REVIEW: In Which I Vigorously Defend ‘Sex and the City 2′
by John NolteThe only way to explain my admiration for “Sex and the City 2” is to unfortunately reveal key plot moments and lay out much of the final act in spoiler-iffic Technicolor. This is not about justifying myself but instead to defend writer/director Michael Patrick King, who’s currently being savaged in certain parts of the media over this, his second feature based on the popular HBO series. A series I was not a fan of.
Some of the criticism is fair. Some of it is not. But we begin with a sentence I never thought I’d write: “Sex and the City 2” is a subversively patriotic, anti-Islamist fairy tale that ultimately comes down on the side of traditional values, and its creator, Michael Patrick King, has more guts than most everyone working at his level in the film industry today.
***BIG SPOILERS COMING***
Samantha (Kim Cattrell) has always been my least favorite SATC character. She’s obsessed with sexuality, specifically her own, and the only thing more tedious than exploring human sexuality are those obsessed with doing so. This boorish preoccupation with all things getting laid is really nothing more than self-indulgence, but with an ick factor.
Today, however, the proudly promiscuous Samantha is my new hero. And so is director King.
One of the film’s better plotlines (there are four and only two really work) involves the brazenly sexual Samantha having to deal with a cultural environment that frowns upon and feels threatened by a woman unafraid to admit she enjoys sex and eager to troll for it by showing off her admirably toned figure. In cowardly hands, the fish-out-of-water tension necessary to pay this idea off would’ve been set in some beautiful southern city like Savannah, where the old trope of stuffy fundamentalist Christians would’ve been trotted out without so much as an eyebrow arch of outrage from the progressive press. King not only avoids this tired, unfair cliché, he goes so far as to take his fashionable foursome to the Middle East where he intends to make an effectively damning statement about the oppression of women at the hands of Islamic Nazis.
Director Michael Patrick King
Samantha has spent the better part of her working vacation in Abu Dhabi being told by her PC friends, especially the uptight Miranda (Cynthia Nixon), to cover up her body – even by the pool – and to behave appropriately so as not to offend a culture that keeps their women firmly in place under heavy black burqas. Eventually her lusty needs get the best of her and she’s arrested for openly kissing a man on the beach. Upon release, her male Arab hosts add insult to humiliation by pulling the hospitality rug out from under her. This results in a mad dash to find a lost passport. But Samantha, who’s dressed reasonably by Western standards in a modest pair of shorts, halter top and blouse, is too uncomfortable to cover herself due to hot flashes (long story) and is soon surrounded by a menacing, hostile crowd of at least fifty outraged men.
This moment isn’t played for comedy. Violence is in the air and when Samantha’s purse spills and condom packages splay everywhere, something’s got to give, and God bless her, it’s Samantha who gives it. In a rousing and hilarious act of truly courageous, feminist defiance, with one hand Samantha waves her condoms like the flag of liberty and with the other lifts the “Fuck you” finger high in the air and lets that putrid gang of Islamist thugs have it:
“That’s right, I enjoy sex! Fuck you, I like it!”
A little later, back in America and with red, white and blue fireworks exploding overhead, Samantha’s getting her brains screwed out on the hood of a jeep as Carrie’s (Sarah Jessica Parker) voice-over mentions with no small amount of appreciation, “the land of the free.”
Yes, I get misty eyed just thinking about.
You’ll never hear me argue that the Samanthas of our popular culture — women forever in search of loveless sex — are healthy role models; quite the opposite, in fact. What I will argue, however, is that in a just society Samantha has a God-given right to have as much sex as she wants with whomever she wants. You can throw hot wax, trapezes and midgets into the equation and it’s still a system infinitely morally superior to suffocating her beneath a burqa at the hands of an unjust ideology enabled by a misguided American media more concerned with offending other cultures than human rights.
For his single moment of righteous cinematic protest, director King now finds himself under fire from, among others, the USA Today for “mocking religious beliefs” and The Hollywood Reporter for being “blatantly anti-Muslim,” even though the rest of the film goes out of its way to treat the Arab world with a dignity few American Southerners receive at the hands of our Tinseltown betters these days. For starters, and most importantly, each and every Middle Eastern character – male and female — is given their humanity. Furthermore, at one point Carrie wears a star and crescent necklace. At another point she says “Thank God” to an Arab merchant and then sweetly corrects herself with “I mean, thank Allah.”
This attack on King is nothing more than a smear job, and yet another example of the entertainment media’s unholy agenda to punish and make an example of those who dare stray from Hollywood’s PC liberal orthodoxy. Would anyone like to bet more than a nickel that had King used Mormons instead of Muslims all the criticism about his being “anti-Muslim” would’ve been replaced with phrases like, “brave,” “bold,” “courageous” and “cutting edge”? I didn’t think so.
