When we first met Carrie, Samantha, Miranda, and Charlotte in 1998, Sex and the City captured our hearts with these four single women managing their lives in the heart of Manhattan. Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon, and Kristin Davis inhabited their characters and even though they were very different woman, they managed to form a tight-knit foursome and would do anything for each other. We all could use friends like these.

The series lasted 94 episodes and spawned two feature films. So why are these characters, along with their male friends Mr. Big (Chris Noth), Harry Goldenblatt (Evan Handler), Trey MacDougall (Kyle MacLachlan), Steve Brady (David Eigenberg), Aiden Shaw (John Corbett), Jerry Smith Jerrod (Jason Lewis), and their gay buddies Anthony (Mario Cantone) and Stanford Blatch (Willie Garson) so endearing to viewers? Perhaps it is because in this group of friends, viewers can recognize parts of themselves and others. Let’s face it, fans of the show think of themselves as either a “Charlotte,” a “Carrie,” a “Miranda” or a “Samantha.”

Besides the cast of characters, the city of New York was also a very big part of the show. These women loved Manhattan and although Miranda ended up moving to Brooklyn after she married Steve, they were Manhattanites to the core.

The fashions form designer Patricia Field as well as the jewelry were contributing aspects to the enjoyment of the shows. The diamond necklace given to Carrie by her “Russian,” the “Carrie” necklace, the black diamond ring given to her by her husband Mr. John Big, and plenty of necklaces, broaches, earrings, and rings stood out among the backdrop of glamorous New York City.

While the women maneuvered through the canyons of NYC and through their various relationships, at the heart of the story was their deep and abiding friendship and love for each other. They brought us the glamor and glitz of NYC while avoiding the dark side of the Big Apple. This show was a great advertisement for the city.

The first feature film was devoted to the ups and downs of commitment in relationships. Carrie and Big were supposed to have a wonderfully glamorous wedding but he got cold feet. Coming to their friend’s defense, the three friends accompanied Carrie on her “honeymoon” to Mexico. Then as she tried to put back the pieced of her life, Miranda was wondering how her own marriage would survive knowing her husband had cheated on her. Oy, there is always something with these people. Their lives are always up and down, but that is why we watched them through the years and invested our time with them. Luckily Carrie and Big finally tied the knot.

And speaking of ups and downs, the second feature film also had a major dilemma for Carrie and Big. The foursome went to the Middle East for an all-expense paid vacation, thanks to Samantha’s new client. Carrie ran into her old love Aiden, and one small kiss ruined the rest of her time overseas. But fans of the show always rooted for Carrie and Big to have their happily ever after, they were not disappointed.

There are many previously released bonus features but nothing new. With no new bonus features why is this an important collection? It is because this one box has it all. The entire series along with the two films are included in one box set. Just grab the box and take it on your next girl’s get together. Binge on the foursome as much as you like. Or think about this as the perfect gift for a Sex and the City fan.

Sex and the City is one of the iconic shows of its time and the characters are beloved by generations of fans.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association, was a longstanding member of the Los Angeles Press Club, and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.

 

The Outsiders movie premiered in 1983. This latest release on 4K Ultra HD includes both the original theatrical release and the expanded version with scenes cut from the theatrical version using original camera negatives.  The Outsiders – The Complete Novel is the ultimate update of a film.

The story of youths from different sides of the tracks was originally written as a novel by a 16-year old girl named Susie Hinton, aka S.E. Hinton. Director Francis Ford Coppola said, “The Outsiders The Complete Novel came about after meeting students over the years who repeatedly asked me why certain scenes from S.E. Hinton’s wonderful book were missing from the theatrical version. These questions reminded about my inspiration for the film—in 1980, a contingent of 12- to 14-year-old students wrote and asked me to make it. I listened to those young fans back then, and I continue to listen to young people now and believe in their opinions, so this complete film version of the novel is for them.”

The film came about because a school class of teenagers signed a letter to Mr. Coppola asking him to make a movie from this novel that they loved and that struck a chord in the teens. Coppola then read the book and decided to do the film. According to Ms. Hinton, she was worried that the movie would be better than the book with this award-winning director at the helm.

The story of two rival teen gangs, the Greasers and the Socs, aka Socials, came from different economic households. What struck Coppola was the way the teens had inner strength and heart. They might be tough on the outside but they were all relatable humans on the inside. The film is set in 1960s Oklahoma and was filmed on location in Tulsa. In the bonus features viewers see how the actors’ preparations for their roles evolved and how they rehearsed and rehearsed while they lived in character during the production.

The actors are well known now, however The Outsiders was the vehicle that launched them into the limelight. Ralph Macchio, Matt Dillon, C. Thomas Howell, Rob Lowe, Tom Cruise, Emilio Estevez, Patrick Swayze, Leif Garrett, and Diane Lane gathered together to create this cult classic and launch their acting careers.

“For The Outsiders The Complete Novel as well as the original theatrical version, we wanted to create and maintain the highest level of visual quality possible for these restorations,” commented James Mockoski, Film Archivist and Restoration Supervisor at American Zoetrope. “We took the unusual path of locating all the various elements that went into creating the film’s most elaborate visual effects sequences and re-scanned them. Luckily, Mr. Coppola is an archivist at heart, and he kept every piece of film he shot, so we were able to unify scenes from the film using the original camera negative as much as possible. It was important to Mr. Coppola to give this release its best quality presentation, and no one has ever seen this film looking as beautiful and pristine as it does now.”

Besides the two versions of the film, there are plenty of bonus features delving deeper into the production and the actors as well as the story. It is interesting to hear Coppola introduce the film and tell the story of how it came to be. A look at the casting is another interesting featurette along with deleted scenes. The cast has some interesting stories to tell about their time working on the film. Viewers will be taken back to the preproduction and production with the cast and crew.

Fans of the story, the novel and the film will definitely want this new release with the updated film as well as new bonuses.  The Outsiders – The Complete Novel is rated PG-13 for violence, teen drinking and smoking, and some sexual reference. The theatrical version is rated PG.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association, was a longstanding member of the Los Angeles Press Club, and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.