Blu-ray Movie Reviews

Four years after the end of the hit TV series Sex and the City, life continues for Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker), Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrall), Charlotte York (Kristen Davis), and Miranda Hobbs (Cynthia Nixon). Carrie and Mr. Big (Chris Noth) are taking their relationship to the next level; Samantha has moved from New York to Hollywood with her boyfriend of five years, Smith Jarrod (Jason Lewis); Charlotte is happily married to Harry (Evan Handler) with their three-year-old daughter; and Miranda is struggling through a less-than-happy marriage to Steve (David Eigenberg) in hell (aka Brooklyn).

I'm man enough to admit that I've seen every episode of Sex and the City on DVD—and I enjoyed them. When rumors started to float about a possible theatrical project, I had mixed emotions. Could they pull it off? They most certainly did—to the tune of over $150 million at the box office. The screenplay by Michael Patrick King is fantastic and rarely drags through the 151-minute film, although there are some characters and scenes that were unneeded in this "Extended Cut"—longer isn't always better.

Boasting a high-bitrate VC-1 encode, Sex and the City looks, well, sexy on Blu-ray. Richly saturated colors dominate, from the tropical setting of Mexico to the lavish designer clothing. Detail is very good, although some exterior scenes in New York are a bit on the soft side, but these are few and far between. Black levels are rock-solid and inky, providing superior shadow detail. Flesh tones are accurate, especially when Carrie is battling depression in Mexico—lack of make-up and 1080p are not a good combination.

The Dolby TrueHD soundtrack delivers a solid audio experience with rich, clearly intelligible dialog. The surround channels are active, especially in the exterior scenes with some well-placed discrete effects. The musical score compliments the story and opens up the dynamic range, especially when Run D.M.C.'s "Walk This Way" accompanies the moving-party fashion show.

The supplements feature a director's commentary, a conversation between Sarah Jessica Parker and the director Michael Patrick King, a fashion featurette, and an interactive map of New York City, all in HD. In addition, there is a feature on Fergie, who sings the title song, four deleted scenes, and an optional BonusView pop-up feature with some fun facts and trivia while the movie plays. A digital copy of the movie is also included for use on a PC or compatible portable device.

A lot could have gone wrong with Sex and the City, but writer/director King delivers a long yet entertaining screenplay. Each of the characters is genuine, and having spent the last 10 years living the roles, I wouldn't expect anything less from these fine actors. Recommended for everyone, including fans and the uninitiated alike.

Release Date: September 23, 2008

Movie: 8 out of 10
Picture: 9 out of 10
Sound: 8 out of 10

Review System

Source
Pioneer Elite BDP-05FD

Display
JVC DLA-RS1 projector
Stewart FireHawk screen (76.5" wide, 16:9)

Electronics
Onkyo PR-SC885 pre/pro
Anthem PVA-7 Amplifier
Belkin PF60 power conditioner

Speakers
M&K S-150s (L, C, R)
M&K SS-150s (LS, RS, SBL, SBR)
SVS PC-Ultra subwoofer

Cables
Monoprice HDMI cables (source to pre/pro)
Best Deal analog-audio cables
PureLink HDC Fiber Optic HDMI Cable System (15 meters) from pre/pro to projector