Sex and the Sequel

Oh come on James, Star Trek II, The Wrath of Khan is a classic!!! I bet I’ve seen it 20 times and my wife rolls her eyes everytime she walks in the room and sees me watching it….AGAIN!

Off topic, but have you mentioned anything about NBC’s new fall show, Chuck? I saw an ad last night and checked it out their preview on the web. Cute would be my best description based on what I saw.

Oh yeah, I was a very casual viewer of SATC. I could care less if they make a movie. I wouldn’t even be waiting for it to play on cable to catch it.

I’ve heard rumors in the past about a Sex and the City movie, but I’ve never really thought they’d actually do it. I love the show, and I’ll probably go see the movie out of curiosity, but I agree that a movie is not likely to be the ultimate culminating SATC experience.

In my opinion, the evolution of the relationships throughout the entire series – particularly how one episode could show each of them in a different stage of a relationship – was a major strength, and I don’t see how that could be replicated in a movie, where it will probably be necessary to provide closure to whatever plotline they establish for each character.

I absolutely hate the idea that they’d make a movie. I also know I’d probably watch it within the first few weeks of its release. Just to, you know, sate my curiosity. Which is why they are making it I suppose.

I closed the door on SATC the night of the finale.

Now, Drive – that might make a good movie. Perhaps creator Tim Minear could pull a Serenity and transition a unjustifiably-cancelled series into a great film.

James the conditions you set are a little confusing. Is “The Fugitive” a reimagining of the series, or just a standalone wonderful film? “Serenity” in certain respects caps “Firefly”, but then again it arguably expands the narrative also. I agree with your assessment of SATC however. It was very well-concluded. But then again, the true length of any given narrative, well told, is almost like asking the length of a piece of string. In fact it is just like that.

The South Park Movie, to me, equaled if not improved upon the series! I could care less about the SATC girls, or if they have a movie or not. I want a Veronica Mars movie. Heck, even a Spike movie carrying on the Buffy/Angel saga. Big ‘who cares’ about the SATC movie prospects.

@Jen: You’re right about South Park. Totally slipped my mind.

@Lindsay: I’m not a tremendous fan of either Fugitive–or the Tim Daly version–so I’m not the one to ask. In general, I think of a reimagining as a remake that significantly changes the tone or style of the series. Which worked so well for The Flintstones.

@Keith: I liked Wrath of Khan too, but would you say it improved on the series? Not to mention that, if you’re talking about the entire set of movies, that’s a pretty low batting average. /ducks

Maybe there’s some corollary rule: do serial shows adapt less successfully than non-serial ones? I didn’t hate The X-Files movie, but there’s just no way that a standalone film can equal the cumulative effect of several seasons of stories, each building on the last.

James,

Note that I specifically mentioned Khan and not all Trek movies. Overall, the Trek series of movies didn’t necessarily improve over the TV show. There was a lot of truth to the observation that the odd numbered movies stank and the even numbered movies were “good”. The first movie was an event just for the fact that the original cast was actually reassembled after so many years and that they were able to employee (then) state of the art special effects that were not available during the original series. The Trek movies were an indulgence for a huge and loyal fan base and for that, they could be considered a success.

I wouldn’t mind seeing a Quantum Leap movie if it were done well.

I’d have to say that Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me was definitely worth seeing… in fact, IMHO, its one of Lynch’s best films

Agree that a movie version of SATC is not wise move, anymore. Perhaps if film was made relatively shortly after series ended, it would have satisfied some anxiety separation, but that ship has sailed. Characters are too much older now, and I’m not interested in a “where are they now” format. What SATC fans cared about was where and who they were then.

I think that they could do a great SATC movie if they played around with the format considerably. Like a detective story with Carrie as the private eye trying to solve a sexy mystery. Or maybe a musical, or a crossover tale with Law & Order. I think a two-hour “where are they now” film would be boring as hell.

Maybe we’ll learn Big’s middle name.

I want to see Carrie’s dress.

As far as reimaging goes sometimes it all depends on what actors you get to play the roles, the Aadams Family for example was hokey and cheesy just like the tv show but I think the actors they got were perfect. I think part of problem is Hollywood has run out of ideas and are going for old movies, tv shows and comics and even some of the “new” movies while the special effects are great either the storyline is lame or the actors just are not the right one for that role.

