Reviews, Interviews , News, Commentaries, My Top 5 Movies, Best-Of Lists, Filmmakers of Faith, Film ForumSex and the City 2
The last time we saw this foursome—Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), Samantha (Kim Cattrall), Miranda (Cynthia Nixon), and Charlotte (Kristin Davis)—they seemed settled. Carrie finally married Mr. Big (Chris Noth) after their ten-year on-again-off-again love affair. Charlotte finally got her babies. Miranda forgave Steve's infidelity and they mended their marriage. And Samantha realized monogamy, even with her beloved Smith, just wasn't her thing—and that she desperately needed to get her independent self back to NYC. Because of that settled-ness, I was curious about where they'd take us with this next installment in the SATC franchise.
So here we are two years later. Carrie and Big are trying to keep the sparkle in their marriage. Charlotte is elated but utterly exhausted as a mom of two young girls. Miranda is still struggling to balance family and work, now with a new boss who seems to hate her. And Samantha is fighting off menopause with a barrage of pills, creams, and wonder drugs.
For those who have followed these characters for years, these plot lines make perfect sense—and seem like good fodder for the life questions these women grapple with together, while letting us sit in on the discussion. Unfortunately, instead of really wrestling with these issues, the women merely escape them, traveling to Abu Dhabi on a work trip with Samantha. And instead of unfolding the next chapters in these characters' lives, it seems that writer/director Michael Patrick King and company are more intent on one-upping the last movie.
Cynthia Nixon as Miranda, Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie
In the first SATC movie, we had Carrie and Big's (almost) New York Public Library wedding. In SATC2, we get Stanford and Anthony's Big Fat Gay Wedding, complete with Liza Minnelli officiating the ceremony and singing a rousing but rather uncomfortable version of "All the Single Ladies." The first movie had the girls traveling to Mexico together for Carrie's un-honeymoon. Here they travel to Abu Dhabi on Samantha's work trip for an opulent, all-expenses-paid, exotic getaway. The first movie had mini fashion shows of Carrie's wedding dress magazine photo shoot and nostalgic cleaning out of her closet with the girls. Now we have over-the-top desert chic. And instead of just celebrating the power of female friendship, which the first movie did rather endearingly, SATC2 celebrates the "power" of womankind (more on that "power" later), complete with Samantha flipping off some Muslim clerics.
Those who simply want a fun chick flick will likely be fine with all this. Consider it an estrogen-rich two-hour escape for you and your girlfriends. But for those of us who appreciated the TV series' and the first movie's ability to transcend the fashion and sex and touch on the deeper issues of culture and womanhood and relationships, this SATC installment is a disappointment. It's like sitting down to dinner with an old friend only to have her start singing show tunes or staging a fashion show of all her best ensembles. All while you're thinking, Please just calm down so we can settle into some rich conversation already!
The Latest in Movie News, May 23, 2013
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Emily Bowen
I find it rather hilarious how antagonistic and hateful most of the readers of this magazine are. Guess what, people do not always share the same religious views and not everyone is equally offended by the same thing. This article was meant to 1. expose new readers researching the movie to the magazine, and 2. inform current readers who want an appropriate review of the movie. I would hope that you fine upstanding Christians who are so offended by the mere thought of a review of this movie would realize that you can't always judge a book (or in this case, a movie) by its cover. Repression is not the way to enhance morality and spiritual advancement in our society. Choice and information is. THIS is what is wrong with America. Closed minded hateful individuals who would rather spread hate than love.
Dave Moore
I don't get it. Why do we want to even talk about it. To justify this movie on the basis that there are movies that have more sexual content but people don't get so upset is simply an eye opener to the condition of the church today. Why do we want this stuff as part of our entertainment in the first place. The words we should be talking about is not sex, but holiness and sanctification. Or what about redemption from the pattern of our lives before we became followers of Christ. Why does Hollywood define our morality. I am saddened deeply for the sake of Jesus.
Anne Redam
As I search for a Christian magazine to possible subscribe to I was looking at this site and some of the article topics and when I saw that this site is posting reviews on a rated R movie I understand even more why the Christian nation is in as much trouble as we are. Are we in the world or of the world?? Does it really say in the Bible that we are not our own because we have been bought for a price? What does the blood of Jesus mean to you? I believe that our Father in Heaven is looking down on His children that He loves and is so disappointed in our lukewarm ways. If we as children to the Royal family think its ok to watch a rated R movie, one that is titled "Sex in the City" nonetheless, I can see why we are losing the battle for God. I am not judging the reviewer, I am judging the behaviors of the leadership of this magizine. We can't go around proclaiming to be Christlike and trying to win people over and behaving just like the world. Christians are held to a higher authority.