In the Upper Half of Disney Classics..

Rating: 8/10 (24 November 2016)

Witnessing the birth of a new Disney princess is exciting. But when it's paired with a well executed "good Disney film formula", you have something beautiful. Which is the fairest word I can describe this film with.
It's quite unfair to review a Disney film the same way you review any other film. One must review each aspect of the formula that were binded together to create the emotional Disney experience.
1- The Princess : Moana is your typical modern day Disney princess even if she doesn't look like one. She's the curious, kind and courageous girl that wants to break free and defy her parents to seek something she's been longing for.
2- Music / an original catchy song : The Music in Moana was my first Lin Miranda experience. And I Loved it! . Some may disagree, but the music throughout this film was superb and in my opinion, the best aspect of it. We'll definitely be hearing "How Far I'll Go" everywhere in the next few months. So cover your ears if you don't want to hate it. It will probably snatch best original song from Zootopia's "Try Everything" as well.
3- The plot/conflict : Moana, with the help of the demigod Maui, sails on a journey to return the heart of Ti-Fiti in order to stop the corruption that has spread across the ocean and destroyed nearby islands. For a Disney film plots are one of the last things you remember. Since it's all about the experience this plot is simple and does the job.
4- The Prince or Male Character : When I saw a couple of Maui scenes in the trailers I thought they were a bit forced. But I'm glad I was proved wrong. His jokes no matter how cheesy they might sound work great in the film. Much of that is thanks to Dwayne Johnson's excellent performance.. Maui grows on you as a character, and has great chemistry with Moana. I could watch them conversing on a boat for hours.
5- Animal Side Kick : If you know some of the basic chicken behaviors, you are in for a treat. The chicken side kick in this film has some of the funniest scenes. They were well timed and simply creative.
6- The CG and Animation : If I write down every synonym for beautiful, It won't be enough to describe how gorgeous the CG and Animation was in this film. It's amazing to see how it has evolved throughout the years.
7- The journey : This is undoubtedly the hardest part to execute. especially when you have a dozen of writers working together. For Moana this was executed well. Usually the parts or sequences that drag an Animated Film down reside in the third act. But for Moana, The third act was my favorite part of the film. There were a couple of sequences in the first half involving "pirates" and a crab monster that personally felt unnecessary . I'm sure some would enjoy them more though.
Overall this film is gladly what I expected it to be. A Disney Classic. It might not be as timeless as Beauty and the Beast or Cinderella. But It surely is a great addition to the collection and a perfect Thanksgiving Cinema Experience.