Moana Review

     Every time I've written a review for a Disney animated movie since I created this blog I've always started off by saying basically the same thing, over the past few years Disney has taken back the crown as the best animation studio in the world. Since 2010, Disney Animation has killed it with movies like "Tangled," "Wreck-it-Ralph," "Frozen," and "Big Hero 6." Earlier in 2016 they released another hit movie, and the best of the bunch, "Zootopia." Tackling themes of racism and stereotyping, the film was a critical and commercial success. Many called the movie a future classic, and it would even go on to gross over a billion dollars at the box office worldwide. With such a successful film you'd imagine that Disney Animation would call it a year, turns out they were just getting started. "Moana" is the long awaited next Disney princess movie (with the last installment being 2013's "Frozen). While the film has been met with a myriad of criticism over the past year, Disney is sure that it's going to be their next big hit. 

     Moana is the young woman living on a small pacific island; being the daughter of the village chief, she is expected to take up many responsibilities and eventually lead her people when the time comes. Moana has always had a fascination with the ocean and wishes to explore the world, but due to her responsibilities she is forbidden by her parents to go out on the sea. But everything changes when the island begins to die. After discovering the origins of her people, Moana sets out on the ocean to seek the help from a Demi-God to bring the world back to order. 

     I love Disney's animated movies, I always have; they're some of the earliest movies I remember seeing. And while I was never a huge fan of the princess movie (excluding "Mulan," which technically isn't a princess movie), I've loved their recent princess movies. I adored "Tangled," and "Frozen" ranks among some of my all time favorite films. And just like its predecessors, I absolutely loved "Moana." As with all of Disney's recent movies, the animation in "Moana" is stunning. The level of detail and use of colors are beautiful; overall, I'd say that this is one of the best looking 3D animated movies ever made. And in a few cases, the movie also employs 2D animation, all of which is stylish and gorgous. Much like "Frozen," "Moana" features a great original score with a wide variety of unique tracks. "Moana" is also filled with catchy and fun songs that will be stuck in your head long after you leave the theater. As with most animated Disney movies, "Moana" finds a good balance of humor and emotion. This movie has a well written script that will make you laugh many times, and pull on your heart strings more than once. The writers did a great job using the Polynesian culture and setting as inspiration for the film, and doing so really helps the film stand out among many of the other Disney princess movies. What really elevates "Moana" would be the characters, Moana and Maui a some of the most loveable and memorable characters I've ever seen in an animated movie. What helps with the characters would be the voice acting. Dwayne Johnson brings his grandiose personality to Maui's voice, and steals more than a few scenes. But the real star of the show would be the young actress who voiced Moana, Auli'i Cravalho. Cravalho is a native Hawaiian who's only 16 years old, and mark my words this girl is going to be a star. She was perfect casting for the character, and let me tell you for someone so young she has quite the pair of pipes on her. "Moana" feels like classic Disney, a beautiful musical filled with action and adventure; and I truly believe that it's one of the best Disney princess movies we've seen yet. If I had to point out an issue, it would be that at times the movie feels rushed. A lot happens in not a lot of time, and there were a few times where exposition was blown through. But despite that issue, I loved this movie; it was exactly what I was hoping would be. I'd go so far as to say it was one of my favorite movies of 2016. And for the second time this year, I think Disney has put out an animated movie that will be remembered as a classic.

Pros: Stunning animation, great original score, memorable and lovable characters, great voice acting and casting from Auli'i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson, very funny and well written, a few emotional moments, filled with catchy and fun songs, one of Disney's best princess movies, feels like classic Disney, great use of Polynesian inspired setting and lore.

Cons: Feels rushed at times.

4.5/5 Stars