Monday, 21 April 2025

Moana 2016 by AverageMansReviews

Moana 2016 by AverageMansReviews

Review Time

Warning: there is flashing effects/colourful effects/transformation/environmental/disintegrating/regeneration/dismemberment/animal feeding/bodily functions/burning

To save her island she needs to hit the waves: basically; Moana [voiced by Auliʻi Cravalho:] she is a Princess of Motunui, she has been chosen by the Sea to undertake this task against her father's wishes which involves Maui [voiced by Dwayne Johnson:] a demigod of the Wind and Sea that it has been foretold he is not a nice individual, he communicates with one of his many tattoos, he knows a very powerful weapon at his disposal; it is a Manaiakalani [fish hook] that gives him the ability to be a shape-shifter; this is her/their quest to hopefully save her island.

Generally speaking: the framework and pacing of this 107 minutes film is good; as I will make abundantly clear throughout this content in some way and I don't say this angrily or negatively, but it is just the way things are; this title has been set out to follow a foundation level of a film title which to base other potential instalments to be built on in the future.

Art and action; it is a highly colourful engaging experience of Polynesian culture as I have some knowledge on this already based on my wrestling knowledge and yes for those long-term wrestling fans I know, I know some of this experience is based on racist stereotypes and even when Johnson debuted in wrestling 1996 was based on his culture which that gimmick didn't last too long even though it was to pay respect to his father and grandfather, which it took the WWF/WWE until the 2010's to actually show Polynesian/Hawaiian wrestlers more respect than apparently just having thick skulls and being dimwitted; when they gave Jimmy and Jey Uso; the Siva Tau; the Samoan war dance, which yes on a very, very, very basic level it is similar to the Haka performed by people from New Zealand, but it is completely different, I know I have slightly contradicted myself here, but my point was to give you a basis of what kind of style of dance this was and yes for those people that don't know these two wrestlers are also family related to Johnson as cousins; but I digress; we also have a musical aspects, yes we do get to hear Johnson as Maui; which he does this very naturally and easily too.

So as you have already read already we do get a strong sense of spirituality and respecting the land as this community is happily function as a community, but it is able to show that when it's environment changes it drastically alters this community. But without giving too much away the art and action come together as one to create this massive action sequence as we have our own lead partnership taking on in a nutshell fire; it is quick fire with a satisfying conclusion.

Character developments, comedy and voice performances; they follow a standard character model on which to base a franchise on; basically Disney had gone back to what they know with essentially in this case a lead partnership that at first doesn't get a long, but gradually they find common ground and get a long and build a friendship during with not forgetting the standard breakdown in his relationship also, consequently from Disney doing this kind of character outlay which they know very well; let's be honest it is their bread, which the comedy is intertwined in this also so broadly speaking it is comical. But obviously by doing this; in turn it creates fully well rounded characters and their voice performances synonymous with these characters; which obviously has only one downfall if for whatever reason these voice performers are unable to fulfil this voice performance/duty; their replacements do tend to stick out or if you have someone like me that has very good hearing more often than not I will pick up on something isn't quite the same. But these voice performances from this cast regardless of size of voice role had been given the level of irreplaceable obviously in particular Auliʻi Cravalho as the voice of Moana, Dwayne Johnson as the voice of Maui and my personal favourite Rachel House as the voice of Tala: Moana's Granma, that is wise but quite often seen as the crazy lady of the island.

This film receives: 8/10, this film is excellent; as I have already indicated it does follow the origin outlay to a tee, but hopefully it has left things in a good place for the sequel to carry on and lay upon this instalment's sturdy foundation, in one way or another there are little bits and pieces at the ending credits stages; be it little drawings, an ending credit or a voice right at the end and yes this film does have quite a lot of awards accredited to its name such as 22 Winners that includes Annie Awards 2017 Annie Outstanding Achievement in Animated Effects in an Animated Production Marlon West Erin Ramos Blair Pierpont Ian J. Coony John Kosnik and from the same award ceremony/event Outstanding Achievement in Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production Auli'i Cravalho As the voice of "Moana". 90 Nominees that includes Academy Awards, USA 2017 Oscar Best Animated Feature Film of the Year Ron Clements John Musker Osnat Shurer and from the same award ceremony/event Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Song) Lin-Manuel Miranda

 

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