Disney’s Moana

Released: November 2016

Directors: Ron Clements, Don Hall

Rated PG

Run Time: 107 Minutes

Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures

Genre: Animation/Adventure

Cast:
Auli’i Cravalho: Moana
Dwayne Johnson: Maui
Rachel House: Gramma Tala
Temuera Morrison: Chief Tui
Jemaine Clement: Tamatoa
Nicole Scherzinger: Sina
Alan Tudyk: Heihei

Disney’s movies, at their worst, can often be forgettable.  But at their best, Disney’s films are the stuff of legends.  The best Disney films have a way of speaking to the audience through the use of visual and audio clues.  Animation has been the cornerstone upon which Disney was built, and there are very few movies that Disney has made that are forgettable.  However, movies like Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, Toy Story and Wall-E, are extremely memorable.  Disney has not one, but TWO golden ages of animation, and that’s not something to be dismissed.  Disney has a rich history of telling compelling stories that connect with people from all different walks of life.  Disney’s latest animated movies are really stunning on multiple levels.  Moana is the latest in the line of extraordinary films and is something that everyone should see.

Moana opens as we witness a young infant girl, Moana, as she walks toward the ocean.  She is living on a fictional island somewhere in the South Pacific.  It seems that the ocean has taken a liking to her and reveals a glowing green stone to her.  Over time, we witness Moana grow up into a young woman who feels a certain pull towards the sea, despite her father’s insistence that she not sail beyond the reef.  It seems she’s been chosen by the ocean to sail beyond the reef, because that glowing green stone is the key to saving her island and her people.  But to achieve her destiny, she must call upon the assistance of the demigod, Maui.  As far as stories go, this is really, really good.  It’s about a young girl who is on a journey, not just to save her people, but to discover who she truly is and where she belongs.  It is a very uplifting story and it’s something that many of us can relate to about barriers being placed in front of us and trying to overcome them.

This movie has so many things going for it, I scarcely know where to begin.  Let’s discuss the visuals, first.  This is a true feast for the eyes.  It is an exceptionally gorgeous world that Disney has created here, and it’s absolutely amazing the amount of detail that went in to making it look the way it does.  The ocean is a character in and of itself, and is a huge part of the story.  The film-makers did a huge amount of research into the look of the film by actually going to the South Pacific Islands like Samoa, Fiji and Tonga.  The influence from those cultures plays a very distinct role.  The tattoos on Maui are incredible.  The tattoos themselves are animated.  While 2D animation isn’t really a thing anymore, it’s used in a very creative way, especially during the songs.  It’s not just some of the animation, but also the details on the characters like the hair and the clothing.  It’s all pulled from actual Pacific Island culture, so there is a level of authenticity involved here.  It’s extraordinary.  All the characters are well animated.  From the smallest turtle to the huge lava monster, each character has its own unique flair and visual personality.

The voice acting in the film is exceptional.  Moana has the benefit of having mostly Pacific Islanders lending their voices to this movie.  It works extraordinarily well.  One of the biggest draws of the film was Dwayne Johnson as Maui.  While Johnson has been known for making some awesome action flicks over the past few years, he plays a very care-free character in the demigod.  He’s absolutely hilarious.  You also have other actors from the Islands like Temuera Morrison who plays Moana’s father.  The real standout here, though, is Auli’i Cravalho as Moana.  This is her first movie and I’m absolutely impressed at her range.  She’s at times playful, and vulnerable at others.  She has such a dynamic range, and her working with Dwayne Johnson is one of the film’s greatest strengths.  I can’t wait to see what she does next.

One of the most defining features of a “typical” Disney movie is its music.  It can live or die by whether or not the music delivers.  In Moana, it definitely delivers in spades.  They actually brought in some musicians from the islands, so the flavor of the music is absolutely unique.  Aside from that, the songs are absolutely catchy and fun.  Dwayne Johnson has always been a man of many talents, but I never thought that singing would be one of them, and yet he belts out one of the most interesting songs in the film, “You’re Welcome.”  He’s fantastic.  But again, the real surprise here is Auli’i as Moana.  Not only does she have a knack for voice acting, but she’s an incredible singing voice.  The songs that she performs are absolutely astounding, and she knocks it out of the park.  The music is so good, that when I finished the film, I bought the soundtrack.  I’m not kidding.  I’m listening to it as I’m typing this.

Disney’s animated films have always had a way of reaching into your soul and lighting a fire.  Moana does that better than most.  There’s so many moments in this film that are truly compelling and uplifting.  I feel that in times like these, movies like Moana are needed now, more than ever.  When the film was over, I ended up being in a much better mood than I was earlier in the day.  Disney’s been on a role over the past decade, and have proven that they still have it where it counts.  Moana comes with my highest recommendation, not just kids, but for adults as well.

Final Score: 9.5/10

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