Malibu morning picture of the day - Summer Solstice, Monday, June 20, 2016

Dear Family, Friends, and Gentle Readers,

It's the official first day of summer, as opposed to Memorial Day (customary), and in L.A. it's ushered in with a blast of heat.

You can't tell from this morning's pic, it's just a blue-on-blue ocean day with surface haze, but it's supposed to be the hottest day of a several-day heat wave. Yesterday was 109 in Burbank. I was out for Father's Day in the evening with my family to see Finding Dory with dinner afterward. When we walked out of a restaurant in Glendale, it was 98 F outside.






If you are an animation/Pixar fan, Dory is well worth your time. Although I will say that if you know the premise of the plot, it's practically a foregone conclusion where the story will end up (character with amnesia searches for lost family). Of course in this classic plot, there are two possibilities: 1) character finds the lost family; or 2) character learns they are gone/dead, but comes to terms with that loss and achieves personal growth. I will not say which standard ending you get (or maybe there's a non-standard ending), but the end is fully satisfying to young and old sensibilities alike.

I suppose the real question is whether Pixar told a story about successful completion of a goal, or a more complex resolution that would separation address the issues that kids face who suffer family loss or breakup; not hitting an intended goal, but maybe getting something more valuable in stead. What do you think? What story would you tell? Considering the complex nature of Disney's recent Inside Out, it made me wonder which way it would go. Make a prediction and see if you're right ...

I would say if the Photo-Realism School of painting has a branch in animation, the preceding short Piper about a baby shore bird learning how to find its own food is is Pixar's fully fledged achievement in that category. I'd say they could now effectively manufacture any documentary footage you want. It's quite impressive--sure beats the hell out of "Lava" as shorts go. Thanks to my kids for treating me to these films. I guess it's full circle as I took them to so many Disney films when they were kids.

Enjoy this longest day of the year, wherever you are (except in the tropics where it's just a never-no-mind day).

Love,
Pops