A New Timeless Classic From Disney

Rating: 9/10 (10 January 2017)

Moana is the latest in a slew of CG animated movies from Disney, with Tangled, Frozen, and Zootopia preceding it, so needless to say I had some very high expectations for Moana. Were they fulfilled? Absolutely!
Let's talk about the characters first. Moana, the teenage daughter of the village Chief, who wants nothing more than to leave her island and explore the sea, but can't because her father won't let her, but the plants start dying and the fish disappear, she takes it upon herself to go out to sea, find the demigod, Maui, and restore the heart of Te Fiti to restore her village. I have a new favorite Disney princess. Moana is an absurdly likable and relatable character who never plays the role of the typical, annoying, immature teenager. I liken her to being kind of like Ariel, from The Little Mermaid, but much better written. Maui, the powerful demigod who has lost his magic fishhook, is a complete jerk and I love him for it. Dwayne Johnson's undeniable charm and humor shines through even in this arrogant, selfish, and egotistical character. Speaking of performances, this is the debut of an outstanding new talent in Auli'i Cravalho. She absolutely kills it as Moana, not only standing alongside Dwayne Johnson, but even sometimes outperforming him. I really do hope for a very successful career for this incredibly talented young actress. Did I mention her singing voice?
The music in Moana is also amazing. Lin-Manuel Miranda composes this movie to perfection. I could listen to this soundtrack all day, though two songs in particular stand out: How Far I'll Go and You're Welcome. These are arguably some of the best songs to come out of Disney in the past 20 years.
Now to talk about the aesthetic qualities. This is one of the most beautiful animated movies I have ever seen. Everything seems so vibrant and alive, it seems magical, which any proper Disney picture should be.
Overall, I had a great time watching Moana. I think it has a good message, very likable characters, a phenomenal soundtrack, and gorgeous visuals. Don't miss this one.
The End