Another criticism is that the main characters wallow in shallow, crass materialism. That’s fair enough, but only half true, and as far as the other half goes, so what? We are talking about a fairy tale here. The whole idea is to live vicariously as our foursome enjoys charmed lives filled with luxurious $22,000-a-night suites, massive wardrobes, and girlish squealing over ugly shoes and gaudy jewelry. But like Cinderella’s castle this is nothing more than silly, wish-fulfilling eye candy for a story with a surprisingly traditional message.
After two years of marriage, Carrie and Big (Chris Noth) are starting to feel the cracks. She’s either nudging or outright badgering him to play dress up and hit the fancy restaurants when all he wants is to put his feet on the couch, hold her close, and watch an old movie. She whines and mopes and cajoles and bitches about his lack of “sparkle.” He bristles and suggests they take a two day vacation from each other each week. Until the final moments, the story keeps you guessing as to how this dilemma will resolve itself. Because this will be the answer to what the film is about.
What “Sex and the City 2” is about is Carrie growing-the-hell-up and coming to realize that when a marriage is firing on all cylinders it’s the simple things like take-out food and an old movie that matter most. In other words, the clothes and jewelry are fun but ultimately mean nothing if you can’t appreciate what costs the least. There’s also a final touch about the importance of fidelity and traditional diamond wedding rings that I won’t spoil. You’re welcome.
Don’t get me wrong, the film is far from perfect. At 143 minutes, it’s longish in more than a few spots and there are some off-key, cringe-worthy moments like a contrived karaoke “I Am Woman” musical number with its heart in the right place that still should’ve been cut. The story also opens rather clumsily with an overlong same-sex marriage sequence so over-the-top gay Liza Minelli makes an appearance. (For the record, anyone with the guts to take on Islamists and their apologists in the media can flack for gay marriage all he wants.)
As I mentioned in my “Kick-Ass” review, I’m not a content guy. Whatever violence, language, nudity or what-have-you a storyteller uses to tell his story is of little concern to me. These are the paints. My interest is only in the painting. Sure, shield the kids from certain kinds of content. But ultimately what matters is what a story is trying to say, not the tools used to say it with. I’ll admit to settling into “Sex and the City 2” rooting for it, just to stick it to those lowlifes in the snark-media who couldn’t wait to launch their cruel air-brushing jokes as soon as the first posters appeared. But that only gets you so far. Ultimately, for all its flaws and bad puns and draggy moments, the film’s heart, high spirits and, yes, morality, won me over.
And the fact that it isn’t in 3D.
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446 Comments
It's a sad state of affairs when the sluttiest character from what looks like an incredibly shallow movie is our best example of Hollywood sticking it to Islamic misogyny. Sadder still that so much of the media will happily put on their judgmental hats when Islam is the target of criticism although, as John mentions, they're all for ridiculing faiths whose adherents aren't likely to decapitate you for doing so.
I've never been and will never be a fan or supporter of Sex and the City, so beyond that I'll keep my mouth shut… for my own sake as much as everyone else's
I can never figure out how Liberals and fundamentalist muslims ended up on the same side of the PC spectrum. Can hate for conservative Christians really cross all other barriers?
Also, I LOL'ed at this line:
A little later, back in America and with red, white and blue fireworks exploding overhead, Samantha’s back getting her brains screwed out on the hood of a jeep as Carrie’s (Sarah Jessica Parker) voice-over mentions with no small amount of appreciation, “the land of the free.”
Yes, I get misty eyed just thinking about
I hope you wore high heel shoes and a turban when you wrote this review.
I was amazed the Jimmy Choos went to Abu Dhabi and was wondering how that would play out. It's good to know they didn't sugar coat it.
At least they did karaoke to 'I am Woman' rather than 'I Will Survive'.
Surprising, to say the least, that this movie would be the one to make one of the most patriotic points of the summer. Bravo.
And Nolte, I'm assuming you don't have a problem with the gay marriage meme in the beginning because you believe that gay men and women should be allowed to be together and share the same rights as every heterosexual couple in this country. Probably like me, though, you believe that marriage is a union between man, woman and God, as God intended and therefore can't be applied to gay couples, i.e. a redefinition of marriage. That's why I, speaking only for myself and not assuming you agree, support the government only providing civil unions and churches providing marriages. Might excite some of the separation of church and state crowd, but I think it's a good plan.
That's OK. I still don't like ugly shoes and pretty jewelry enough to want to see this movie. I'm glad that some subversive elements got included in it though even if they might have been unintentionally included.
