Marval Movie

The inner working of the mind are something that artist's have attempted to visualize for centuries.  Paintings, album covers and other films entirely. Films like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Paprika and Eraserhead all offered us a look into what the mind would look like and what the experience would be to navigate around it. Inside Out shows us that there is a control panel within our brain where key emotions, in human form, operate the control panel of our actions.

We are taken inside the head of Riley (Kaitlyn Dias) that lives a good life with her mother (Diane Lane) and father (Kyle MacLachlan), she likes to play hockey and wear bright colors.

In her mind, the operators are Joy (Amy Poehler) a glowing, bouncing personification of energy and optimism that ensures happiness. Anger (Lewis Black) a short, square red-hot-fire-bomb of an emotion that gives determination and confidence. Disgust (Mindy Kaling) is the cynical one who's function is the steer Riley away from things that would otherwise humiliate or poison her, like Broccoli. Fear (Bill Hader) the neurotic one that gives Riley restraint in her actions. And finally Sadness (Phyllis Smith), that... is there for unknown reasons according to Joy.

Director Pete Doctor should come with a "Quality Guaranteed" sticker. The driving force behind Monsters Inc and Up as well as other Pixar movies where he served to help with the story. His movies always have a brilliant seed of an idea and are grown to things of beauty.

The idea itself of having people operate the inner-workings of the mind is actually not an original idea. As soon as I saw the concept images for the movie it took me back to an old Beno comic I once read when I was very young. But whats truly important is the execution, this is an idea that has been fleshed-out and well thought-upon. One thing leads to another but has an effect that mirrors real-life. Art reflecting and even enhancing reality, this is how its meant to be.

Any good children movie need to understand children and not only does this movie understand children but it also has a grasp on human nature altogether. Our fears and desires, that its our memories that shape us but through different settings and experiences they can be put through a different light and while we try to be as happy as we can be, it's OK to be sad.

It was a scary year with Brave being less that exceptional and a third Cars movie, but now Pixar is back on form with another masterpiece. Laughs, tears, colors, originality and possible to recommend to anyone.

Rating: 4 stars out of 4

Lava Review

The opening short is one with a lot of heart, irony and a good old cheesy ending. The music brings-to-mind that of Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, sweet and sincere. If anyone has seen the episode of Adventure Time "Memories of Boom-Boom Mountain" then they may have some flashbacks to that episode.

Rating: 3 stars out of 4