MOANA 2 (2024)
Featuring the voices of Auliʻi Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Temuera Morrison, Nicole Scherzinger, Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda, Rose Matafeo, David Fane, Hualālai Chung, Rachel House, Awhimai Fraser, Gerald Ramsey, Alan Tudyk, Jasmine Johnson and Tiana Johnson.
Screenplay by Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller.
Directed by David Derrick Jr. and Jason Hand and Dana Ledoux Miller.
Distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. 100 minutes. Rated PG.
The recent surge in Disney sequels both released and planned makes me less and less hopeful to once again see the heart that was once in the company’s movies. The original Moana was an incredible tribute to Polynesian culture, with likeable characters, plot, music, and visuals. I honestly feel that it was one of Disney’s last soulful films. With the very small exception of Encanto, the company has struggled to put mastery and magic into their golden road to make films. When I was invited to see Moana 2, I was not hopeful. Especially considering that I was made aware ahead of time that it was originally intended to be a series on Disney+.
During the movie itself, I expected to see a clear change that would make it obvious that the original plan had changed, however there were moments I could tell were supposed to be the end of an episode. An example of this would be the mission within the “Giant Clam” when there is a moment of tension that is cut off, most likely because the episode was to leave off on a cliffhanger. Unfortunately, this formula left too many plotlines to follow and not enough time to develop the characters.
Disney is aware of how great the first movie was. I can only assume that is why references to it were placed into the script one too many times. A callback to the original work is often essential for a sequel. However, the sheer number of blatant quotations and references felt unnatural as I watched. I could also not help but feel disconnected from the setting due to the concerning number of modern-day references. After one too many, they just did not land for me as I really tried to see the movie as a continuation of Disney’s take on Polynesian mythology.
The animation of the movie remained aesthetically beautiful. However, I did notice small differences in quality from the sequel compared to the original movie. Considering the film was meant to be a series to stream instead of seen in theaters, this does not surprise me. Regardless, the movie had incredible visual concepts and displayed some breathtaking work throughout.
The cast was a welcome factor as hearing their voices made some dialogue choices more bearable for me. Returning as Moana and Maui were Auli’i Cravalo and Dwayne Johnson, respectively. The characters they play share a unique dynamic on screen that I was happy to see had evolved naturally from the first movie. Overall, their performances were well done. And it was great to hear Alan Tudyk return as Heihei, as Tudyk is always a welcome presence.
The new characters added to the main cast were voiced by Hualalai Chung (Moni), Rose Matafeo (Loto), and David Fane (Kele). Despite my feelings for the characters themselves, the cast still performed great from a voice acting standpoint. One character in particular that I was actually invested in, but was left disappointed as she did not turn out to be an actual villain was Matangi, voiced by Awhimai Fraser. Initially the movie presented her as the first real threat of a character, but unfortunately it turned out to be just a misleading fake-out. With such a great design and voice performance, I had really hoped to see a new real villain in a modern animated Disney movie.
My final thoughts are that Disney needs to put more power into their creative minds. Not every movie needs a sequel, but if they absolutely must make one, raise the whole story higher in a way that respects the original art. As for Moana 2 itself, the coconut managed to be my favorite character, despite his lack of any dialogue. I found his mannerisms and body language the most entertaining of any of the new characters.
Jordan Wagner
Copyright ©2024 PopEntertainment.com. All rights reserved. Posted: November 27, 2024.
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The story dives deeper into Moana’s growth as a leader, exploring her journey to unite distant islands while confronting her own fears and doubts. The vibrant animation is a standout, capturing breathtaking ocean vistas and lush island landscapes, while the soundtrack, featuring a mix of new songs and reprises of old favorites, keeps the emotional core alive.
What sets Moana 2 apart is its ability to layer deeper themes like sustainability and cultural preservation into an exciting adventure that appeals to all ages. It’s not just a repeat of the first movie—it’s a meaningful continuation of Moana’s story.
Much like the thoughtful selection process of https://bestonlinecasinosnz.org/ for online entertainment, Moana 2 carefully crafts an experience that respects its roots while…