I Lava You

Lava is a sweet animated short film from Pixar Animation studio that tells a sweet story of a volcano that overlooks his beautiful bay and all the beautiful flora and fauna. Seeing the creatures and their mates he too long for companionship.

What's beautiful is that the story is told through a beautiful song, played on a ukele. The movie takes you through a gamut of emotions, right from awe at the beautiful site of the bay, to feeling where you sense the loneliness,  to despair and sadness and finally ectasy. No wonder the movie plays before Inside Out.

The movie leave you with a big smile on your face, a lump on your throat and a stray teardrop in your eye. And yes the songs sticks in your head. And if you are someone like me, you would never ever want to let it go.

"I have a dream, I wish it will come true, that you'll grow old with me and I'll grow old with you. I thank the oceans and the skies up above-a for giving someone to lava... cause I Lava you...." :)

Being Sad Ain't that Bad

Is Sadness all that bad as we believe it is? Are so afraid of that we try to surpress as much as possible,  try to push it into deep abyss of our mind? Are we that worries about the tears it brings?

Well sadness is not a that bad, after all it is in those moments of sadness that we draw comfort towards us. Sadness from a loss teaches the true value of people and things. Sadness brings with it a promise to do better, to learn, to never ever face the situation again. Sadness leads to determination.  It is in sadness that we draw people to us to soothe our pain and help us to lift ourselves and begin again. Sadness is not the antagonist in this piece but a very important cast member.

Sadness helps remember forgotten moments and faces, of people we may no longer be in touch with, events in the past that have long been forgotten. Sadness let's us dust off the cobwebs in our mind.

Well if you are asking what is the catalyst to this write up... then let me tell you, it is a little movie called Inside Out. There you see, being sad doesn't have to be so bad.

Show a Bit of Sensitivity

A recent reality show included two contestants who were bisexual. One openly declared her orientation while in a pool with the other female the contestants and had not problem with her declaration. The other contestant was outed by the host while in the pool with the male contestants. Both these information were met with weird and uneasy looks and weirder comments from the contestants. But what got my goat was when one of the host went on the tin pull the contestant's leg based on his orientation, leaving the poor chap red faced and embarrassed.

In a world that is slowly crawling towards acceptance, what the host did, felt a bit insensitive. Yes the show maybe be scripted but at least the host needs to treat such situation with sensitivity and not make a joke of it. The choice to live or reveal one's orientation lies with the person themselves.  The others need to respect their decision even if they may not support it.

Pitching it Perfectly

You go to the movies to be entertained. For those couple of hours you want to loose yourself in the characters and world which you see on the screen. You want to laugh, you want cry laughing. You just want to enjoy yourself.  And that's exactly what Pitch Perfect 2 does.

The movie is light, fun, not heavy on the brain but at the same time it is not crass. It can be silly at times, but for the most part of it, the movie fun. With no social message (at least I didn't note any) the movie is a light breezy entertainer.

The story is pretty simple. The Bellas loose face due to a wardrobe malfunction and face a situation which could end them totally. Their only chance at redemption is the World Acapella Championship which they need to win to gain back their credibility.

You revisit the character which you met in the first part along some new blood. And also you have a stiffer competition this time.

There are many laugh-out-loud moments. The previously mentioned wardrobe malfunction in front of non other than President Obama, Fat Amy proposing to Bumper, the Treble maker performance at the college orientation, a mash up of two beloved carols, and what would be a Pitch Perfect movie without a riff-off. But what really takes the cake is the final competition performance of the Bellas that makes you want to wave along, sing-a-long and even have a moist eye. And if you are patient enough you will be rewarded with a special audition for a reality show (ala Marvel).

On the whole the movie might not be totally perfect, but while it  last you cannot help but smile. On a whole a good watch.