Am baffled by Hollywood's new found respect for Islam and their cowardly self-righteous smears against anyone who dares to hold this religion up for creative scrutiny be it comedic or dramatic. What happened to the days when Indiana Jones watches as a dramatically garbed middle eastern man swings his sword around madly, egging Indiana on to challenge him? Indiana's classic response of simply shooting the guy would never fly on screen today. And the scene in Back To The Future featuring the van full of middle eastern terrorists wouldn't even make it in the script today let alone filmed! As for why Leftist Hollywood and Islamic Extremists find common ground…they both see a system based on the individual as a threat to their plan. Hollywood leftists are short sighted so they don't even realize once the American system is brought down, THEY will be the first lined up by their "friends" to be extinguished. The Islamic Extremists are very long sighted. They are willing to temporarily align with the amoral left so as to allow the left to do the inside lifting. It's worth the fleeting alignment because the ends ALWAYS justifies the means amongst these mindsets.
THANK YOU for bringing this up. Sex and the City has always glorified NYC. In many ways it was a love story to NYC. NYC was definitely a main character.
NYC was hit by Islamic terrorists on 9-11. If the people of NYC can't have a film that defends it's right to exist and debates the issues surrounding 9-11 like Islamic countries and their treatment of women as an example, then no one can.
I plan on seeing this film with my highly liberal friend. Maybe we can finally have a discussion in which we both agree. (She'll agree with whatever the meme of SATC is because everyone knows SATC is 'liberal' and that's what really matters to my friend–that something is perceived to be 'liberal.')
Sex and the City #3: Iraq…
Samantha at a Baghdad pharmacy looking for birth control. "Hey dummy, I asked for an i – U – d !!!!
I agree with you– you are so RIGHT about the NYC love story.
Isn't it funny that die hard liberals go along with the liberal point of view knee jerk reaction to something? When I was younger I thought liberal meant open minded and as I've gotten older I realize it really means close down to any opposing view point that doesn't make you feel good.
I still can't get the image of the towers falling out of my head. It's such a clear and palpable image of what radical Islam wants to do to "infidels". If we can't talk about it because it's unPC to define radical Islam as "radical" then we've let down all the people who were caught in a burning tower because of it.
I'm glad that that SATC is going there– because those ladies are exactly what radical Islam sees when they see infidels.
"Hollywood leftists are short sighted so they don't even realize once the American system is brought down, THEY will be the first lined up by their "friends" to be extinguished." Agreed – like when the Iranian Islamist supporters of Ayatollah Khomeini joined forces with the Tudeh, the Iranian Communist party, to overthrow the Shah of Iran. Once the Shah was deposed and the Ayatollah and his supporters were in control, Tudeh members were either imprisoned, executed, or hounded into exile.
Splendid review, John Nolte! I have never watched a single second of SATC and never intend to, but this review is spot on and most enjoyable. Here's to FREEDOM of all kinds, my friend. And heaven help us, if I never hear another word about SHOES, I will be thankful until the day I die.
The Libs can't figure out that the Islamo-fascists hate them most. They just keep trying to Care Bear Stare them to death.
…well, with an I E D, she wouldn't have to worry about crabs or a yeast infection…
A better question is how Christians have been duped in to thinking Muslims are the enemy when they share the same values and those who spread and profit from degeneracy are somehow "American."
And think about this through out history… us Christians, & Jews, creating freedom and liberty… are then betrayed by the commie atheist libterds who want to bow down before any show of tyranny. They want to be taken care of, and see Islam as another form of that power. A power to fear, which in truth is what they love. So in history, us Christians are always betrayed as bad guys, by these pen & paper pushers, as hard working Christians are seen as bad guys who cause wars…. oh and Jews too, causing wars…. because in the end, who will fight for justice? Libterds? No way, they always bow… I'll give you one example… Obama.
A muslim commentator was asked about some of the openly gay commentators who had voiced support for Islamic Fundamentalists and were against the American war effort in Iraq and Afghanistan. His response, "We would cut off their heads!!"
To paraphrase Churchill's comment about appeasers, "A liberal feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last…"
Amen, PL. NYC so exemplified everything the Terrorists hate about America that they ran planes into the WTC. The ladies of SATC are quintessential New Yorkers. It's not a stretch to see how the people who hit NY were hitting people like those on SATC. I say…fight back! It's about freaking time.
Personally, I cannot for the life of me figure out why there has been such silence from the left on the issue of Islam's treatment of women. Isn't that just a no-brainer?
I`m also baffled that Hollywood thinks of Che Guvera as a freedom fighter.
I know. I recently watched MPower pictures 'The Stoning of Soraya M'. That movie is painful to watch and all women should be up in arms and screaming about any place on earth where women are treated as "common property" like chickens or cows. Of course, rather than seeing an uproar I read a lot of reviews that were saying Soraya was "violent" and "extreme" film produced by a Catholic guy (McEveety) who made the (cringe) Passion of the Christ. Look, women should be up in arms that there are places in the world where women are treated this way. Where's the feminist outcry? *crickets*
I still think that photo at the top of the article looks like a still from "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert".
