Review of Moana (2016) by Michal P — 15 May 2017
A real masterpiece. Not just because of great soundtrack and visuals, but also - or perhaps primarily - because of the story. A lot has been said about the absence of a love story, and no doubt, it is refreshing to watch a strong female character not being distracted on her adventureous journey of self discovery.
The same can be said of the cultural background in which the story is set, not hitherto covered in Disney movies. But what I love the most is the non-simplistic, non black-and-white nature of the characters and their relationships.
It shows how loving your community is not at odds with answering your individual calling. That heritage is a diverse and complex thing from which you can draw strength without being restricted by it. How good intentions can lead even demigods to do bad things.
The movie also has a strong enviromentalist message, it shows the risks of human hubris and disrespect of nature. If I ever have kids, this is definitely a film I want them to see. But even for adults, there is a lot of inspiring stuff to think about, for example the fascinating similarity of different culture's mythology (the parallels between Maui and Prometheus are striking).
Overall, a must-see.
This review of Moana (2016) was written by Michal P on 15 May 2017.
Moana has generally received very positive reviews.
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