I'm seeing Sex and the City for the second time today... NO SPOILERS

[huskerlaw]

We are waiting for the movie to start. Ask me anything!

Except about the plot. I won't ruin this movie for anyone.

[ronnykmarshall]

1. Where are you seeing it?

We might go tomorrow. I want to see it as Archlight on Sunset.

I take it you liked it if you're seeing it again!!!

[huskerlaw]

19. I saw it in Burbank

To be honest, there were a few reasons we went a second time: 1) a friend who couldn't go this morning really wanted to see it and 2) we needed to escape the intense burnt plastic smell in our apartment.

But really, it was FABULOUS. I wouldn't change a single scene.

[Radio_Lady]

33. Huskerlaw, was the smell from the Universal Studio fire? So sorry to hear about that.

Thanks for sharing your comments.

Gotta go to bed. I've been up since 2AM Sunday morning.

Volunteer in the morning:

www.forwardstride.org

[huskerlaw]

35. Yes, it was

It was a bad situation that could have been SO much worse. Nobody was seriously injured and nothing that was lost couldn't be replaced.

The wind switched mid-afternoon, so the air in our apartment is clear now, thank goodness. We drove very close to it coming back from the theater and it was still smoking as of 7:30 pm PT.

[Radio_Lady]

37. So sad. Have they explained how it started?

[huskerlaw]

39. Not that I know of...

but then again, I spent a LOT of my day in a movie theater! I haven't seen an update since about 10 this morning. At that time, they were saying that it started on "New York Street"...which is a large NY facade and they were investigating the cause.

[Radio_Lady]

41. Thanks again. CU@theDU

Glad you're alright.

RL

[PeaceNikki]

2. It doesn't make you hate being a woman?!!?

(there's a thread in GD on this topic)

[Shakespeare]

3. Of, for fuck's sake.

It's. A. MOVIE. It's not rocket science, it's not out to win the Noble prize. It's not a statement about female power. It's just a movie about friendship. It's a female buddy movie, squared.

[Radio_Lady]

15. I haven't seen it. Probably will go with my husband, who actually watched SATC

in and around "Deadwood" and other HBO stuff.

He said he'd go with me if I decide to go.

[huskerlaw]

20. Quite the opposite, actually

It made me realize that my friends and myself are the most important people in my life. It's actually a very pro-female movie.

[PeaceNikki]

22. I think so, too. I loved it as well.

:)

[Captain Hilts]

61. Straight women acting like gay men. Weird. nt

[huskerlaw]

64. Excuse me?

:wtf:

[Radio_Lady]

4. I haven't seen it and my daughter didn't want to go. She never saw it on cable.

But the people who HAVE gone are giving it... 4.3 out of 10.

(More than 7,000 people at this website.)

This is not good news.

http://www.us.imdb.com/title/tt1000774/

[Radio_Lady]

5. Nikki Finke has some great comments here:

http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/great-sex-could-go-as-high-as-26m-friday-and-65m-weekend/

Have fun!

Cordially,

Radio Lady in Oregon

[PeaceNikki]

6. That "rating system" is a joke.

Look: 32% gave it a 10 and 38% gave it a zero??

http://www.us.imdb.com/title/tt1000774/ratings

[Radio_Lady]

7. Reviewers call that a "LOVE IT" or "HATE IT" movie!

I've been using that site for quite a number of years.

Even Kristi Turnquist in the Portland, Oregonian, approached the movie in that light -- Love it? Or hate it!!! She wrote a great article in Arts & Entertainment section last Friday.

[PeaceNikki]

8. It's a flipping internet poll. It's accuracy is questionable at best.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24919813/

Readers feel ‘Sex’ isn’t just good — it’s fabulous!
Fans feel film meets high expectations and leaves them wanting a sequel

[Shakespeare]

9. Everyone I've talked to who's seen it, LOVED it.

I've had three different people go to the trouble to actually call me this weekend and tell me to go see it (I will, just haven't had time yet).