"The whole idea is to live vicariously as our foursome enjoys charmed lives filled with luxurious $22,000-a-night suites, massive wardrobes, and girlish squealing over ugly shoes and gaudy jewelry." I don't know – it was one thing for people during the Depression to plunk down a quarter to watch some splashy Busby Berkeley musical; I think it's quite another for people who have suffered pay cuts or have lost their jobs and savings to plunk down ten bucks or more to watch a quartet of shallow, irritating females "livin' la vida loca". But, maybe this movie will click with a number workers with cushy jobs in the public sector.
Sucks and the City…..
That's not gonna make me see it, but I won't discourage anyone else from doing so.
*MissQuinn*
Supporting SATC's message against backward and cruel Islamic culture reminds me of what Winston Churchill said when questioned about aligning with Stalin against Hitler.
Churchill said,
"If Hitler invaded Hell, I would at least make a favourable reference to the Devil in the House of Commons."
Your review is encouraging. There are at least a few liberals who realize that Islamo-fascism really is the enemy, not conservatives or President Bush. Still, I take issue with this:
"But ultimately what matters is what a story is trying to say, not the tools used to say it with."
Yet those tools determine whether the story's point is understood, or even heard at all. A medium that consistently garbles the message (bad acting, vulgarity, poor grammar or syntax, lousy paint, etc) ends up making the message itself repulsive. It's like a malfunctioning hearing-aid. Eventually you just take the darn thing out and stop caring what the other person is trying to say – good, bad or indifferent. Which pretty much sums up my attitude to the Sex and the City franchise.
There's still no way I'm going to see this movie. Never saw a minute of the show. Just not my bag baby.
But good for Mr. King. He should be proudly shining his big brass ones.
Saroya M is brutal but, IMHO, a must see film. If feminists cannot get behind this issue then they deserve to have their NOW cards revoked and their MS Magazine subscriptions cancelled.
I guess it's just better to ignore the abuses against women in many of these countries. One wouldn't want to *offend* someone, now would they? /s
Great review.
Is it going to be up to the gays to take on the Islamists? It sure is looking that way.
Just remember in Liberal Hollywood, Islam trumps Gay.
I hope Michael Patrick King gets to work again.
Agreed about Saroya M. There really is no such thing as feminism anymore. Watching Sarah Palin get savaged by the MSM and every sh!tsack with a lousy TV show, and witnessing the deafening silence by "feminists" should be enough to expose thier utter irrelevancy.
If they didn't agree with her politics, fine. But don't sit on the sidelines when a successful governor, wife and mother gets brow-beaten by everyone and then expect anyone to take you seriously.
But the mess…Tampax wouldn't be able to hold back that kind of flow.
Yes, exactly. I am always careful to separate Leftists — who I hate with the un-Christian heat of a thousands suns and am determined to defeat — with the individuals whose cause they claim to back. Leftists trying to shove same-sex marriage down our throats can go to Hell. But I am VERY sympathetic to the everyday gay men and women in this country who love each other and are sincerely bewildered over our opposition to their getting married. This is a matter that requires as much compassion and thought possible when it comes to explaining our opposition and doing everything necessary to see to it that as many of the same rights and privileges are offered in different ways.
It's the same with Illegals. The leftists determined to undermine the sovereignty of this country are black-hearted bastards who can all burn in Hell. But again I am VERY sympathetic to the millions who came here illegally searching for a better life and I would take to the streets in righteous open rebellion if mass deportations ever started. These are my neighbors, they're decent people and much better for America than those rich, white, entitled, asshole Hollywood snobs determined to bring our country down.
If America is a race, then call me a racist. Gay, straight, black, white, legal, illegal, Muslim, Christian, atheist, Libertine, or Jew … No matter what country live in or what you believe or which god you choose to worship, if you believe in the ideals America was founded upon, then you are one of mine. If you don't, then we're going to have a problem.
Sorry… but when condoms become a force for Right… the world is already lost.
Nymphomania is still a mental disorder.
I agree with most of what you say, but, assuming your friend is going to accept SATC because it is liberal and not because its specific content does not sound like a discussion. It sounds like an arrogant "teaching moment"
CLOSE-YOUR-EYES-WHILE-YOU-HAVE-SEX-WITH-THESE-CITY-GIRLS:
At first glance, I thought the above top photo of the four *sexy* actresses was taken at the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby- and they were all about to join the race. Brrrrrrrrrrr!
Unable to give a damn.
