"Are you just trying to get me to talk about myself? Because if you are ... I will gladly do so—in song form!" - Tamatoa (that shiny showman) 🦀
Initial thoughts before viewing: I never saw this in theaters, though in retrospect I wish I had. When I finally got around to watching it on TV, I was gobsmacked: the visuals, the characters, the SONGS. Oh my. What a refreshing gem of a movie.
If you'd like to read a recap of Moana, here is a link to the movie's Disney Wiki page where you can read the entire plot summary.
Highlights:
-We've been waiting nearly 80 years for a Disney heroine like Moana. Key points as to why Moana kicks ass:
Moana has no romantic interest. What’s more, there’s no romantic storyline here period, a welcome departure from the someday-my-prince-will-come norm.
Moana has more realistic body proportions than other princesses.
Moana is not held back in the movie because she is a woman. Instead, she is treated as an equal and a rightful successor of her father, who is the chief.
Offhand lines between Moana and Maui flicker with feminism: “I am NOT a princess,” she snaps at him. “I am the daughter of the chief.” When Maui describes himself as a “hero of men,” he’s quick to add, “and women.” Small details, perhaps, but for little girls seeing themselves in a Disney heroine, words matter.
Moana doesn't kill the villain, Te Kā. Instead, she heals her.
Unlike most Disney princess movies, the end of Moana does not contain a happily ever after marriage (or the prospect of one).
-Disney finally learned its lesson on how to tell an authentic story outside of western culture. After pitching the idea of a story set in the South Pacific, a Disney team was sent there for a two-week research trip where they met with chiefs, navigators, experts, and natives to garner understanding of the culture. To ensure cultural accuracy, the studio created what was dubbed the "Oceanic Story Trust". The group consisted of anthropologists, cultural practitioners, historians, linguists, and choreographers from islands including Samoa, Tahiti, Mo'orea, and Fiji. The trust served as consultants for the filmmakers and played a major role in developing every aspect of the movie.
-The animation/look of this movie is off the charts. Its animation style is warm, inviting, and features a lush color pattern that suits its Polynesian roots. The production design is ambitious and vibrant from beginning to end. One of my favorite aspects is how the Ocean is a supporting character in this movie, and its look and feel is both vivid and tactile. Nevermind the onslaught of stunning technical achievements...Moana is simply brilliantly designed animation.
-Maui's tattoos (almost) steal the show. While most of Moana was created through 3D and CG animation, Maui's tattoos are hand-drawn. Animation supervisor Eric Goldberg said that "both the CG animators and the hand-drawn animators were issued the scene together," so that the artists could collaborate on the interaction between Maui and his body art. The production consulted with Samoan tattoo artist Su’a Peter Sulu’ape to ensure cultural accuracy. The result of this painstaking work is another plane of Moana storytelling, all taking place on the body of a main character.
-Moana's soundtrack is killer. Confession: I have been known to watch Moana and just skip through the narrative to the musical sequences. It should not come as a surprise when I say that Moana has some of Disney's best music ever.
The film was scored by musicians Mark Mancina, Opetaia Foa'i, and Lin-Manuel Miranda. According to Moana director John Musker, the music was a fusion of the three collaborators, with the Pacific roots of Opetaia, the sense of narrative from Miranda, and Macina's sense of world music. Said Lin-Manuel Miranda, “The thing that the directors really imparted to me was this is a part of the world that almost never gets represented onscreen, the Pacific Islands, so we want to honor them. We want to make a movie they can be proud of and that they can point to with pride." Miranda continued, "And so it was always sort of going back to that, and there is a story trust of people from the Pacific Islands we'd show every screening and play every song for to really make sure we got it right,"
-Moana has her own "Mufasa in the clouds" scene with Gramma Tala, and it's breathtaking. Just when Moana is at her lowest, Gramma Tala appears as a spiritual manta ray and asks her whether she knows who she is. This is my favorite part of the movie because it shows Moana doubting herself and on the verge of giving up. In fact, Gramma Tala tells her it's okay to go home if she wants. Instead, Moana rediscovers herself and she persists on her journey. This is Disney magic and girl power, all in one gorgeous and heartfelt sequence. 💖
Disliked:
-Moana eats pork RIGHT IN FRONT OF PUA. How can you have an adorable pet pig and still EAT pig? And why did Pua somehow get a pass at the butcher?
Closing Thoughts:
If you couldn't tell by now, I am a big fan of Moana. It's the kind of movie that draws you in instantly, and I knew from my first viewing that it would be a favorite. It's one of the most heartfelt and gorgeous pictures Disney has ever made. Best of all, with Moana we have a new style princess, one who looks to the future while paying homage to the past.
The bottom line: Moana is beautiful in so many, many ways. From its breathtaking look, performances, and music, Moana makes for a full and magical film experience. Disney's best entry since the Renaissance era.
My Rating: 9.5/10