[PeaceNikki]

10. I haven't seen an "I hate it" yet. People who would hate it didn't go.

[Radio_Lady]

11. Fine. You win. I've been doing this since 1971. Peace, Nikki.

Here's another "poll" you might want to look at, before you put me on IGNORE.

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/sex_and_the_city_the_movie/

[PeaceNikki]

13. Put you on ignore? Chillax.

Hey, guess what, I've been on the internet since 1995 and I am an IT professional specializing in data and I have common sense so I know how "accurate" internet polls are.

But, thanks for trying to put me in my place.

[Radio_Lady]

16. What is "chillax"? Are we talking about politics here? Or movie reviewing?

I'm getting a real attitude tonight. No worries. Love any movie you want to.

Good night.

[PeaceNikki]

18. Chillax.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=chillax
1. To chill and relax simultaneously.
2. To loosen or reduce the level of stress by employing a more relaxed and groovy outlook.

I agree, you are getting an attitude. You are not the resident expert on everything. And if, as a professional ANYthing, you put any credence in anonymous online polls, you're a hack.

[Radio_Lady]

25. Well, thank you for your astute positioning. It's getting to be a thing here. Here's my question:

Are you suggesting that surveying in other ways is more creditable? Is it the self-selection of an Internet poll that has you grinding your teeth at me?

Are political exit polls any more accurate?

How about CNN polls that people endlessly question? How about "American Idol", where you can vote as many times as you want.

What are your criteria for acceptance of data? The Internet is relatively new. Self-selection is not new.

How about these? I used to work for market surveying companies in both Florida and Boston. Tell me your opinion.

Diary method: used by TV and radio stations for decades -- designed to achieve a sampling of people's broacasting habits.

Telephone intercept sampling method: used by any number of products and people to find out people's opinions

I could understand your dissing something here, but just throwing rejoinders back at me is really uncalled for. However, I am sure you like doing it because I am an anonymous person who is not looking right in your eyes and asking for civility.

Thank you.

[PeaceNikki]

I'm not "grinding my teeth" at you.

I will again repeat that anonymous internet polls are COMPLETELY inaccurate.

I bet if I posted a poll here, a large percentage would agree with me. :D

[LynneSin]

55. You know, if you remove all the votes for 10 or 1 you get about a 6.5 rating on the movie

I just did the math and if drop all the high (10) and Low (1) scores - the mean average rating for SATC came out to about 6.47 which I think is a more fair rating of the movie.

[BlueJazz]

12. Always liked IMDB ....they usually call the shots right.

[Radio_Lady]

14. Yep, they do. I'm a member there but only put reviews up very occasionally.

Movie reviewers get hassled a lot. On line, beginning in the 1990s, the original Usenet groups turned into endless fighting and name calling. Unmoderated, it was really awful. Here, it seems to be drifting into that for this film.

[LynneSin]

56. This time IMDB is extremely wrong and here's why

Let's assume everyone who voted a '10' is a diehard fan of SATC that would vote a 10 no matter how good or shitty the movie was. BTW, I'm one of those folks.

Now assume that those who voted '1' are people who just didn't get SATC or hated it for what ever reason out there.

Ironically there was a high number of 10's & 1's because this movie elicited this kind of response.

But you remove the 10s/1s and recalcuate the mean score from the remaining votes suddenly you have a 6.4 rating on the movie - a value I think better judges the quality of the movie.

IMDB doesn't check to see if you have a movie stub from the movie or quizzes you to see if you watch. Anyone with access to IMDB can vote.

[Radio_Lady]

62. LynneSin -- Thanks for your calm and rational explanation.

I remember someone doing this in school -- drop the lowest and highest number, then add the rest, and then divide. Isn't it called "math averaging"? I can't remember, but I think I recall some dog shows where they have to assign a final number. That's exactly what they do --

Here's the RATINGS page for tonight 6/02/08: (Page is updated each day)

http://us.imdb.com/title/tt1000774/ratings

9,216 IMDb users have given a weighted average vote of 4.6 / 10.

