I love Moana. My daughters love Moana. Everyone loves Moana, right? Well, maybe not everyone, and that’s OK, but I do. And here’s why.
Where to begin? Moana has got to be up there with the best Disney films ever. And I was at peak Disney age for that run of incredible animated films that revived Disney in the early 90s (The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King etc). So I know a classic Disney film when I see one.
And then I had kids – two daughters – and there was Frozen. So much Frozen. I do love Frozen though, so that was cool. But it was nice for a new thing to come along. Thank you Moana.
So here’s what I love most.
The music
There are many things that I love about this movie, but I’m putting music up the top. Because it is so good. I cried about 5 times in this movie, and every time it’s the music that did it to me. It’s heartfelt and emotional, it’s clever and it’s catchy as hell.
Of course we bought the soundtrack, and I estimate that we’ve now listened to it around 47 million times. But you know what? I’m still not sick of it. Which is great, because neither are my kids!
This may be controversial, but the signature song – How Far I’ll Go – is not the best song in the movie. It’s good, but they didn’t nail it like they did with Let it Go from Frozen. But no matter, because there are so many other incredible ones on there. My top three: Where You Are, You’re Welcome, Shiny.
The music was a collaboration between legendary Pacific songwriter Opetaia Foa’i, Marc Mancina (of Lion King fame) and Lin Manuel Miranda. I’m not generally one for celebrity crushes, but I’ve definitely got one for Lin. He’s an incredible lyricist, he sings and raps, and just seems like a super nice guy. I know, I’ve lost all reason. And through Moana I discovered his hip hop musical Hamilton which might be the best thing I’ve ever heard, ever. Please go look it up.
A princess with no love interest
The writers slyly have Moana claim that she’s not a princess. But in every other (Disney) way she fits the ‘princess’ template: young woman with pluck and smarts sets off into a dangerous world to find her destiny. But what is missing? A love interest. Hallelujah!
There is certainly no dashing prince to sweep her off her feet. More than that, there is not one single love interest in sight. Even the more feminist princesses – take Anna and Elsa as an example – couldn’t escape the idea of a male companion.
Finally we can focus on all the awesome qualities of our heroine – like kindness, bravery, intelligence – and finish without a “happily ever after”.
The incredible visuals
I don’t know anything about animation. It’s not generally something I notice. But I definitely noticed it in Moana. It is strikingly beautiful, and paired with music it just makes you (read: me) go all teary.
Like this scene, where toddler Moana meets the ocean for the first time – I barely took a breath for two whole minutes.
I think they got the culture stuff right
It’s always tricky, and I know there have been some missteps along the way, but Moana treats the Pacific culture with care and reverence. That’s amazing.
Disney has a history of perpetuating damaging stereotypes but it seems like they tried extra hard to avoid that for Moana.
Consider this excellent article in Vanity Fair:
“[Disney’s] 2011 trip to Polynesia, the first of many, led to the birth of what they would later name the Oceanic Trust. Consisting of a group of anthropologists, cultural practitioners, historians, linguists, and choreographers from islands including Samoa, Tahiti, Mo’orea, and Fiji, this group was integral in shaping some of the finest details of Moana, from character design to song lyrics.”
And the evidence of their success, for me, has been to watch the movie in Fiji, where everyone went crazy for it. It is so rare to see Pacific culture on a mainstream stage, and everyone (that I know) here is proud and thrilled with the result.
Fijians definitely love Moana.
But maybe not as much as me.
April 25, 2017 at 1:49 pm
I have so much to say about this movie but it is very late and I have to teach tomorrow and also conduct an Anzac Ceremony that has had no rehearsal as it was planned in the holidays, (not by me, but I’m making it happen).
I have already taught this song, (How Far I’ll Go), to many girls in my classes and one of them has performed it with a Rock Enseble, (Drums, guitars, bass, keyboard and backing vocals), in front of the whole school assembly. It was a raging success.
I tell all the girls that they should view this song as not only about Moana escaping from her safe island paradise but they should see it as a call to all girls that no matter where they’re from or what expectations have been pre-determined for them that they should not let anything hold them back from being who they want to be and achieving whatever it is that their hearts are set on. Breaking through glass ceilings and demolishing traditional gender role stereotypes.
This song is about having the conviction to get out there and show the world that you mean business and nobody is going to hold you back from achieving and fulfilling your hearts desire.
(if you go there’s just no telling how far you’ll go)
BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE!
Most of all it’s about not needing any Knight in Shining Armour or Handsome Prince to help you along the way.
Sisters are doing it for themselves!!!!
I agree with you on all points….this is a great movie!
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May 7, 2017 at 8:57 am
Great comment Rob, and I agree with you totally. By the way, this is why you’re a fantastic teacher!
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May 7, 2017 at 8:02 am
I love this movie…. I have watched the movie twice. I must admit the best thing about watching the movie is sharing it with the girls. I love movies that leave you feeling that all is good with our world. So thank you, Rich for your views on the movie. I will watch Moana again with a little more depth.
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