Pitch Perfect 2 Movie Review

There are two typical reactions to a sequel: the first is utter horror. The pleasure of the first movie is stripped away and replaced with questions about why you even bothered seeing the sequel.

The second reaction is utter joy. You loved the first movie and the joy is compounded by the second movie. Thankfully, Pitch Perfect 2 is not the horror it could have been.

At the start of the film, the Barden Bellas are on top of their game. They are performing for the President when Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) has an unfortunate wardrobe malfunction. The reputation of the Bellas is down the tubes. To save their reputations, the Bellas agree to what seems to be an impossible obstacle: win an international competition where they will competing with acapella groups around the world.  But no American team has ever won.

The leader of the Bellas, Beca (Anna Kendrick) is not only dealing with the upcoming competition, but she is starting an internship at a record company.  Added to the plot are two subplots: the newest Bella, Emily (Hailee Steinfeld), whose mother, Katherine (Katey Sagal) was part of the Barden Bellas in the 1980’s. There is also a will they or won’t they relationship between Fat Amy and Bumper (Adam DeVine).

This movie is aca-awesome. It could have been the typical sequel, but it wasn’t. It still contains the same humor (some of which is not exactly politically correct) and the music is completely catchy.

I highly recommend it.

 

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Angel Of Peace??????

In recent world news, the Pope has referred to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as an “angel of peace”.

Is he insane? Or has old age made him feeble?

Angel of peace is not the term I would use. Angel of death is the term I would use.

While the conflict between Israel and Palestine is far from black and white,  making a statement like this, especially from a man like the Pope is dangerous.

When a man of his status provides legitimacy to an organization whose ultimate goal is destruction of entire group of people, that creates a precedent that opens the barn door.  There is no way those horses will ever return to the barn.

Let’s not forget who for centuries, that the Catholic Church were not shy in their aggressive hatred of Europe’s Jews. While the Catholic Church has apologized for their past actions, this is one step back.

What Pope Francis has forgotten is that there are ancient Christian villages within Palestine’s borders and families who have lived in those villages for centuries.  The noose is slowly tightening around them. There are also many Christian sites in Israel.  Israel is a pluralistic, democratic country. Israeli Christians are as free as Jewish and Arab citizens to openly practice their faith.  I highly doubt that the Christians living under President Abbas’s government have those same freedoms.

I’m going to end this post with a quote from the Bible. This comes from the man (or woman), upstairs, the only one who is superior to Pope Francis. I suggest that Pope Francis re-reads his Bible (which I suspect he knows pretty darn well) before making such statements.

 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Genesis 12:3