Liberals and fundamentalist muslims both hate America and want to destroy or at least fundamentally change it. So, for the time being, they both share a common goal.
I am a social conservative but understand the politics going on here.
Thanks for watching the movie and staying sane. It sounds as silly and sickening as ever.
The truth is probably closer to the unthinking masses defining themselves not by what they believe but by what they are not. Conservatives I admit have taken the harsher stance on fundamentalist muslims, so the stupider liberals think that they have to take the opposing in order to be liberal.
I think it's fair to say that the demographic for SATC2 isn't a politically sensitive crowd. I'm not a huge fan of the franchise, though I have been entertained at times by a few of its episodes, but appreciate it when movies that are just trying to be entertaining movies don't worry too much about stepping on a few politically sensitive toes.
Hey, comedy needs conflict. Ignoring political and ideological conflict for the sake of saving a few hyper-sensitive feelings would be like … oh … not drilling for copious amounts of oil for the sake of a few elk.
I guess my point was that instead of it being a shouting match when we talk about politics because it is assumed my perspective is always wrong and must be crushed, if the discussion follows an SATC viewing, maybe we can actually discuss rather than it be some wierd deflection match.
I miss having discussions with my liberal friends. Honestly. We haven't had a decent discussion in nearly two years. My big crime? I didn't vote for Obama because I thought he "didn't have enough experience."
Big freaking whoop! Now everything I say is wrong. And I'm not whining. I accept it. But I can still lament losing a great discussion buddy. Come to think of it, when I didn't vote for Clinton we STILL had great discussions.
I guess all that Obama 'in your face' nonsense is still in play.
I wasn't planning on seeing this, but Nolte's review has convinced me to do so.
Sounds even better than 'Letters To God'.
Traditional values?? Sluts in the City is not in line with any traditional values. What kind of family did you grow up in?
What a joke. What drugs are you on?
There is no LOVE in this franchose wonder_all2. Just lusty sluts seeking out new lust targets
I hate to give this guy web traffic, and I hate 'Whores in the City', but if you want a truly amazing example of a left-winger giving a political rant instead of reviewing a movie, look up Walter Chaw's 'review' of this movie on FilmFreakCentral.
Indeed. Refusing to be politically correct doesn't make the character any less of a whore, John.
Yeah, I could see the tragedy that would result if Samantha used an IED versus an IUD: "Oh, oh, OH! I think I'm – I'm about to co-" *BLA-A-AM!!
But it isn't SLUTS IN THE CITY, you are as factually incorrect as those calling the film anti-Muslim. Three of the four are now married and Carrie's entire plotline revolves around FIDELITY — coming to terms with strict, 100%, traditional FIDELITY — where something as small as a kiss is a betrayal.
I don't know what the series was like. It only took a couple episodes to turn me off. But in both films at least three of the women have evolved into discovering that all that traditional stuff they laughed at in their youth is actually the key to happiness. And the only thing more moral than that, is having your characters EVOLVE into understanding that.
Yeah, Samantha might meet your definition, but any "slut" or actress playing one or director creating one deserves who has the guts to finally stand against Islamists and their media enablers is okay with me. "Sluts" in R-rated movies are the least of our problems.
That's the scene where the guy from the Hurt Locker walks in the bedroom with his blast outfit on. Or do they send in the bot? Screenplay still needs work.
Hank, thank you. Palin is a prominent female public figure. For goodness sakes whether you agree with her politics or not, the feminists should at least celebrate her influence. It makes no sense.
Wow … an actual criticism on the "religion of peace."
Now at least when my girldfriend drags me to see this, I won't have to watch The Searchers five times to purge it from my mind.
I know you're over-stating to make a point, but the paints DO matter some. Otherwise Hound Dog with Dakota Fanning being graphically raped is OK. But that's a quibble in an otherwise great review.
Actually it makes perfect sense if you view the current strain of feminism as the microcosm of liberalism that it really is. It's a sort class warfare within the female gender. I'm sure NOW has nothing but nice things to say about Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein. But Sarah Palin happens to be on the other side of the aisle.
It doesn't matter that she's been a mega-success at everything she's done in life. Both personally and professionally Sarah's hit it out of the park and that's what I thought feminists were about. Supporting women that are success stories.
But now I know better…
"But we begin with a sentence I never thought I’d write: “Sex and the City 2” is a subversively patriotic, anti-Islamist fairy tale that ultimately comes down on the side of traditional values, and its creator, Michael Patrick King, has more guts than most everyone working at his level in the film industry today."
Good job, John. You just destroyed MPK's lib-cred.
Well said. That's why I'm confident conservatives will win out. Once that message gets out, unfiltered, what will the liberals have left to battle us with?
