Director: John Musker, Ron Clements Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Auli'i Cravalho Studio: Walt Disney Pictures Genre(s): Fantasy/Action Rated: PG (For peril, some scary images and brief thematic elements) |
Disney may not make the most culturally authentic movies in
the world but they do make the most spiritual ones. And when I say spiritual I do not mean they
incorporate religious teachings and beliefs in their work. Most religious people have issues with their
movies for this very reason. What they
do do (and do well) is create wonderful imagery full of meaning and
emotions. For watching “Moana” may not
give you a great idea of what a real Polynesian tribe acts like, but you watch
the film immersed in the feelings of the culture and beliefs the film brings to
the table. When the title character
sings of being called to great things in her life, with the ocean waves
surrounding her and spirits of the dead guiding her along her path, you
understand the meaning of the journey even if the specifics are difficult to
pin down. This is a journey of the heart
that happens to take place on the high ocean seas.
The ocean, it should be mentioned, also has a lot of
personality. Not only does the camera
swing and sway through storms and raging seas, but the water itself seems to
help out Moana (Auli’I Cravalho) with not only her general direction in life,
but guides her along her path and puts her back on the boat when she is thrown
off it by her traveling companion Maui (Dwayne Johnson), a legendary
shapeshifting demigod who does great works for humanity (so long as the praises
keep coming in). The vast majority of
the film is on the water, surrounded by spirits, while two very likable
characters play off each other. In most
films the two leads would probably be set up to be romantically involved. In a rare twist though, neither of the two
show any romantic feelings towards each other nor is there any sexual tension
to be found. They are friends. Their friendship is contagious. Their debates on whether to eat a practically
brain dead chicken provides many of the films laughs in and of itself.
The story revolves around a mystic stone that was removed
from its proper place years ago. This
single event made the ocean unstable and now darkness spreads far and
wide. The stone needs to be put back and
Moana might just be the girl to do it.
It is a classic Disney setup that is occupied by memorable songs and
wonderful animation. The film was
directed by Ron Clements and Jon Musker, who previously directed “The Little
Mermaid” and “Aladdin.” This marks their first attempt at a computer animated movie,
and the results are more spectacular than I could have hoped. This is a beautiful film that shows a great
understand for computer animation, 3D, and there are even moments that pay
homage to Disney’s classic animation style.
The reason I opened this review talking so much about culture and meaning is because I fear the movie itself could get lost in the conversation about being culturally sensitive. We live in a world where equality and proper representation is high on people’s lists. I’m not saying that is a bad thing, but the best movies are the ones that project ideas in the best possible way. I don’t have the scholarship knowledge to properly assess whether this movie portrays the Polynesian culture respectfully (or even correctly), but as a movie itself the experience is a joy to behold. Already there has been controversy over how the toys are being made. Hopefully people won’t be so focused on that that they end up missing what is, in every other aspect, a great movie.
|
|
|
|
| CONSUMER ADVICE |
Parents, there is the usual amount of Disney violence. What may surprise most parents is the unusual amount of jokes revolving around urine. Recommended for ages 7 and up.
|