Users are now showing up high positive and high negative reviews.

If I'm not mistaken, "Titanic" was in this same "love it or hate it" category, but that was a while ago. Young girls drawn to Leonardo DiCaprio went to see the film over and over and over again. Others couldn't stand the movie, and there were a LOT of goofs! (No mistakes, at least in the first weekend, for SATC.)

Thanks for the post.

RL

[huskerlaw]

21. Wow.

I disagree completely, as did pretty much everyone in both shows I went to. Both were either sold out or nearly so, and both times the audience gave it a standing ovation at the end.

That's hardly a 4.3 out of ten reaction.

[Radio_Lady]

34. Well, there's only one way to judge this financially.

www.boxofficemojo.com

Final figures for this weekend get posted after noon each Monday.

Do you ever read on-line reviews before (or after) you got to see a film?

Do you ever go to a website to either review or rate a film?

Just curious because of static with one other poster on this thread.

[huskerlaw]

38. My friend checked IMDb Pro this afternoon

and they were projecting $55 million as of sometime today.

Honestly, I don't usually check online reviews before I see a movie. If a movie looks interesting, I'll go see it regardless, unless I've heard firsthand that it was truly horrible.

I have reviewed movies on Rotten Tomatoes a few times, but it's not really my thing. If I'm interested or my friends have recommended a movie, that weighs far more than a review to me.

[Radio_Lady]

40. Works for me. Thanks for posting. Movies are personal experiences.

Kimberly Gadette told me to pass it up... She's another reviewer here...

http://www.livepdx.com/Articles/Portland-Movies/?launch_pg=AritclePage&launch_sel=1010726&title=Screen+Savor+Movie+Review%3A+Sex+and+the+City

We'll probably just go because I like the actresses and I'm a sucker for New York City locations!!!!

[LynneSin]

54. Only problem with IMDB is they don't check to see if you actually saw the movie

And there is enough anti-SATC attitude out there that it's just as easy to sink a rating.

But a movie doesn't do $60million opening weekend unless there's a strong market for it. To me the movie was more like a 2.5hr version of the show done in the same exact style you'd expect from SATC tv show.

The people who loved SATC were not disappointed

[Radio_Lady]

63. Got it! But the Academy Awards have the same problem! They send out screeners of

some of the movies, and there is no proof that the members actually watch them. I don't believe they are checked at the door of the screenings, either, but I could be wrong.

The media representatives in Portland DO take attendance, but we are way down on the food chain...

What's more, there are LOTS of OTHER cases of movie reviewers being wined and dined and gifted -- supposedly a lot of that going on in the "olden days."

So "biased reviews" can work both ways. If you get to go on a jaunt to meet the stars at a big shindig, and the studio picks up your travel, hotel, and food expenses, how likely are you to pan THAT movie? And if you do, there's a chance that some other critic they invited -- who wrote a glowing review, ends up with his quote in the movie's advertisements.

Now, there are many movie reviewers who are out of a job because they are being let go by their TV or radio station because of $$$$. Rather have an anchor read the wire copy review, and use the money to pay the salary of a reporter, a photographer, or a production assistant. It's happening all over.

Good night and good luck.

Radio Lady Ellen

[LynneSin]

66. Academy Awards can be a joke - just look at Catherine Zeta-Jones

She was, without a doubt, not the best supporting actress. I know I wasn't impressed with her or Renee Zellweger in the movie Chicago - I thought Gere, Latifah and O'Reilly really made the movie.

But Zeta-Jones managed to get nominated. And then her husband Michael Douglas dropped nearly $1million on a campaign push to get his wife an Oscar.

The person who really should of won it (and was the Golden Globe winner for best supporting Actress) was Meryl Streep. She just knocked you out in Adaptation where she played the author of the book that Nicolas Cage was trying to adapt. The movie was directed by Spike Jonze, who has a reputation of creating stuff totally over the edge but extremely fasinating. The role that Streep had was one of the most unique female roles I had seen in a long time and she nailed it perfectly.

