Moana - directed by Ron Clements & John Musker
Moana is a story that should be at least a little familiar and a little resonant with people from my part of the world.
The legend of Maui who myth tells us hooked the North Island of New Zealand up from the ocean is taught at a very young age in schools in this country.
Maui as voiced by Dwayne Johnson features heavily in this film.
But it is really the story of Moana who feels that she is destined for more than just living on an island paradise.
There is a rich bounty of coconuts and fish and her Father tells her that she should never venture further than the reef a short distance from the shores on which her village is located.
If it sounds like your typical Disney animated fare then you are about on the money.
Young character is forbidden from doing something but must do so as he/she ventures on a quest that will call upon talents or abilities to save her people.
"Moana" was initially developed by Taika Waititi ("Hunt For the Wilderpeople" and the upcoming "Thor: Ragnarok") but a re-write blitzed some gender themes involving the lead characters brothers in favour of what the final film is - more focused on the female lead.
I say more focused because Maui is all over this thing too.
For me it is a good job too because every time I felt myself grow bored with this film Dwayne Johnson stepped up and delivered a laugh or some excitement.
I liked Moana the character and I could even get behind her quest but the film felt lifeless for me for much of its running time.
A single character with only a chicken for a companion on a boat is a tough gig to make exciting and for extended minutes it wasn't.
On the plus side this is an extraordinarily beautiful looking movie.
The lead character is terrifically well realised and with great voice work from young Auli'i Cravalho Moana is wonderful creation.
In an early scene the young Moana is shown developing her special relationship with the ocean.
The water parts and fish and turtles and all manner of sea-life can be seen swimming around through the wall of water.
It is stunning.
Likewise the scene in which the Kakamora attack is great.
These are small coconut pirates - literally.
Arriving on a huge smoke shrouded vessel the scene marked the first time that I sat up in my seat.
I had scene a couple of songs prior to this and a lot of back and forth between Moana and her Father as they argued over the restrictions that he had placed on her and the entire village.
And that was when the movie lost me.
With the village running out of fish and with a failed crop of coconuts the village was in serious trouble.
So the chief decides that they should just sit tight because once he sailed out over the reef and his best friend drowned.
Wow.
Good reason to let the entire population die of starvation.
So for me Moana's mission became less one of a young woman finding herself and her true nature and more an errand to save people disinclined to do it for themselves.
Normally this wouldn't be a devastating blow to a film's chances of entertaining me but as I could see exactly how the whole thing was going to play out up to and including Daddy realising that daughter was right all along it made it far less compelling.
I have defended predictable movies quite often - most recently with "Why Him?".
I will continue to do that so long as the film in question fulfills its brief.
"Why Him?" being a comedy had only to make me laugh.
"Moana" is an adventure and is required to provoke wonder and excitement.
It did for me whenever Maui was on screen - not so much when Moana was doing her thing.
Her thing is being pushed and thrust around by the ocean so arguably it isn't even 'her' thing.
I wanted to like this movie and for the first ten minutes it felt like I would.
Ultimately it was okay.
Having a female lead of pacific origin is great but it isn't going to make me forget the shortcomings and one of these is in fact the lead.
She should be the best thing in the movie.
For me Johnson and a single scene in which Jemaine Clement's crab character sings "Shiny" - easily the best song in the movie were far and away the most effective parts.
This one needed more Moana, less chicken and a lot more plot.
RATING: 72 / 100
CONCLUSION: A beautiful movie with amazing animation and fine voiceworks for me is let down by dull portions and a lead character who doesn't actually do much more than allow the ocean to do everything for her.
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Auli'i Cravalho, Jemaine Clement, Rachel House, Temuera Morrison, Nicole Scherzinger, Alan Tudyk, Oscar Kightley, Troy Polamalu, Puanani Cravalho, Louise Bush
Screenplay: Jared Bush
Music Score by: Mark Mancina (score) Opetaia Foa'i & Lin-Manuel Miranda (songs)
Cinematography: N/A
Edited by: Jeff Draheim
Running Time: 113 minutes
Language: English
Rated: PG - Some mildly scary monster scenes for younger viewers
Running Time: 113 minutes
Language: English
Rated: PG - Some mildly scary monster scenes for younger viewers
The legend of Maui who myth tells us hooked the North Island of New Zealand up from the ocean is taught at a very young age in schools in this country.
Maui as voiced by Dwayne Johnson features heavily in this film.
But it is really the story of Moana who feels that she is destined for more than just living on an island paradise.
There is a rich bounty of coconuts and fish and her Father tells her that she should never venture further than the reef a short distance from the shores on which her village is located.
If it sounds like your typical Disney animated fare then you are about on the money.
Young character is forbidden from doing something but must do so as he/she ventures on a quest that will call upon talents or abilities to save her people.
"Moana" was initially developed by Taika Waititi ("Hunt For the Wilderpeople" and the upcoming "Thor: Ragnarok") but a re-write blitzed some gender themes involving the lead characters brothers in favour of what the final film is - more focused on the female lead.
I say more focused because Maui is all over this thing too.
For me it is a good job too because every time I felt myself grow bored with this film Dwayne Johnson stepped up and delivered a laugh or some excitement.
I liked Moana the character and I could even get behind her quest but the film felt lifeless for me for much of its running time.
A single character with only a chicken for a companion on a boat is a tough gig to make exciting and for extended minutes it wasn't.
 |
| Stunningly beautiful animation is a strong point for "Moana" |
The lead character is terrifically well realised and with great voice work from young Auli'i Cravalho Moana is wonderful creation.
In an early scene the young Moana is shown developing her special relationship with the ocean.
The water parts and fish and turtles and all manner of sea-life can be seen swimming around through the wall of water.
It is stunning.
Likewise the scene in which the Kakamora attack is great.
These are small coconut pirates - literally.
Arriving on a huge smoke shrouded vessel the scene marked the first time that I sat up in my seat.
I had scene a couple of songs prior to this and a lot of back and forth between Moana and her Father as they argued over the restrictions that he had placed on her and the entire village.
And that was when the movie lost me.
With the village running out of fish and with a failed crop of coconuts the village was in serious trouble.
So the chief decides that they should just sit tight because once he sailed out over the reef and his best friend drowned.
Wow.
Good reason to let the entire population die of starvation.
 |
| The Kakamora and Jemaine Clements' crab are underused- the chicken Hei Hei overused |
Normally this wouldn't be a devastating blow to a film's chances of entertaining me but as I could see exactly how the whole thing was going to play out up to and including Daddy realising that daughter was right all along it made it far less compelling.
I have defended predictable movies quite often - most recently with "Why Him?".
I will continue to do that so long as the film in question fulfills its brief.
"Why Him?" being a comedy had only to make me laugh.
"Moana" is an adventure and is required to provoke wonder and excitement.
It did for me whenever Maui was on screen - not so much when Moana was doing her thing.
Her thing is being pushed and thrust around by the ocean so arguably it isn't even 'her' thing.
I wanted to like this movie and for the first ten minutes it felt like I would.
Ultimately it was okay.
Having a female lead of pacific origin is great but it isn't going to make me forget the shortcomings and one of these is in fact the lead.
She should be the best thing in the movie.
For me Johnson and a single scene in which Jemaine Clement's crab character sings "Shiny" - easily the best song in the movie were far and away the most effective parts.
This one needed more Moana, less chicken and a lot more plot.
No comments:
Post a Comment