In which I admit that I’m not a “Carrie”October 1st, 2008 @ 7:01 am
I haven’t seen a rated R movie since 1999. That’s right, I don’t watch rated R movies. In those nine years a lot of rated R movies have come out that I’ve wanted to see. And by “a lot” I guess I mean there are a few that I’ve wanted to see. Like “Garden State”. And “Knocked Up”. And maybe “40 Year Old Virgin”.
One particular movie I was bummed about missing recently was “Sex and the City”. Like most women I was a huge fan of the television series. But unlike most women I never watched SATC on HBO. Instead I waited until the show had ended, was edited, and was shown on TBS. It was a happy day at my house when TBS started to play the entire series, EDITED. Sure I was a few years behind the rest of you. I was drooling over Carrie Bradshaw’s outfits long after all of you had tried to incorporate her style into your own wardrobe.
Oh yes, I had missed the boat on SATC. But I didn’t care. I eventually got to watch it. I finally found out who Mr. Big and Aiden were. I knew who people were talking about when they mentioned The Russian. I understood what people meant when they said “I’m a Charlotte.” Or “she’s totally a Samantha!”
(For the record, I never quite was able to decide which “Sex and the City” character I was more like. I often felt like I was most like Charlotte. Except that I wasn’t as dreamy about love as she was. I also felt like I was a little like Miranda. Not in the career-driven way, more in the black-hearted way.)
(And also, for the record, I was always more a fan of Aidan. I know nobody else was. But I was. He was just such a good guy. I guess he didn’t have the town cars and the clout that Big had. Even if Aidan didn’t win Carrie’s heart, he won mine.)
So yeah, when the SATC movie came out this year my heart broke a little. While I knew I wouldn’t be seeing it in the movie theater, I knew I would see it eventually. I was just going to have to wait a few years until it was edited and shown on TV. I knew this; I had accepted it and my wait began.
I read your blogs about going and seeing the movie and about how awesome it was. I was jealous that I wouldn’t be seeing it with any girlfriends. (I’m not even sure any of my real-life girlfriends watched SATC.) Whatever. I was over it.
And then I boarded my plan from Seattle to London last month and saw that “Sex and the City” was one of my choices for the in-flight movies. I thought I had heard that movies on planes are edited. I wasn’t sure where I had heard that, but I was 65% sure it was true. As soon as the flight had taken off and we had reached cruising altitude, I turned my little personal TV screen in front of me on. I breezed through the menu until I found “Sex and the City” and put my headphones on.
I figured I’d known if it was edited about two minutes into the movie. If it wasn’t edited, I would turn it off and watch something like “Indiana Jones”. But dude, if it was edited, I was going to get to see “Sex and the City”. On the plane! What a great way to start my European vacation.
I think I was about thirty minutes into the movie before I realized that I was thirty minutes into it and I hadn’t heard one little swear or seen a single boobie.
IT WAS EDITED!
So yeah, I watched it. I finally know if Carrie and Big end up together. I know if Miranda and Steve are still married. I know if Samantha is now a one-man-woman. I know.
And I got all of this without having to hear the F word or see Samantha naked.
Next on my list I need to convince Zach Braff to edit “Garden State” and put it on TBS. Because dude, I’m still dying to see that movie.
So tell me, were you happy with the way the SATC movie played out the rest of the story about Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha? Was there anything you thought should have happened? What was your favorite outfit? What about your least favorite outfit?
(Because I know y’all saw it, right?!)
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In keeping with today’s Sarah Jessica Parker blog theme, my latest New Thing is all about trying out SJP’s “Bitten” clothing line.
Addictions · Churchy Stuff · I have a slight TV addiction
Whitney
said,
October 1, 2008 at 4:29 pm
DUDE… I typed my comment and then your website ate it…
Cliffnotes: Didn’t like the movie. Thought Carrie’s mole was distracting. Loved the wedding dress. Hated the bird in the hair.
P.S. No Samantha nudity (that I can recall…) but I have seen enough of Miranda’s body to last me a lifetime.
Operation Pink Herring
said,
October 1, 2008 at 4:38 pm
For the record, I have ALWAYS thought that Carrie should have married Aiden. He’s too good for her, but if she had any brains she would have married him. He would NEVER have left her at the alter!
Rhi
said,
October 1, 2008 at 4:59 pm
The boy just admitted to me that he watched SATC on his way home from Europe.
Reason #5,980 why he’s awesome? He said he would have rather watched it with me.
