a fun attempt to get those of you who are looking forward to the flick even more excited, here are some snapshots of one lovely lady my mom had the pleasure of attending high school alongside. No word of a lie.
All Photos: Private Collection
YOU CAN’T TRUST MONDAYS
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. I’m tired, still full of last night’s 10 p.m. McDonald’s and would rather be watching CSI than sitting at my desk. Monday has arrived, and in an effort to chase away those ayem blues, allow me to point you to areas of the web that may bring you some much-needed distraction.
Photo: duanestorey on Flickr
Photo: duanestorey on Flickr
IT AIN’T MUCH…BUT IT’S SOMETHING
It’s only Tuesday and yet it’s been a long week already. Thankfully, a long weekend beckons me and I made it even longer by taking Thursday off. Tomorrow I’m grabbing my gear, the dogs and heading for the ferry to spend a few days on the Island. Truth be told, what I’m looking forward to most is seeing Charley play with Benji and Casey for the first time. I have no doubt it’ll be an explosion of adorability. Enough from me…here’s my link love for the day.
You know what? It’s a slow day…that’s all I’ve got for you right now.
FAIRYTALE ENDINGS
After December’s lack lustre teaser-trailer for the upcoming ‘Sex and the City’ movie, the studio behind bringing the glamourous girls to the big screen are finally satiating our appetites. The full-length trailer was released sometime today and has been burning up the web. I have yet to find an embeddable version on YouTube, but for now, click over here to check it out.
Thanks to Jennifer for the heads-up!
Photo: New Line Cinema
NO NEED FOR A TITLE
The best Friday nights are the Friday nights that are entirely unplanned and completely spontaneous. After a quick week at work, I met up with Duane, Becky, Kasia and Trevor at Wings on Granville Street, followed by adventures at the Commodore Lanes and Movieland Arcade. Becky did a much more thorough job on filling the readers in on what we did - and she’s got pictures too! Head on over to her blog for your viewing pleasure.
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Tonight all the cool kids will be celebrating Becky’s birthday with Mexican cuisine on Denman Street, though I have to depart early due to my hot date with Michael Bublé. I’m terribly excited about 2008 because I have so much to look forward to with my new friend. In only a few short weeks, we’re hitting up Mount Washington for a couple days of riding, so look for us on the slopes!
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Being that the Sex and the City movie is merely months away, and Santa brought me the last three parts to make my DVD set complete, I have spent the last two weeks recapping what is one of my personal favourite shows. I am quite sure it’s something I could never tire of. I know that many people, mainly men, give the show a lot of flack about being too unrealistic or too “girlie” or just plain stupid. While I won’t argue that a lot of it is fantasty (how can a girl who writes a weekly column live in a stellar $750 Manhattan apartment and own $40,000 worth of Manolo Blahniks?), but the root of the show transcends the glittery frosting.
At the core of the fab four is the central theme of love and relationships: the love we have for others and the love that we have for ourselves. And as women, many of the ideals and examinations this show produces speaks as something entirely relevant.
Photo: The Derrty Truth
However, with the show having come to a close only to be re-invented in silver screen form, I have a few questions…
And for the record, any man who is willing to watch this show either for the sake or his woman or in the name of knowing a little bit more about the fairer sex, you have my full applause…
Spoilers of the Grandest Kind
*Don’t scroll down if you’re planning on making SATC: The Movie a surprise!*
For all of you faithful readers of my blog, it should come as no surprise to any of you how highly I am anticipating the upcoming Sex and the City movie.
My friend Meghan lives in NYC’s West Village and has been e-mailing me updates and scene sightings. Just a couple days ago she was witness to an exchange between Carrie and her flambuoyant and fabulous friend, Standford Blatch. She was also quick to mention that snow-making machines were brought in, turning the West Village into a Winter Wonderland in October.
Not much about the plot has been revealed other than the fact that Big and Carrie are apartment hunting and paparazzi shots of Charlotte show what looks like a might large baby bump.
However, one of the greatest spoilers as of yet was revealed through a photograph that People magazine published this morning on its website.
Picture courtesy of Perez/Abbot/INF on People
After all, what would a Winter Wonderland be without a lot of white? Let’s just pray that Aidan doesn’t burst through the doors at the moment of truth.
Great Minds Think Alike
Long before I ever saw Sex and the City for the first time, someone once told me I’m “so much like Carrie Bradshaw.” I’m quite sure that, considering who it came from, it wasn’t meant as a compliment. Though who was I to know at the time? I’d never even seen an episode.
Photo courtesy of HBO Entertainment
However, I think he was on to something.
I put a lot of thought into everything I do or consider, yet I’m highly over-analytical.
I’m entirely self-confident in my independence, but I second guess everything.
I’m quite sure I have it all figured out, but most days I realize that I have nothing figured out.
I like to talk things through over and over again for my own reasons, and sometimes I just shut up.
I also really love ghetto gold jewelry for fun.
Judging by what I’ve just written above, what I once interpretted as an unflattering criticism I now see as a compliment to my character. Who really wants to have it all figured out? Who really wants to to be rock solid in their self-confidence, so much so that any shred of humility is impossible? Who wouldn’t want to experience the ups and downs that everyday life has to offer? I think my existence would otherwise be montonous and dull.
“…find joy in sufferings, because suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope…” - Romans 5:3-4
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To give you a short re-cap of the last few days, it’s been wet, wet and wet. Yesterday my mom and I ventured out to Coquitlam Centre for my highly-anticipated first visit to H&M. It’s a great shop and I’ll be excited when it finally opens downtown, but I won’t say it was worth trekking out there in the soggy rain and cold. I did, however, find a wicked cowl-neck sweater vest and, yes, some ghetto gold jewelry.
Photo courtesy of Duane Storey on Flickr
For the most part, I’ve spent this weekend trying to stay indoors and warm. I absolutely adore the fall season and rainy days and hot mugs of tea and jogging pants. It could rain outside for weeks on end and you wouldn’t hear a single complaint uttered from my lips. What I don’t get is those that do complain about B.C.’s endless rain. For those that were born and raised in this bella province of ours, rain is to be expected. It is, after all, a rainforest. And for those of you that moved ass to B.C., if you don’t like the rain, leave. Because the rain was falling long before you arrived and it’ll keep falling until well after you’re gone.
P.S. If you walk down the street with an umbrella, don’t be a jackass. If me and my elbow bump into you and your umbrella under the awning, rest assured I did so on purpose.