[Radio_Lady]

68. Sorry we're not neighbors. I'd invite you over for coffee and chatter about movies!

I totally agree with you on your comments above.

Meryl Streep is by far the best American actress of my generation -- unrivaled, in my estimation.

Her filmography spans so many great movies.

Don't have time to continue with this, but I'm putting you on my Buddy List!

It's hard to remember the people you agree with here -- at least on some issue or other.

OT. Do you eat at the Olive Garden -- or no??? :sarcasm:

Cordially,

Radio Lady in Oregon

[ismnotwasm]

17. It's GOT to be better

Than "No Country for Old Men" I'm not in any way a SITC fan, and I'm wasn't planning on seeing the movie.

My husband tricked me in to watching that visually arresting but ultimately very boring No country while HE feel asleep on the couch. I should make him watch SITC for revenge.

[huskerlaw]

23. It's Sex AND the City, actually

but if you're not a fan, you probably won't like it. Mostly because you won't understand what's going on. At least not on the same level as those of us who are fans.

[Radio_Lady]

42. Did you know I called my radio show "Kimball in the City"... Portland, that is.

Last Friday, I learned that I had the second word wrong all these years! So much for accuracy!

One reviewer put it succinctly --

"It's PERFECT for girls and gays!"

Well, there's always Eric the handyman and his partner Ben. They've lived on our street for two years, and we just met them last week.

Eric is going to bid on painting my downstairs bathroom (How exciting!) This week, I'm going to take a gander at his upscale interior design. Lots of bright colors, I've been told.

[kwassa]

24. Another mystifying social phenomenon

Kinda like NASCAR. Both are extremely popular, and I haven't the faintest idea why.

SITC is a fantasy show, but it must be a very appealing fantasy.

[huskerlaw]

27. It is and it isn't

Yes, it's an exaggeration, but what TV show isn't?

But the issues that were tackled were very real. The friendships that were at the heart of the show were very real.

SATC really isn't a fantasy at all, not when the Manolos and the couture are stripped away.

[Blue_Roses]

26. I saw it yesterday and LOVED it!

It was fun, fun, fun and I don't really go by the "reviews". Each person has their own taste. I'm going back to see it again next weekend with my sister. I can't wait.

[huskerlaw]

28. The thing about the reviews...

is that if the critics weren't fans of the show, of course they didn't like it. Without the knowing the six season history of the TV show, who gives a shit about the characters? They don't spend any time making you care because really, they didn't have to.

This movie wasn't made for critics. It was made for fans. And the nearly sold-out audiences of both shows I went to today gave it a standing ovation.

[Blue_Roses]

29. Exactly! Damn right!

It's the characters that we love. I think Samantha is hilarious! I love her!

"Color" me crazy, but I am such a fan:D

[huskerlaw]

30. Hahahahahaha

Yes, color me a huge Samantha fan. :rofl:

[Radio_Lady]

36. All good answers. I remember the time I went to see "The Cat in The Hat."

This was a 2003 movie. Mike Myers was delightful, the scenic design was noteworthy, and the couple of slightly lewd jokes went completely over the children's heads. I loved it, and so did my grandkids. The older one said, "I want this when it comes out on DVD." (We have watched it several times since....)

Then the reviews hit.

You can still see some of the collateral damage at:

http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0312528/

Today it sits in a permanent slump, with over 10,000 people giving it a measly 3.3 out of 10!

Movies are a very personal experience. You can be sure that WHATEVER it is, some will like it and some won't. It might also have the OPPOSITE of a "bell curve" -- whatever it is they call that!

[LynneSin]

58. I'm going to see it with co-workers and I'll go at least once by myself to see it

I just want to soak up this movie and catch some of the stuff I missed the first time.