Liz
said,
October 1, 2008 at 4:59 pm
I don’t mean this in a critical way, but I’m having a hard time understanding why you won’t watch movies with nudity but you went to a nude beach for your vacation? Nudity in person is way more offensive to me than nudity on TV. But that’s just my opinion.
Anyway, the only thing you maybe missed was Samantha’s neighbor’s butt. I liked the movie. Hated the bird in the hair thing though. And the dress was over the top, but it’s Carrie, so I guess it played along with her character.
And for the record, I’m also a big Aiden fan.
ISABEL: I would suggest you read my original post about why I don’t watch rated R movies (I linked to the original post on this current post). It isn’t because I find nudity offensive. I do find gratuitous sex scenes a bit much. But nudity in the natural form isn’t offensive. We are all naked under our clothes. (And for like the millionth time, there was nothing sexual about our time in Spain. Nothing. I promise. Really. It isn’t about sex. Really. I promise.)
Liz
said,
October 1, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Nevermind! I just reread your post about it. Doesn’t sound like it’s about the nudity, but rather language and violence, and that’s completely understandable. Some movies these days definitely cross the line with the graphic scenes and excessive language. I’ve seen too many to count, and I still cringe.
HollowSquirrel
said,
October 1, 2008 at 5:18 pm
I loved loved loved the movie. I needed that after being without them for so long. I didn’t need the nudity, though.
I don’t think I can remember specific outfits, since I saw it soooo long ago with my heathen friends.
I loved the bad fashion show when Carrie cleaned out her closet — that was hilarious.
Kim
said,
October 1, 2008 at 5:18 pm
I watched SATC on HBO from day one, and I still watch the edited episodes on TBS. I was glad they did the movie just to wrap up the loose ends from the series, but I felt the movie was just a longer version of one of the shows.
I loved Big. LOVED Big. Never was a fan of Aiden. He didn’t “get” her, and he wanted to change her. Not just the smoking but who she was and what she did. Never let a man change you.
anne
said,
October 1, 2008 at 5:33 pm
I haven’t actually seen it yet. It’s unbelievable to me because I had made plans and they just kept falling through. The thing for me that I like about renting Rs is the handy dandy FF button. But I’m also a huge fan of edited plane movies!
Also: I hearted Aiden big time.
Amity
said,
October 1, 2008 at 5:39 pm
I LOVED the movie. I thought Charlotte was AMAZING. It still makes me cry just THINKING about some of her scenes in that movie. I was fairly happy with all of the story lines, except I didn’t really like how they ended things for Samantha. I always liked Smith and I just feel like she used him (both on the show and in the movie).
And for the record, Berger was my favorite Carrie boyfriend. Ron Livingston could break up with me on a post-it any day…
Carrisa
said,
October 1, 2008 at 5:52 pm
the charlotte scene where she ____ her pants. funny stuff there. you missed miranda’s boobs, the neighbors pen*s, and some random boobs from other women who were merely sextras. so I’m sure your edited version was fine.
I too loved Aidan so much. Especially the second time around after the haircut. And darnit, I love me some Harry. Of course I also love Big. I don’t have a favorite or least favorite outfit that I can think of. I do remember coveting that closet though.
Amanda
said,
October 1, 2008 at 6:09 pm
I haven’t seen it and I am gutted! I was too poor to go see it at the cinema and I have to work on persuading T that it’ll be a good movie before I think about spending my very limited pennies on the dvd. Just have to say though that I too loved Aiden and wish that Carrie had not been so infatuated with Big. Oh and I’m definately a Charlotte - all the way with the romantic love dreams and if I could afford her wardrobe, you know I would be wearing it ;o)
SouthernBelle
said,
October 1, 2008 at 6:36 pm
I. Don’t. Get. It.
I am a girly-pink, shoe-loving, fashion-crazy gal (aka, SatC’s prime target market), but I have never had any desire to watch SatC.
It just seemed to me that these women were desperately trying to fill the affection/love-void in their lives with random sexual encounters, and that is abhorrent to me. I’m not even religious, or morally opposed to sex outside of marriage or whatever, but it just doesn’t sit right with me, the whole concept of the show. I find it depressing. So my question to you is, you seem to be a highly moral / religious person, so how is it that the basic concept of the show doesn’t seem to bother you?
