'Moana' Film Review
Disney’s latest animated feature ‘Moana’ is a fun, fast-paced adventure reinvigorating the journey of a classic Disney movie. Starring the vocal talents of newcomer Auli’l Cravalho as the eponymous character and Dwayne Johnson as the demigod Maui, ‘Moana’ promises to entertain and tug at the heartstrings like its predecessors.
The story of Moana starts with the tale of Te Fiti, an island Goddess. It is told that Te Fiti’s heart - a small stone - possesses the ability to give life and raise islands. When Maui tries to steal the heart of Te Fiti, the Goddess is surrounded by darkness. When Maui is attacked, his magical fish hook falls into the ocean.
SPOILER ALERT!
Young Moana is understandably enthralled by the tale, her natural curiosity leading her to venture out and explore the mysterious ocean for herself. Of course, Moana is the only child of Chief Tui (voiced by Temuera Morrison), so in following the narrative trope, Moana naturally has the responsibility of becoming the Motonui people’s next leader.
However, as fish supply becomes scarce, Moana (now a teenager) tries to venture out beyond the reef. When she fails, she discovers the truth about her people – with thanks to her grandmother (voiced by Rachel House) - and sets out once more; this time with the ocean aiding her in her journey to find Maui, return the heart of Te Fiti, and restore the ocean to the way it once was.
The ‘Moana’ directorial team include Ron Clements and Don Hall – both having worked on previous Disney feature films such as ‘Aladdin’ and ‘The Emperor’s New Groove’. Watching this film, the audience feels the elements that make a buddy journey - an element reminiscent of curcontemporary Disney films. Clements and Hall clearly love what they do, as ‘Moana’ proves to entertain and evoke emotion seamlessly throughout the course of the narrative.
With Disney having progressed to 3D animation, the quality continues to increase with each film release since the start of the transition. Truly breathtaking are the animation effects to create lighting visuals, simulate magic and form living islands. From water and hair, to Maui’s tattoos, each frame is a visual delight for audiences of all ages.
The characters are fun and exciting, particularly in the case of Moana herself - Auli’i brings her to life with excellence. Dwayne Johnson’s natural charisma oozes through in his performance as the demigod Maui. The song ‘You’re Welcome’ is highly enjoyable and gives a warm insight to the fun loving nature of Maui. Temuera’s accent is quite recognisable, but doesn’t detract from his performance as the firm yet loving father of Moana. House’s work as Gramma Tala is another notable performance, portraying the wisdom and humour of a loving grandmother, while Nicole Scherzinger is barely recognisable as Sina, Moana’s mother.
One of the most amusing performances comes from ‘Flight of the Conchords’ musical-comedian Jemaine Clement as the treasure hoarding coconut crab Tamatoa. The large celebrity cast of secondary characters add to the journey and transformation of Moana, though some do at times feel a little lacklustre. Moana’s pet pig, Pua for example is cute, fun and the butt of a joke. Though adorable, it served no purpose beyond that one joke throughout the entire film.
Composers Lin-Manuel Miranda (famous for his work on ‘Hamilton’) along with Mark Mancina and Te Vaka have developed the perfect soundtrack to accompany the journey of the two lead characters in true Disney style, whilst also alluding to the culture of the Pacific.
All in all, ‘Moana’ is an animation for the whole family. It does well to portray a strong female character in the lead, on a journey that is enjoyable to watch, and cleverly complemented by an upbeat soundtrack.
‘Moana’ is in cinemas on the 26th of December via Walt Disney Studios.