[JackieOhSunglasses90]

31. I haven't seen it but will do so as soon as I can

I love the show and I hope the movie lives up to my expectations.

[huskerlaw]

32. Definitely go.

I'm also a huge fan and...trust me, you will not be disappointed.

I saw it receive two standing ovations from two separate packed theaters today.

Honestly, I would not change a single scene.

[JackieOhSunglasses90]

53. ovations? Wow!

That's great. I will make sure not to miss it in the theaters.

[Radio_Lady]

43. "Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!"

Oh, dear. I think that was another movie.....

:sarcasm:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Farragut

[Radio_Lady]

44. Metacritic.com for 6/01/08:

http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/sexandthecity

[Blue_Roses]

59. with all due respect...

This movie was for the fans, bottom line. It isn't a movie that will win an Oscar. It was just for pure fun and for that it succeeded. The reviews are highly subjective and most fans couldn't care less.

[LynneSin]

67. You know what - last week I watched "There Will be Blood" and all I have to say is this....

fuck the Oscars.

If I want to watch boring dialog I guess I'll have to watch "No Country for Old Men" next. Sure, both movies were Oscar caliber but I kept falling asleep during Blood and I would suspect the same from Country. (BTW, Daniel Day-Lewis so deserved his Oscar - he was really good).

This was not made for Oscars but I wouldn't be shocked if SATC did get a Golden Globe nomination or 2. The Globes love SJP - she's won several already. BUT this movie was not made for Oscars it was made for legions of fans who were dying to find out if these gals lived happily ever after.

The fact taht all the critics predicted the movie would do about $20-$30mil opening weekend (behind Indiana Jones) and it nearly doubled that prediction clearly shows the critics know nothing of what we women want. Clearly Samatha Jones in her strappy Manolo Blahiks kicked Indiana Jones's ass!

[Radio_Lady]

69. My opinions exactly on those two films! I was one of the only reviewers who

just hated "No Country..." -- and couldn't believe that Oscar win!

Oh, well -- the Golden Globes are only 80+ members of the foreign press. Hope some of them are women and SATC fans!

I wish I could afford Manolo Blahiks (and also remember how to spell it)! (I love those red soles! It's my favorite color -- the color of love!)

However, I have 69-year-old feet 7EE (really wide) and have to remember what the podiatrist said. "Nothing higher than 1 - 2 in. heels." Bwahhhhhhaaaaaaa.

Cordially,

RL

[lifesbeautifulmagic]

45. just got back and I loved it -

I thought Charlotte was very funny..

[huskerlaw]

46. Uh...yes...

Charlotte was quite humorous! :D

[CaliforniaPeggy]

47. My dear huskerlaw...

May I hazard a guess???

I think you liked it!

:hi:

[huskerlaw]

49. I did!

And it got me away from the smell of burnt plastic, which had completely invaded my apartment for most of the day. Bleeeeh!

My friends and I were walking out of the second viewing discussing when we were going to see it again. None of us are willing to wait until it's out on DVD!

:hug:

[Scooter24]

48. are you on the iphone?!

I was surfing DU today from the theater before seeing Indiana Jones :hi:

[huskerlaw]

50. I was, actually!

I'm home now, but I did make the original post from my iPhone. :D

:hi:

[Scooter24]

51. I love that my theater has free wi-fi...

half the teenagers in the theater all were surfing on their iphones lol

[huskerlaw]

52. That would have been nice.

No free wi-fi at my theater but the network was cooperating, so the connection was relatively fast.

[terrya]

57. Why wasn't there more scenes of Dante in the shower?

:-)

Actually, that was some very nice eye candy.

[huskerlaw]

60. Good point!

We should request that the...um...uncut...footage be included on the DVD!

:woohoo:

[Radio_Lady]

65. "You baaaad girls, get your minds out of the gutter...

and come down to the sewer with me." :evilgrin:

I'd like a little male eye candy.


I may be old and married, but I'm NOT dead!

Cheers!

RL and AA

In London, in love... 2006