Mary Jo
said,
October 1, 2008 at 7:06 pm
I also watched all of SATC on TBS and prefer the edited versions as well but could not wait for it on t.v. and actually watched it last night. I was surprised that it was Miranda who we saw naked and not Samantha! That movie would HAVE to be edited on a plane because there would be no way they could show all that nudity where a small child sitting behind you could see. It reminds me of that one time I was on a flight and there was this middle aged man looking at a Playboy magazine on the plane. LOL
Carrie
said,
October 1, 2008 at 10:20 pm
I was a fan before anyone even knew what it was and yes, I enjoyed the movie (fould language, sex and all - I love it!) - but it wasn’t as good as the series. Thankfully I have them all on DVD, tucked away for when they are needed. And Aiden? He STOLE my heart! As much as I love Carrie (since we have the same name), I will never forgive her for letting that one go. . . he is so delicious!
Lindsay
said,
October 2, 2008 at 3:41 am
Hmm, so it’s been a while since I’ve watched it, but I can’t really think why Garden State (which IS an awesome movie, by the way) is rated R. If you’d have asked me to guess its rating, I would have said PG-13, without a doubt in my mind that I was right. I’m sure there was probably “bad” language, but other than that, I can’t think of anything.
I mean, I completely don’t want to be the person who tries to get you to do something (watch an R rated movie) that you don’t want to do (not that you actually would). I’m just sayin’…
Lindsay
said,
October 2, 2008 at 3:43 am
…also, you probably just meant this as a sort of throw-away line, but I can’t help but wonder what you meant by this in your last post (the one where you explain the R movies thing): “I’m not strong enough to be allowed to make my own choices.”
That can’t possibly be true, right?
Britt
said,
October 2, 2008 at 5:09 am
I’ve never watched SATC, but dude! Scotty’s work has a video rental store and they have EDITED RATED R MOVIES!!! Oh my gosh! They don’t have Garden State, though. Boo! (because as you know, it’s on my list, too). But guess what they did have!! Little Miss Sunshine!! And I watched it!! And it was awesome and swear-free! I also watched the Shawshank Redemption. So good!!!
Cassie
said,
October 2, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Ahhh, SATC is the love of my life. I loved Aidan, too. I was so heartbroken when they split up. Stupid Carrie!
I loved the movie, which was really just one big long episode of the show, don’t you think? I think I would have preferred that they just kept the series running rather than make a movie, but whatever. I was happy with it!
suzannah
said,
October 2, 2008 at 3:06 pm
aiden was a million times a better man than big (and much sexier.) i’m with you.
haven’t seen the movie, but it just came in the mail…excited! hope i’m not too scandalized–i watched most of the series on tbs, too.
Sugar & Ice
said,
October 5, 2008 at 1:13 pm
I wish I could get ahold of a copy of the edited version of SATC! I also didn’t watch the show until it aired on TBS, and I’ve avoided the movie for the same reasons as you….well, not because I don’t watch any Rated R movies, but because I stay away from movies that are Rated R for the reasons SATC is Rated R.
meritt
said,
October 6, 2008 at 12:03 am
I don’t really watch R movies either - we check the backs of the boxes very well to see WHY it’s an R. Violence or language? No biggy. We’ll watch it. Other stuff? Back it goes.
Well one of the kids friends had 40 year old virgin at our home and with nothing to do and dh working I popped it in to watch it.
I was SO MAD. Ok… let me just say you didn’t miss a darn thing. Porn? Boobs? Lousy humor with only a few funny lines… had that. Anything worth watching? Nope. Not at all.
PS: I’ve not seen any of the others you mentioned and I have no wish to, but I wanted to let you know you missed NOTHING with that stupid virgin movie.
Bethiclaus
said,
October 11, 2008 at 7:24 pm
I HATE Big. But I’m always careful who I say it to, because b****es will cut you. (Look, I made sure my blog comment was not an R. Go me.)
Audrey
said,
October 12, 2008 at 8:52 pm
I, too, watched the entire series on TBS since I didn’t have HBO until a couple months ago. I haven’t seen the movie yet. I know I can tell you the reason and trust you not to make fun of me for being too emotionally invested in the lives of fictional characters, right? The reason is because I was so blissfully happy with where everyone ended up in the Series Finale — it remains one of the best series finales ever in my opinion — and then I saw the movie trailer and was worried that the happy lives I’d imagined everyone having were all going to get messed up. And I didn’t necessarily want that to taint my happy imaginings of where all the girls were at in their lives.
But then I cheated and read spoilers and found out that peoples’ lives don’t get messed up as much as it looked like they might, and now I am open to seeing the movie. I just gotta find time to rent it when Tim’s not going to be around, because no way will he watch it with me.