It's been a tradition for me to see Disney movies on opening day, or at least on opening weekend, and I've done so for all but two films since "Tomorrowland." That means I've been to a total of 12 Disney films on opening weekend in the last year and a half, a number I'm pretty proud of. It's not always easy to catch them, as for two of those films I've been in different states, and several of them occurred late at night after concerts or other performances. Still, there are some advantages to catching the latest films as soon as possible, one of which is an opportunity to review the film!
So here are five, spoiler-free reasons I loved the newest animated picture from Walt Disney Animation: "Moana!"
1. Moana Herself
There's been a lot of talk on the internet over the past few days about how Disney has finally created a film with a female person of color as the lead, and while it's entirely accurate that "Moana" is a movie with a strong female who also happens to be a POC as the lead, it's not the first. Not by a long shot.
Still, I loved Moana as a character. She's dedicated, compassionate and definitely knows how to take care of herself. She doesn't just want adventure, she's called to it, and that reminded me a lot of myself. And to top it all off, she puts family and her heritage at the center of her world, even as it expands out into the sea.
2. The Music
These days, it's hard to argue with a soundtrack that features Lin-Manuel Miranda, especially when a few other members of the Hamilton cast are also featured. The music of "Moana," which is composed of original songs by Miranda, Olivia Foa'i and Mark Mancina, can certainly hold its own against other recent Disney films. The music fits every moment of the film, and if you haven't had a chance to listen to the soundtrack yet, I'll give you a hint: definitely check out "How Far I'll Go" as sung by lead actress Auli'i Cravalho. I could listen to it on repeat for days.
3. The Film is a Feast for the Eyes
Like many Disney films, "Moana" is vibrant and colorful, even more-so than "Frozen" in my opinion. The colors are bright, and every moment is visually appealing, from the sea to the sand to the coconuts in the trees. It's obvious that animation has far exceeded anything Walt Disney could have imagined in his lifetime, and when it comes down to it, the details and colors are what really make this film beautiful. There are a few scenes in particular where everything just really comes together and the animation pops from the screen!
4. Even the Short Film is Great
Long time viewers of Disney, and especially Disney-Pixar, films will know of the shorts that appear before the feature itself. Before "Moana," you can find an "Inside Out" sort of short, titled "Inner Workings," and I loved it. In fact, it's one of my favorite short films to date, and that's saying a lot. "Inner Workings" is creative, relatable, and meaningful in all the best ways, and it's a perfect fit for this time of year, when many are stuck in offices and classrooms that may be getting a bit "boring, boring and glum."
5. The Cast of Characters
We're already discussed Moana herself, but we can't leave out the remainder of the widespread cast of characters. It's likely that you've already met Maui, voiced by Dwayne Johnson, in a trailer or two, and you've probably seen Pua, Moana's pet pig, on the posters, but that's just the beginning of the cast. You'll meet the rest of Moana's village, a very shiny crab, Moana's grandmother and the sea itself. Oh, and my personal favorite character, HeiHei, the chicken that's really just along for the ride. They'll keep you laughing until the very last minute of the film, and really, I mean the last minute. That's your reminder to stay until the end of the credits!
If you haven't had a chance this Thanksgiving weekend to head out and see "Moana," I highly recommend doing so. It's a beautifully crafted film that is a treat for the whole family, and would provide a great study break for all my fellow college students out there too!
