Moana

The Pre-Match Setup: Familiar Territory, New Players

Attention everyone! We have a screening of Disney’s live-action Moana and everyone is talking about it. Disney is trying to make good on their Moana movie by bringing in the weight of a beloved animated movie. The story stays the same: young Moana of Motunui, played by Catherine Lagaʻaia, hears the call of the Ocean. She disobeys her father and sets sail beyond the reef on an epic journey with the legendary demigod Maui, once again played by Dwayne Johnson. Their goal is to bring the people of Motunui prosperity again by battling old demons and discovering their destinies. This movie is 1 hour and 55 minutes long and is directed by Thomas Kail, who promises to deliver the same spirit of heroism and discovery. The question everyone is dying to know is will this new lineup of characters capture the magic of the original movie or will it feel like a remake of a movie that has already been remade?

The Star Players: Glimmers of Brilliance Amidst the Benchwarmers

Dwayne Johnson’s involvement as Maui can’t be overlooked when discussing star power. He has the demigod’s warm, larger-than-life presence. He possesses the muscular boom voice, and can be so commanding on screen that you sense his presence attempting to raise the entire production to a higher level. Catherine Lagaʻaia deserves credit too. She performs the role of Moana with a sincere and commendable warmth. She carries the emotional weight of the role well, embodying the determined spirit of the titular voyager. In fact, many early audience reactions particularly praised her genuine performance and her chemistry with Lagaʻia. While other performers and the surrounding play might be average, these two seem to be giving their absolute best efforts, and they stand out because of it. Rena Owen also provides a steady presence as Moana’s grandmother, anchoring some of the more heartfelt moments. The original songs that are co-written by Lin-Manuel Miranda still remain brilliant, even if they sometimes lack the original punch in performance. These are the moments that the film really tries and attempt to capture the iconic lines and numbers that the fans truly adore.

The Momentum Swings: Stalls, Stutters, and Missed Opportunities

Let's analyze how our contenders' fortunes shift negatively. The largest challenge for this “Moana” is her obsessive faithfulness to the animated original. The almost slavish devotion to the animated original is evidenced by beat-for-beat, shot-for-shot, and, as countless reviewers have noted, nearly identical presentations of the original story that do not allow for any new artistic expression or storytelling. It's a mind-numbing experience, like watching the same football play get called over and over again down to the most trivial differences. While it may seem like a good thing to practice the same thing over and over in order to build muscle memory, it can create a stagnant environment in a film. The original film was visually captivating and a joy to watch during the musical numbers, but the new film uses what has been described as a sterile, green-screen look, a joyless aesthetic that replaces the original’s stunning animation. This is a fundamental miscalculation of strategy. Universal critics consensus indicates that if you watched the 2016 version, you’ve seen this one, minus animated charm. The film is more expensive to produce, yet it still fails to expand or reinterpret the story enough to justify its own existence.

The Full-Time Scoreline: A Draw That Feels Like a Loss

As we reach the climax of this live action ‘Moana’ what are the scores? The answer is complex. At least the movie didn’t crash and burn, and the storyline is average, but it is still alive. The various leads do their best to elevate the performances. Still the most prevalent of sentiments from everone, is the missed chance because of this films potential. They played the game a little on the safer side, without any real innovation. The effort is respectable, but you can tell the coaches played this one a little too close to the chest. Unfortunately, this will do nothing to change that. For a new perspective or generous helping of originality to the story of Moana, you’ll only be disappointed. The movie struggled for a reason to exist. When compared to the original, the magic is still there, and you’ll have to go to pikashow. This new rendition? You’ll find a passable adventure, but one you’ll likely forget. It's sad, but it always seems to be one step behind what is now, it’s predecessor.