How does the "Hurt Locker" guy put the comdom on? Maybe he has a little 'bot thingie that he puts on his – ah – member (I don't think that Samantha would put up with that).
Can you imagine what would happen if Whoopi Goldberg or the President of NOW was pictured on the front of Newsweek in an running outfit?
There would be an uproar and bras burning everywhere.
On the plus side, this picture would be the cure for many people who suffer from cataracts.
Got an extra word in your last paragraph, John. Good review, and though I too have never watched SITC I might make an exception, and I applaud King for stepping out against the liberal insanity.
Mr. Nolte,
In reality, young college "ladies" are attending these movies and watching reruns together to absolve themselves of their drunken behaviours. Its all on facebook.
From the ivory tower, though, you have made your point.
Case in point – during the 2008 election someone in California put up a female mannequin identified as Ms.Palin that looked like it had been lynched. There was no outcry at such a misogynistic act from any of the self-identifed feminists. Not a word was heard on the View.
Imagine the media hysteria if the same had been done with a mannequin of Obama, especially if it had appeared in a southern state.
Okay. So I'll give "SATC 2" a once-over (I have never seen an episode or the first film), but I might check this out: solely for director King.
But only on my television. I'm not paying the high admission for a chick-flick.
I've got better movies to pay for.
So what you're saying is that if I came down from the Ivory Tower of the kitchen of my back-house rental in East L.A. — I would lie about what I thought of the movie?
You can even go a little further. Imagine if it was a Hillary Clinton mannequin. THEN it would be a crime against women everywhere. But the woman with a faithful husband and kids that hunts and is against killing babies?? To NOW she can get lynched all day….
What King has done is write a pre-9/11 script, when it comes to feminist views of fundamentalist Islamist culture, and thinking that post-Bush, it was once again safe to denounce the treatment of women by hardline Islamists.
During the Clinton years and the first 8 1/2 months of the Bush 43 years, liberal femanists had no problem whatsoever in denouncing the treatment of women by the Saudis or the Taliban, because to do so was not seen as being on the same side of the political equation as the Bush Administration. And that didn't change in the shock of the aftermath of Sept. 11 (remember Hillary in the burqa on the Senate floor?). It was only when the left began to go after Bush starting in late '82 for the War on Terror that criticism of Islamic treatment of women suddenly became a no-go zone for te left.
King's problem is while he may think it's safe to go back and revisit the old problems now that Obama's in the White House, the media and others out there haven't changed their mindset. They still think criticism of the treatment of women by fundamentalist Islam gives aid and comfort to the real enemy — not radical Islam, but Republicans, conservatives and anyone else who supported Bush's foreign policy and the WOT. Like antibodies seeking out a transplanted artery or other body part from another donor, it's just ingrained into their DNA to attack what they see as a threatening foreign object to the host, even when it's a mistake to do so.
No!
And Letterman can joke about her underage daughter getting knocked up. (Kind of let's you know where he might stand on the Polanski issue…)
Hmmm…a formerly trollish, happily single character re-evaluates the consequences of marriage and children…so this is a live action "Shrek 4," then? Wow. So many other reviews seem to downplay the anti-muslim angle and focus instead on the movie's overall astonishing crappiness. I'm not sure the 'political' angle overcomes the rampant materialistic message…but I freely admit that while technically in the "demo," I have always despised SATC. (to paraphrase the Simpsons, it's about 3 prostitutes and their mother) The thought of 2 1/2 hours of it…ugh. Not worth it.
The should have done Rock the Casbah
So… people waiting in line and following every letter of the law to come to this country legally don't merit one iota of your sympathy, but millions of people breaking the law in open defiance of their law-abiding fellow countrymen and in open contempt of the laws and people of the nation they are invading are worth committing "righteous open rebellion" in a show of solidarity?
News Flash: If you come to and stay in this country illegally, you do not "believe in the ideals America was founded upon". RULE OF LAW is one of the tiny handful of such ideals, after all, and the utter disrespect of that ideal by those whose continuing presence cruelly mocks it with every passing moment puts lie to the notion that they are in any way "decent people".
(Exception, of course, for the dependents of those making the decision to flout U.S. sovereignty, brought here by parents or spouses much against their will or without recourse. Such are victims, not criminals, and deserve every sympathy short of indefinite stay here.)
Por los legales, todo. Por los ilegales, nada.
Of course I have sympathy for those waiting in line. My wife was one of them. She was born in MX and didn't become a citizen until she was in her 20s.
And I am totally opposed to Amnesty. But rounding up people for deportation who came here for the right reasons illegally is unthinkable to me. Each needs to learn English, pay a hefty fine, and march down a difficult, time consuming path to swearing their allegiance to the U.S.
The criminals and welfare leeches can most certainly go. Hell, I'll drive.
