Spin-Off from Moana Thread: ???

[ronandannette]

The thread discussing opinions about Disney's latest theatrical release, Moana, has taken a turn somehow and I'm at a loss to understand it. This is bugging me because I'm not generally completely dense, but the best I can glean is it has something to do with the music, or the composers or performers of the music or something? If anybody could give me the "executive summary" of what's being alluded to, so I don't have to do tons of research into what may or may not even be the issue, I'd appreciate it.

 

[Magpie]

The thread discussing opinions about Disney's latest theatrical release, Moana, has taken a turn somehow and I'm at a loss to understand it. This is bugging me because I'm not generally completely dense, but the best I can glean is it has something to do with the music, or the composers or performers of the music or something? If anybody could give me the "executive summary" of what's being alluded to, so I don't have to do tons of research into what may or may not even be the issue, I'd appreciate it.

Huh...

I've just read the thread through (http://disboards.com/threads/what-do-you-guys-think-of-moana.3562560/#post-56791726) and I'm thoroughly confused, too.

Somehow Moana is "too PC" ? Because of something to do with the composer?

I'm lost.

So, I eagerly await any answers you might get!

 

[Magpie]

I did find this:

"Non-English lyrics are included in the film’s score, thanks to the input from Samoan musician Opetaia Foa’i, who worked in concert with composer Mark Mancina and songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda."

But I don't see how that could possibly be construed as "too PC".

http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood...isney-controversy-pacific-islanders-polynesia

The more I read about the making, the more excited I am to see this movie!

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

I'm trying to figure it out too. Is it really Lin Manuel Miranda? Because I can guarantee you Disney did not hire him for any sort of diversity or anything, they hired him because Hamilton actually made it to number 3 on the billboard charts. That made it only the third Broadway album in 50 years to crack the top 10. The man makes money.

Like I said in the other thread, if people want to see something (politically correct things) they'll find them everywhere (because they basically make it up).

 

[ronandannette]

I'm trying to figure it out too. Is it really Lin Manuel Miranda? Because I can guarantee you Disney did not hire him for any sort of diversity or anything, they hired him because Hamilton actually made it to number 3 on the billboard charts. That made it only the third Broadway album in 50 years to crack the top 10. The man makes money.

Like I said in the other thread, if people want to see something (politically correct things) they'll find them everywhere (because they basically make it up).

Now we may be getting somewhere, but I'm really just stabbing in the dark here. Please explain what it is about this guy that might be a problem? (PS: I'm not a Broadway fan so while I'm dimly aware of "Hamilton" as a phenomenon, I don't have a lot of knowledge there either.)

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

Now we may be getting somewhere, but I'm really just stabbing in the dark here. Please explain what it is about this guy that might be a problem? (PS: I'm not a Broadway fan so while I'm dimly aware of "Hamilton" as a phenomenon, I don't have a lot of knowledge there either.)

I really don't know, I'm just making a guess in the dark. Some Broadway fans don't like him because his songs are rap oriented and not traditional Broadway songs.

I really can't see what would be uber PC about this movie. Unless some people are mad that Moana is not a white character? I'm hoping that isn't the problem. I need to google this and see what the problem is.

* googled around a bit. All I could find was the complaints about Maui being 'fat' and that not being PC. Though I don't really think he is fat...

 

[ronandannette]

I really don't know, I'm just making a guess in the dark. Some Broadway fans don't like him because his songs are rap oriented and not traditional Broadway songs.

I really can't see what would be uber PC about this movie. Unless some people are mad that Moana is not a white character? I'm hoping that isn't the problem. I need to google this and see what the problem is.

That would be the height of stupidity, wouldn't it. The characters are native Pacific Islanders and Maui himself is actually a mythical figure, right? Why on earth would anybody expect them to be white?

 

[mummabear]

googled around a bit. All I could find was the complaints about Maui being 'fat' and that not being PC. Though I don't really think he is fat...

It's not that he is fat and people don't want a fat person, it's that Maui is normally (for Maori) a skinny muscly not large

 

[georgina]

That would be the height of stupidity, wouldn't it. The characters are native Pacific Islanders and Maui himself is actually a mythical figure, right? Why on earth would anybody expect them to be white?

Maybe that's the problem, Disney has been making too many movies that are not about white Europeans who sing strictly in English? I have no idea what some people's issues with the movie are, I haven't seen it yet myself. Someone said they didn't like Lin Manuel Miranda's style, but his first hit musical In The Heights was not all rap music. Doesn't it take years to make a movie? Was Hamilton even a big thing when Disney started Moana?

 

[gotomu212]

I was truly confused, but I do know that Lin Manuel Miranda was politically active and supporting a candidate in the election so maybe that's it?? Still he only composed a few songs, it wasn't like it was written by him or had his personal feelings represented.