I was a huge SATC fan, AFTER the show ended, just because I never get into shows when they are the most popular thing around. Therefore, my allegiance to SATC came well after the show ended, so I wouldn’t mind seeing a movie about the girls again. But yeah, I do agree with the other commenters; a movie immediately after the show had ended would have been a smarter move than one 4 years later.

James,

Gildenfyre brings up a good point concerning running out of ideas. I’m not sure that they have run out of ideas as much as they are lazy and want a sure bet and recycle ideas that have worked in the past. My question is this, why does the UK seem to be the test bed for US TV? It seems like I am constantly reading about a new show in the US based on a UK show. The office and American Idol both come to mind. Are there US shows that broke original ground and were “stolen” by the UK instead of the other way around?

SJP was the one holding out on a movie deal, I believe. So, the fashion line and Loreal commercials aren’t fulfilling her like she thought they would? NOW it’s time to sign on the dotted line? Gotta love show business.

The only reason this movie is being considered is because SJP’s movie career crashed before take off. I couldn’t sit through 10 minutes of “the Family stone”, plus she has been doing her Carrie act(zombie hand on chest,index finger pushing imaginary hair) since ages and those movies flopped too.
And SATC was fine in small doses but can we really take 2 hours of bozo bush or manolo muggings?

Based on the fact that you found Borat to be a good movie I plan to completely disregard your opinion of this or any other movie. You clearly have bad taste.

For me, the series lost its luster for me after the 4th season, so I don’t care if they make the movie or not. Plus, Sarah Jessica Parker kinda annoying with her monotonous acting style.

Cynthia Nixon needs to care care of her obvious problem before she hits the big screen. I went to my dentist and took care of it and she can too.

hint: whiter is better

James,
Thanks so much for your comments. I am doing a Phd thesis on HBO at present and your articles and quotes certainly feature in my bibliography. So thanks for all of your insight.

Fans of SATC? Impossible. Wooden acting, lifeless dialogue, Doogie Howser recap each episode? The movie could only be an improvement.

I want to find out if Carrie started calling him big before or after she slept with him

I can’t imagine the experience of watching SatC in a theater with a crowd would be the same as watching it at home alone or with a friend or two.

Just for the record, SJP was on board for the movie as soon as the series wrapped. As were all the girls except Kim Catrall, who demanded more money. Regardless, I have no doubt that Michael Patrick King will make this a movie worth seeing — his writing/directing episodes of the series were by far the best. Count me in as one of the fans who can’t wait to see SITC: The Movie.

I liked watching the series, and am a big moviegoer, but I can’t imagine how this could be interesting in any way. To agree with other comments, I wouldn’t like to see a “where are they now,” and definitely couldn’t imagine watching it in a theater with other people.

Come on let’s see Castle Rock Entertainment make a screen movie of SEINFELD using the original cast…yada yada…BIG BUCKS !

Better yet…SEINFELD MEETS THE CITY… with their original casts…imagine Elaine meeting Samantha or Kramer bumping into Mr. Big for the first time? Or George going out with Carrie on a blind date?

I would love to see Charlotte and her baby. I would love to see how Carrie and Big are going to build a life. I would love to see Samantha say “I love you.” I’ll give you, Miranda’s storyline is pretty wrapped up, but the other three characters were all given beginnings in the series finale.

Now whether a movie can give you enough substance on those beginnings is difficult to say. What I fear is that you’ve had this 6 season wide arc of characters and events, and now they’re trying to cap it all off on two hours. It has a different scope than the show. Whether its good or not will depend on the writing.

What I don’t want to see is Carrie’s wedding… o! something bad… no! its okay… they’re married. Horray! Credits.

LOVED the series. Enjoyed the experience of watching the characters develop over the seasons. The ending was a wonderful, natural conclusion. A movie would have to have a contrived plot. It would not be about the character development, random experiences, or their relationships . . . the very things that made the series so appealing. I say NO to the movie . . . bad idea. Sadly, I’ll also see it within the first week it opens.

What is this Paul Rudnick-penned Brady Bunch opus that you speak of? Thinking I had seriously overlooked a major entry in this very funny man’s resume, I IMBD’d him. I know he’s punched up many a script with no credit, so is this one of them? Cause it ain’t listed.

Bill: My bad. Should be The Addams Family. (Specifically, Addams Family Values.)

I might agree that SATC series is much better than the movie. And I strongly recommend you to see THE SIMPSONS movie.

signature: “Nothing makes you forget about love like adult toys.”