I actually think if you look at the actions of the liberal democrats over the past 8-9 years, it is always bashing America and American troops and warning against non-existent backlashes of Muslims for terrorism.
While I think a Muslim terrorist would cut of the head of any given liberal as quickly as mine, liberals see allies, at least temporary allies. When your whole political party is an unpopular platform of tearing down and destroying America and the only way to get votes is to cheat and lie, you are going to take what allies you can get.
True, it would make more sense to side with your own country, but it has become cliché to point out that liberalism is, indeed, a form of mental illness.
If your liberal friend is anything like all of my liberal friends, there is no such thing as a reasonable discussion. I swear they all get their daily talking points memo (email) or message in the New York Times, and that is what they then believe and espouse and if you don't agree then you are a nazi, fascist, racist, (insert today's insulting label here.) And don't worry if the argument they make today absolutely contradicts the argument they made last week, month, year – as long as they are adhering to the current liberal orthodoxy, they feel absolutely righteous doing so.
I wasn't planning on seeing this latest incarnation of S&TC, because the last movie was very unfunny, but now that I've read this review, I think I might at least watch it on HBO for free when it gets to cable. I absolutely WILL NOT spend my hard-earned money to see it in a theatre.
You know, the more I think about it, the more I think that cover backfied on Newsweek. I'm pretty sure the average person looked at that picture and imagined one of Hillary Clinton's pantsuits, realizing that there isn't one member of the Democratic Party that could have looked anywhere near as good as Sarah Palin did in running shorts.
(Okay – maybe Chris Matthews would have fantasized about Obama in running shorts, but I said "average person")
Maybe it's just me, but is having a post-menopausal harpie stand up and give a big "F-you! I like sex!" REALLY the best case we can make for American freedom and democracy to the rest of the world? I'd like to think we have better to offer than that (like: can we have Scarlett Johansson do it next time?).
But otherwise, generally speaking anything counter to the prevailing popular culture is cool by me.
I'll take your word for it, chief. Not gonna waste a perfectly good late spring day/evening watching it; in fact, I'd say it's not even worth taking the time to torrent.
I have to take issue with the notion that content isn't significant. While the content itself is often not the message, the filmmaker's attitude TOWARD the content is. Somebody who equates f–ing a guy on a car with the freedom our forefathers died for….just doesn't f–ing get it. I'm reminded of that John Adams quote: “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
Spoiler alert? So few people are actually going to see this film that I don't know if it matters…
Ooo…I disagree with that…it will be giving "Prince of Persia" a run for its' money…they've been promoting the h*ll out of SATC2. A few people at work are planning their outing this weekend. It's a very big chick "event" flick.
[...] the other hand, John Nolte of Big Hollywood sorta, kinda dug it: The only way to explain my admiration for “Sex and the City 2” is to unfortunately reveal key [...]
The gay marriage issue could be solved easily if everyone, straight or gay, were REQUIRED by law to have a state-sanctioned, licensed Civil Union. This union could be dissolved only by divorce. After the civil union, couples could IN ADDITION if they chose sanctify the union with a religious ceremony. It would be up to the various denominations and/or churches whether to sanction the union or not. This would give gays the same rights of union as straights and straights would have to have civil unions in addition to religious marriages. Many religious denominations bristle at the idea of gay "marriage" and gay couples want the same "rights" as straights. A Civil Union for ALL of us would solve that issue.
I disagree with you regarding "illegals". Your stance is like saying you would resist the bank robber next door or the murderer next door being punished because s/he has been a good person except for that initial misdeed. The fact that someone is in the country illegally means something or it doesn't. If it doesn't then we open the borders and anyone who gets here is legal. We have to decide on that.
My father was an immigrant, so I am not opposed to immigration. If we need to make it easier for them to legally come here, by all means, let's have that dialogue. But to say it's okay to break into our country and stay and not be kicked out is like saying it's okay for me to break into your house and so long as I agree to make my bed and cut the grass and not leave a mess in the kitchen you can't throw me out. This is our house, we have a right to throw the people out who broke in.
There are just some actors I cannot watch on screen. Sarah Jessica Longface is one of them.
This movie will make serious bank at the box office. It's not my thing, I'm not a Manolo/Cosmo kinda gal, but it's nice to see anyone giving a FU to the religion of pieces.
Plus, these chicks are my age, I'm not down for all the "old bag" talk.
You're somebody who gets it. It would be amusing if it weren't so scary to see the way the Lefty "leaders" uses these poor dumb "useful idiots". My fantasy is for some rogue agency to kidnap a few of these Hollywood gadflies and take them to the wilds of Afghanistan and set them loose. Then we all take bets on how long they last. Any Conservative scriptwriters out there? There's a plot for you.
