slo’s Movie Review - Moana

[slo]

First of all…..I know, I know - where in the heck have I been since 2016?
If I’m not the only one that hasn’t seen this movie until now, then this review is for you.

I give this movie 2 HUGE
I went into this movie with some reservations, thinking I can’t possibly like it more than Lilo & Stitch, and I came out of this movie with it now being one of my top 5 favorite Disney animated movies ever!

I love stories with strong female lead characters so the young audience can see how strong a girl can be - physically and mentally . I love stories with a strong sense of family and especially when grandparents in the story are involved. I love how I can’t predict the end and I didn’t predict this end.

I do think that this story is kinda deep and might be difficult for the little ones to grasp it all, but easily explainable from an adult. The story touched me deeply as the story is very reflective of my relationship with my grandma, who passed away in 2006. There was one moment in this movie that brought me to tears (not good when watching while working out on an elliptical) that is now etched into my mind forever (I’ll never look at stingrays the same way again).

Other aspects of the movie….the music is a lot of fun with great and memorable songs and of course hearing The Rock’s voice for Maui adds to the fun with this movie.

If you have not seen this movie, please take the time to watch it - it’s so much more than the very memorable song we all know - How Far I’ll Go.

ETA…..I really wish that Disney didn’t discontinue the Luau at The Poly - a Moana theme, with characters, for this dinner show would have been perfect. People would have absolutely paid for this. We went to the luau with no theme and loved it, makes me sad that it is no longer available.

 

[LuvOrlando]

It was lovely, I think little ones will get the theme of choosing for yourself even if understanding grows as they do

 

[BrianL]

Moana has some absolutely spectacular animation too - the water effects alone are astounding and combine that with the hair rendering and the "wet hair" rendering, and you have some of the prettiest visuals ever produced. Add to that the fact that Maui's tatoos are hand-drawn animation laid over the CGI character, and it's a true high-point for animation style and technology.

Also, the movies pretty good too.

 

[luvnwdwgal]

Love Moana!

 

[slo]

Moana has some absolutely spectacular animation too - the water effects alone are astounding and combine that with the hair rendering and the "wet hair" rendering, and you have some of the prettiest visuals ever produced. Add to that the fact that Maui's tatoos are hand-drawn animation laid over the CGI character, and it's a true high-point for animation style and technology.

Also, the movies pretty good too.

I agree about the water effects - I am not an artist, but being a custom picture framer for 25 years, I’ve gotten to know a lot of artists and many have said how difficult it is to draw, paint or etc water. I also thought the water in this movie was perfectly done.

I did not know that about Maui’s tattoos - thank you for sharing that information - very interesting

 

[MamaMermaid]

So glad you enjoyed it! All the parts with her grandma were so moving and emotional.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Glad you got to see it and enjoy it! I’ve seen it a few times and always come away with a new reason to love it!

Our 2016 DVC Member Cruise featured Auli’i Cravalho as a guest speaker. She did a question and answer session. There were also presentations about the filmmakers and their trips to Polynesia to learn about the mythology there.

Water was a character in that film.

 

[1420Elexismc]

The soundtrack never fails to make me tear up...except "Shiny"-that whole scene/song creeps me out

 

[Mysterian]

Moana's one of my top favorite Disney movies! I adore this movie. I saw this a few years ago, and felt it was criminally underrated while Frozen was vastly overrated. My favorite soundtrack of any Disney animated movie too.

I felt it had some things in common with Whale Rider as well. The grandmother in Moana, Rachel House, was in Whale Rider, actually (and the director later did the live-action Mulan). House has been in more Disney-owned productions since (Thor Ragnarok, Soul, probably more). Anyhow, I'm big on casting, I could go on.

 

[Mysterian]

The soundtrack never fails to make me tear up...except "Shiny"-that whole scene/song creeps me out

Love it. I give the producers credit for allowing Jemaine Clement to do his own thing for the song.

 

[DeeBee3]

I love Moana and own the soundtrack. My littlest gets a little frightened by certain scenes, but overall we all love it!
The music really makes it for me.

 

[1420Elexismc]

Love it. I give the producers credit for allowing Jemaine Clement to do his own thing for the song.

Completely fair point-and I love Jemaine Clement-super talented guy!

 

[fab1976]

Lin Manuel Miranda did a fantastic job with the soundtrack, and pretty sure he wrote it while starring in Hamilton still. One of his Hamilton original cast members, Christopher Jackson, is the singing voice of Moana’s father in the movie. He is just an amazing talent, and Moana was a great showcase for that.

 

[fla4fun]

I didn’t see Moana until last year myself. It was OK. There were a few times where my mind started wandering because I was bored though. My litmus test as to whether a movie is good is how often I look at my watch during the show. This was a solid six watch glances, compared to Little Mermaid which is still a zero watch glances after all these years. It’s not that Moana is a bad movie, but that it’s not my cup of tea.

For what it’s worth, I rank Lilo and Stitch at a solid six watch glances as well. OK, but not my cup of tea. I am more of a Frozen, Beauty and the Beast, Hunchback of Notre Dame fan. The next movie on my list to view is Soul, which I haven’t seen yet.

 

[slo]

I didn’t see Moana until last year myself. It was OK. There were a few times where my mind started wandering because I was bored though. My litmus test as to whether a movie is good is how often I look at my watch during the show. This was a solid six watch glances, compared to Little Mermaid which is still a zero watch glances after all these years. It’s not that Moana is a bad movie, but that it’s not my cup of tea.

For what it’s worth, I rank Lilo and Stitch at a solid six watch glances as well. OK, but not my cup of tea. I am more of a Frozen, Beauty and the Beast, Hunchback of Notre Dame fan. The next movie on my list to view is Soul, which I haven’t seen yet.

I love this!
Made me chuckle
Now every time I look at my watch during any movie I’m going think of this post - LOL!

 

[ford family]

ETA…..I really wish that Disney didn’t discontinue the Luau at The Poly - a Moana theme, with characters, for this dinner show would have been perfect. People would have absolutely paid for this. We went to the luau with no theme and loved it, makes me sad that it is no longer available.

View attachment 703784

Amongst the planned expansions talked about at the recent D23 meeting was a Moana themed area at AK. Maybe this will include a luau dining experience?

ford family

 

[Moliphino]

I love Moana and own the soundtrack. My littlest gets a little frightened by certain scenes, but overall we all love it!
The music really makes it for me.

When my nephew was little he couldn't make it past the scene with baby Moana on the beach with the birds trying to get the baby turtle.

 

[BrianL]

Amongst the planned expansions talked about at the recent D23 meeting was a Moana themed area at AK. Maybe this will include a luau dining experience?

ford family

The Moana area is actually at Epcot but it is not planned to have a dining experience. It's not a bad idea though.

 

[Mysterian]

The Moana area is actually at Epcot but it i snot planned to have a dining experience. It's not a bad idea though.

Would chicken and pork be served?

 

[disney4us2002]

My fave Disney movies are the ones that came out during my children's youths -1990-2004. Definitely Little Mermaid, Toy Story, and Beauty & the Beast. I may love Moana but I haven't actually watched it. I didn't care for Lilo & Stitch. I have only seen pieces of Frozen. When your kids are teens or adults, it's just not the same.