Moana (2016) [Film Review]

 

Overall rating: 4.5 

“I’m not a princess. I’m the daughter of the chief.” “I am self-taught.” These movie lines are from the 2016 Disney animated film featuring a Polynesian heroic "princess". Yep, it’s ‘Moana’! Directed by Ron Clements and John Musker, this action-packed film tells the adventure of Moana, a 16-year-old girl who follows the call of the ocean to save her island, and her people.

Unlike Disney’s princess fairytales, this film is all about how teenage Moana breaks away from her parents’ protection to discover herself and her ancestral roots. The story is set on a lush Pacific island, where villagers worship the goddess Te Fiti. The lives of villagers have been threatened since the heart of Te Fiti was stolen by the demigod Maui, and lost to the sea. Moana grows into her role as chief in training, but the ocean calls her to sail beyond the reef to solve her island’s mystery. The film reaches a climax when Moana sets out on a voyage to defeat monster Te Ka with the help of Maui. She discovers who she really is on this brave journey.

‘Moana’ wouldn’t have been so mind-blowing without a pioneering animation team. Whether it’s ocean waves lapping gently on the beach to play with baby Moana, or crashing violently and appallingly over the side of Moana’s boat in a storm, Disney re-created water, a pervasive theme, in the most inventive and realistic way possible. It conveys the intimate relationship between Moana and the ocean from start to finish. Second, every detail of the characters’ costume and relics of the Polynesian island look elaborate and vivid, inviting us into a culture that most of us had never experienced before. Last but not least, ‘Moana’ has many awe-inspiring scenes of goddess Te Fiti at the end. It’s not a stretch to say that ‘Moana’ technically and visually outperforms most older animated films.

Another breakthrough of ‘Moana’ lies in its heartfelt music. Almost like a musical, this film weaves in original songs to illustrate Moana’s growth from an innocent baby girl to a woman captain. Among a dozen songs throughout the movie, the one that stands out most is “How Far I’ll Go” by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creator of Broadway blockbuster ‘Hamilton’. This power ballad captures the moment when Moana was torn between rolling with her role on the island, and following her voice inside to go far into the sea. Sounds familiar, doesn't it? The upbeat singing and rich lyrics effectively set the tone for Moana's decision to set out into the ocean. 

Overall ‘Moana’ far exceeded my expectation for a Disney animated film. In fact, it changed my perspective on Disney with its unique setting, unconventional plot, and stunning visual and sound effects. 'Moana' also instilled in me new hope that we can respect the traditions of our past and live out our personal dreams. Even mother nature can be our greatest guide and helper! It is a masterpiece to be enjoyed by adults and kids alike. I give it a rating of 4.5 out of 5 and highly recommend it to anyone.