Yay JN! thanks for this.
When marriage is established by YHVH God because it's a Picture of the intamacy between Him and His Chosen, also called His Beloved, let me ask you if it would be okay to borrow your parents for the weekend (still doesn't compare) and defile them the way God's Image is defiled everytime a gay person is "married". Because that's what Gay people do to God's Image everytime when He CLEARLY calls marriage a covenent between the married couple and Himself all over scripture and calls a relationship and sexual acts between two men and two women extremely disgusting!
I think this is an excellent example of what we've been talking about on the Black List. Since the movie is a success, it may not destroy this director's career, but it will be an interesting thing to note later on. He crossed that line, and no matter how leftist he's been, this kind of thing is not to be tolerated. See how they flay.
Leftists are just as dangerous to other leftists. The line they walk gets thinner and thinner and, since they can't possible possess sound judgment in the first place or they wouldn't be leftists, they are in danger every second of saying, doing, knowing the wrong thing.
They're saying it should have a $75,000 weekend. I don't think the critics will take too much away from it. The first one was huge.
No, it's not the "best case" but it's the best one that Hollywood has made in years and years. I think it's worthwhile to defend this director as he's savaged by the hypocrites in the media.
You mean $75,000,000, (million) right?
Same values? "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…" vs. "Slay them wherever ye find them and drive them out of the places whence they drove you out, for persecution is worse than slaughter. – 2:191"
Ok I will be totally honest on my thoughts here – Carrie, as always carries the movie. I was wondering what was going on with Cynthia's mouth it looked a bit sunk in and she has no lips but her character is lovable, Kim Cattrell is very trampy and my husband said "she's done"…..we should have seen more of Chris Noth – I would have written it where he shows up at the market that day instead of that dumb dweeb she used to date. The yorkie was adorable – Liza looked surprisingly great for somebody who had double hip replacement – HOWEVER, the closeup of Carrie when she was putting the eyeliner inside her lower eyelid for the "group" pool scene was a bit scary to me – I don't think she is good for very "close" close-ups – she h as wonderful bone structure and everybody is beautiful in their own way and there is something very appealing about her but sh eis not what you would call Beautiful e.g. Halle, Angelina, Penelope beautiful
oh and lastly the red outfit Samantha wears to the Karaoke show is like Grace Jones on heroin in Studio 54….enough said
That is why people who carry the torch for the left are called "useful idiots." It's not just an insult.
Isn't that Samantha character just the female equivalent of Glenn Quagmire on Family Guy?
You sound like a style coach or something.
These 4 women remind me of a coven of witches…. : )
John, not everybody believes that a kiss is a small thing. I let a man I had known for 25 minutes kiss me in an elevator because I'm a bit shy and it was easier than making a scene, and even though I wasn't involved with anybody at the time, I was plagued with guilt. Do you know why? Because I believe that kisses should mean something, and that one didn't. When you start throwing kisses (or anything more serious) around like they're worthless, then they don't mean anything when you share them with somebody who is special to you. If 'Carrie' wasn't willing to be 100% faithful to her husband, and that was a lesson she had to learn after the fact, why did she get married in the first place? As "patriotic" as you claim this movie is, at best all it deserves is an eye roll as you walk past the poster on your way to something actually worth watching.
I have to say I kind of support the idea of gays in the military because I love the idea of jihadis getting double tapped by a gay dude. Just saying…..
Last night I went out in Manhattan and had an extra ticket for a concert and wanted to give it away. It is Fleet Week here in NYC so I looked for a sailor or Marine to give it to. When I found one he was grateful and I said I wanted to thank him for his service to our country. I wanted to let him know that we don't all hate the military in NYC and he told me that NYC is one of the most military friendly cities in the United States and he loves Fleet Week in NYC because of the way he is treated by the people here. Our politicians may suck, the liberal media might be based here, but we do love our servicemen and don't you forget it.
When a woman like me sees something like that, I know how much those "feminists" care about me–because that could be me. They don't have a clue how many of us relate to Sarah Palin. I am a mom and wife before I am anything else. I believe Sarah, no matter how successful she becomes, views herself the same way. I see my values reflected back at me by her– and every feminist group out there tells me very explicitly what I could expect should I find myself suddenly thrust into the public eye. I would get no support from them at all bases solely on my politics.
That's fantastic. I'm so happy to hear the troops are getting a warm reception in NY. That speaks well of New Yorkers doesn't it?
"Each needs to learn English, pay a hefty fine, and march down a difficult, time consuming path to swearing their allegiance to the U.S."
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That's never going to happen.
Point by point:
1.) They refuse to learn English.
2.) They don't have the money to pay a "hefty fine".
3.) They will never swear allegiance to this country.
That's a total fantasy scenario.
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