Last night, I indulged in the wonder that is SATC 2. Slammed by the critics; one even labelled their review 'Sucks in the city'. I truly must beg to differ. The movie was opulent, fantastical, heartwarming, funny, pun-filled, silly and overall very enjoyable despite its predictability (you're hard pressed to find an unpredictable one in any summer releases). We all liked it, not as much as the first movie, but a good hearty thumbs up.
It made me think about the characters and their 'roles' as women. They are all so different, yet I'm sure we can all identify with one or more of the girls at different points throughout our lives. I see myself as Charlotte. Very idealistic, keen, by the book, black and white, not impulsive, worried about the impression she makes on others. She wants to be the best wife and mother and failures shatter her. She married someone she never thought she would (in her second marriage to Harry). She and I are also hopeless romantics.
I can also see some Miranda in myself. Driven, bossy, to the point, tell it like it is, concerned with impropriety and doing the right thing.
Now Samantha...I admire her. She has gumption! She's the most successful, fantabulous tart I've ever seen! I could never be that brazen, but she does it looking fabulous and all you can do is outwardly express disdain and shock, while inwardly envying her.
And last, Carrie. I too am often plagued by indecision. Kooky fashion sense - yep, that's definitely me. I also believe that two people can be lifelong loves despite other circumstances that may come into play. And as an aside, I would jump at the chance to be a columnist, writer or blogger (smile).
Together, these women form an uberwoman. Beautiful inside, beautiful outside, strong, weak, a wife, a mother and a whore (let's call a spade a spade). How more can you describe a woman?
Although much lighter than the first movie, it embodied some real and tough issues: gay marriage (and the ensuing question - how are Liza Minelli's legs THAT skinny), boredom/routine in marriage, tvs in your bedroom in marriage, fear of failure as a mother, fear your husband will cheat with someone possessing perkier boobs... Who among us has not had cause to think on these things?
It leads me to ask: what were the critics expecting? The first one dealt with meatier issues; did they really expect the second to do the same? It's a sequel for God's sake. Don't all sequels make you ask - why did they even bother? And if men will go see sequel after sequel of action/comic book movies that are brain numbingly lame, why aren't we afforded that same luxury without scathing critique?
Admittedly, there was more estrogen in that movie theatre than seemed comfortable, but there's something empowering about being in a theatre with hundreds of other women, laughing, gasping, crying and empathizing together. There is power in being women. As sung in one scene:
I am woman, hear me roar
In numbers too big to ignore
And I know too much to go back an' pretend
'cause I've heard it all before
And I've been down there on the floor
No one's ever gonna keep me down again
Oh yes I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to, I can do anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman
You can bend but never break me
'cause it only serves to make me
More determined to achieve my final goal
And I come back even stronger
Not a novice any longer
'cause you've deepened the conviction in my soul
I am woman watch me grow
See me standing toe to toe
As I spread my lovin' arms across the land
But I'm still an embryo
With a long long way to go
Until I make my brother understand
Oh yes I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to I can face anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman
These words build us up and make us feel like we can triumph. Not many movies have this positive of a theme while showcasing women in their good, bad and ugly stages. So as Samantha said about the four of them: 'loves come and go, but we are soulmates'. Let's raise a cosmo to our girls.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Childless in 2010
As I begin my blogging journey, I've chosen my theme - (da, da, dun, da!) Childless in 2010.
Now, I had dreams for my life. Boy did I ever. Married by 25. Have two children before 30. Be a hot mom in her 40s with teenagers.
So, thus far I was married at 29 and I'm now 33 with no children on the horizon.
The flaws in my first dream are now apparent, and boy am I ever glad I didn't get married at 25. Now when someone gets married at that age I think - wow, they're so YOUNG to be getting married. And same goes for when they have children.
So to allay all concerns/questions/niggling thoughts - yes, Andrew and I do want to have children. We are just waiting for a few reasons. One, we love our life. We eat out, we have date nights, we go on tour, we run ourselves ragged...at least the first part of this sentence must seem appealing to some. But all of this would need to cease should a baby come along. We basically love having the freedom to do what we want, when we want.
