ordinarily when brush up a movie , you come up with a healthy admixture of positive and electronegative things to say about it . In the case of Disney ’s Moana , though , I ’m really contend to come up with the latter . It ’s just that wonderful .
Where to begin ? Well , it ’s probably no surprise that the vitality is gorgeous . Water is one of the hard thing in the earth to mime and this film , which is for the most part set on or near the sea , does it seamlessly in almost every undivided shot . Then there are the songs , by Lin - Manuel Miranda , Opetaia Foa’i , and Mark Mancina , which are catchy and expertly range in the story . ( We ’re talking old - school , Walt Disney - level stuff — songs you and your Kid will be singing for year to arrive . ) Then there are the characters who , from top to bottom , are memorable and well - rounded . Of course , the leads are expectant but even the buddy , the rooster Hei Hei and pig Pua , are delightful . Plus , the film does n’t shy forth from going a short dark . Characters die , are placed in mortal risk , and reject their core belief at the behest of everything they make out .
Directed by Disney legend Ron Clements and John Musker , Moana follow a unseasoned girl ( voiced by newcomer Auli’i Cravalho ) who entrust the comfortableness of her home island to journey the sea , conform to a Ubermensch , and save the world . That sound basic , but it ’s not handle that way . One of the other matter that truly micturate Moana special is its structure . The real risky venture does n’t pass for a little over half the movie ; rather , the first one-half takes its time score sure the hearing cares about Moana and her people . They ’re a grouping with a long , rich story , all of which is crucial to you understand the order of magnitude of what she set out to do .
Moana ’s discovery of her past is the interview ’s as well , so we learn her customs , legends , friends and foe in a very snappy and enlightening first human activity . That ’s also bolstered by the song , which forward character and story simultaneously . It all form in tandem , so by the sentence Moana takes the leap and will on her adventure , you ’re fully induct . Then things get only better .
That ’s in big part because of Maui , the aforementioned demigod , voiced by Dwayne Johnson as an entertaining , charismatic whirlwind . He instantly becomes the arrant enhancer to the newly - faced , sure-footed Moana . They have incredible chemistry and their back and forth banter , along with burgeoning friendship , give the pursuit some much - call for unpredictability . It also provide for a bevy of laughs and some first-class action succession .
Actually , I do have one squawk , I suppose — one of its side plots feel supererogatory . During the film , Moana and Maui must go get Maui ’s magical fish hook from a villain named Tamatoa . The scene almost needlessly halts the main thrust of the tale , which would be a bigger trouble if it was n’t deliver by a grand song called “ Shiny , ” written by Miranda and performed by Jemaine Clement of Flight of the Conchords fame . Hearing Clement sing Miranda ’s words is worth the price of admission alone .
That one semi - problematic scene aside , it ’s obvious a spate of attention has been paid to keep Moana ’s feeling cohesive , and Musker and Clements are magicians with emotion . Things in Moana go from deplorable to exciting and back again in an jiffy but it never feels like it ’s too much .
It all conduct up to a tingle - induct climax accompany by an uplifting substance about trusting in yourself no matter what the odds . Admittedly , Moana is n’t reinvent the wheel here , but the fashion the film stimulate there is so effective , the message land extra heavily .
Moana is a gorgeously animated , incredibly suspect film with great music , character , and story . It truly take in its spot in the pantheon of Disney life . See it .
disneyDisney AnimationDwayne JohnsonLin - Manuel MirandaMoviesRock
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