Maybe because the land is dying they think it's a climate change thing???

 

[Wendy31]

I'm wondering too because our younger DS really wants to see it.

While I'm no particular fan of Lin Manuel Miranda, I recognize his talent - Hamilton is just not my style. Regardless I don't care who made the music, & I would assume the music sounds like most Hawaiian music which I love.

Is that the only "political" thing in the movie - that the musical score was written by Manuel Miranda?

Is there some underlying message in the movie?

 

[sunshinehighway]

I'm wondering too because our younger DS really wants to see it.

While I'm no particular fan of Lin Manuel Miranda, I recognize his talent - Hamilton is just not my style. Regardless I don't care who made the music, & I would assume the music sounds like most Hawaiian music which I love.

Is that the only "political" thing in the movie - that the musical score was written by Manuel Miranda?

Is there some underlying message in the movie?

I haven't seen the movie but I doubt there's some underlying message.
It's just your typical veiled posts trying to stir up topics that are banned here.

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

I'm a person who looks for sociopolitical messages in all the media I consume - I wrote multiple essays about Disney movies in college sociology classes - and I saw virtually nothing I would describe as "PC" (which isn't a term I use anyway) in Moana. The fact that it's not about white Europeans isn't revolutionary. The fact that it has a strong female lead character isn't either. I got nothing.

I'm guessing maybe the recent kerfuffle that the cast (and one theatrical audience) of Hamilton got into with our new VP-Elect may have something to do with the 'controversy', even though I don't think Lin-Manuel Miranda was even involved in that particular event. His last performance in Hamilton was over the summer.

 

[Hikergirl]

I'm wondering too because our younger DS really wants to see it.

While I'm no particular fan of Lin Manuel Miranda, I recognize his talent - Hamilton is just not my style. Regardless I don't care who made the music, & I would assume the music sounds like most Hawaiian music which I love.

Is that the only "political" thing in the movie - that the musical score was written by Manuel Miranda?

Is there some underlying message in the movie?

That is what I am guessing. The poster who mentioned the composer's name wasn't the same poster who said the movie was too PC. That poster was making an assumption about Miranda being the reason.

There are alot of movies out there that have underlying messages, and there are people out there that have issues with being "schooled" when they shell out $10 to be entertained. I don't know anything about Moana but my first thought when I read that posters post was that he was one of those people.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I read the other thread and was completely lost. I just saw the movie a few hours ago and I'm still lost.

 

[sunshinehighway]

That is what I am guessing. The poster who mentioned the composer's name wasn't the same poster who said the movie was too PC. That poster was making an assumption about Miranda being the reason.

There are alot of movies out there that have underlying messages, and there are people out there that have issues with being "schooled" when they shell out $10 to be entertained. I don't know anything about Moana but my first thought when I read that posters post was that he was one of those people.

My first thought was he's one of those people who complain about pc and people getting offended too easily but actually gets offended just as easily.

 

[superme80]

I haven't been on the other thread since this morning, but I said I wasn't seeing the movie because of the composer. I HATE his music. It is completely a personal preference of mine. I will wait until I can catch the dvd at the library or Netflix. I just don't like his style. I am fully supportive of the story. Just not going to see the movie in theaters. If it turns out I like the movie, I will purchase it on dvd.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Now we may be getting somewhere, but I'm really just stabbing in the dark here. Please explain what it is about this guy that might be a problem? (PS: I'm not a Broadway fan so while I'm dimly aware of "Hamilton" as a phenomenon, I don't have a lot of knowledge there either.)

Haven't seen the movie, yet.

I do know that the couple who wrote the Nemo musical at AK and all the music for Frozen are Broadway folks. And no matter how folks may be irritated by either show, it has that musical vibe. I imagine the hiring of Lin-Manuel Miranda was for similar reasons. Awesome songwriter, made $$$$ for a hit on Broadway.

Makes me look forward to the music.

Going on a limb--but the PC reference (didn't bother to dive into that thread) has more to do with "oh no, Disney had to go all bandwagon and hire culturally significant people to do this movie so as not to be accused of cultural appropriation. I'm just tossing darts.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

And Moana was in production longer than current events so his hiring would have nothing to do with that. Current events are just coincidental and one has nothing to do with the other.

 

[Pugsly]

I haven't been on the other thread since this morning, but I said I wasn't seeing the movie because of the composer. I HATE his music. It is completely a personal preference of mine. I will wait until I can catch the dvd at the library or Netflix. I just don't like his style. I am fully supportive of the story. Just not going to see the movie in theaters. If it turns out I like the movie, I will purchase it on dvd.

I'm not sure if you're referring to his preference (?) towards rap, but I honestly found the music to be typical Disney. Unless the Polynesian-themed drum beats could be considered rap.

Just FYI in case that is the style you dislike. You may like it just as well as any other Disney movies.