There's also the factor of being a starving artist - it doesn't pay the bills. Thus, I have the 'pay for our apartment and extravagant lifestyle' job while Andrew does more gigging than me and is studying to become an accredited graphic designer. He is hoping to finish school this year, then search for a f/t job in this field.
Now, there is no way we're having a baby this year folks, so stop praying, hoping and wishing that I will forget to take my birth control. Ain't gonna happen. It's the one thing I do everyday at the same time, same place. Thus, this will be my year to blog about my times as a happy, childless married lady.
On Saturday I had a fantastic day of reuniting with old friends. I met 7 other ladies who I went to church with when we were youths. Out of the 8 of us, 5 are married, 1 is engaged, 1 is divorced and 1 single, never married. 5 have one child. 1 has 2 children. Only 2 of us are married and childless (and I've been married twice as long!) Thankfully for me, after a brief discussion about not wanting to watch Treehouse on the restaurant tvs (the restaurant was so obliging - since they couldn't change the channel they covered up the tvs for us!), there was little talk of children all afternoon, just a lot of reminiscing and talking about our current mates and stories. Then I moved on to attend my high school best friend's son's 1st birthday (whew). Our other high school friend was there and they both have 1 child. The room was full of children. As a person with no children, take note - 1st birthday parties are not really a scene I feel that welcome at. There's no little person to chase around the room, watch out for, yell at. You know, all the things parents treasure doing at gatherings.
After that day, I thought - would I want this life? And the answer right now is still no. Being a mom would mean I would have to be patient, kind, gentle...and other things that I'm no good at. I need some more time to grow those fruits people.
Now, I had dreams for my life. Boy did I ever. Married by 25. Have two children before 30. Be a hot mom in her 40s with teenagers.
So, thus far I was married at 29 and I'm now 33 with no children on the horizon.
The flaws in my first dream are now apparent, and boy am I ever glad I didn't get married at 25. Now when someone gets married at that age I think - wow, they're so YOUNG to be getting married. And same goes for when they have children.
So to allay all concerns/questions/niggling thoughts - yes, Andrew and I do want to have children. We are just waiting for a few reasons. One, we love our life. We eat out, we have date nights, we go on tour, we run ourselves ragged...at least the first part of this sentence must seem appealing to some. But all of this would need to cease should a baby come along. We basically love having the freedom to do what we want, when we want.
There's also the factor of being a starving artist - it doesn't pay the bills. Thus, I have the 'pay for our apartment and extravagant lifestyle' job while Andrew does more gigging than me and is studying to become an accredited graphic designer. He is hoping to finish school this year, then search for a f/t job in this field.
Now, there is no way we're having a baby this year folks, so stop praying, hoping and wishing that I will forget to take my birth control. Ain't gonna happen. It's the one thing I do everyday at the same time, same place. Thus, this will be my year to blog about my times as a happy, childless married lady.
On Saturday I had a fantastic day of reuniting with old friends. I met 7 other ladies who I went to church with when we were youths. Out of the 8 of us, 5 are married, 1 is engaged, 1 is divorced and 1 single, never married. 5 have one child. 1 has 2 children. Only 2 of us are married and childless (and I've been married twice as long!) Thankfully for me, after a brief discussion about not wanting to watch Treehouse on the restaurant tvs (the restaurant was so obliging - since they couldn't change the channel they covered up the tvs for us!), there was little talk of children all afternoon, just a lot of reminiscing and talking about our current mates and stories. Then I moved on to attend my high school best friend's son's 1st birthday (whew). Our other high school friend was there and they both have 1 child. The room was full of children. As a person with no children, take note - 1st birthday parties are not really a scene I feel that welcome at. There's no little person to chase around the room, watch out for, yell at. You know, all the things parents treasure doing at gatherings.
After that day, I thought - would I want this life? And the answer right now is still no. Being a mom would mean I would have to be patient, kind, gentle...and other things that I'm no good at. I need some more time to grow those fruits people.
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