Pop! & Movie Review: Disney’s Moana

Today, Disney’s newest animated movie, Moana, arrives on the big screen here in the US. The road leading up to this movie has had a lot of excitement behind it, but also some rough patches surrounding the portrayal of the ethnic Polynesian culture (especially with the Maui Halloween costume). However, when I first saw an extended look at Moana at the D23 Expo 2015 in Anaheim, I had a feeling this movie would be able to stack up to some of the greats. Last night, I had the chance to see the movie, and it, indeed, held up to my expectations.

At the helm for this movie was the team of John Musker and Ron Clements, the duo behind many of the great Disney movies of my childhood, including The Little Mermaid, The Great Mouse Detective, Aladdin, and Hercules. The team started work on original story ideas after the release of The Princess and the Frog (their last Disney film), and by 2012 had the concept of Moana in place. Officially announced in 2013, Moana is the story of Moana, a young Polynesian woman who dreams of traveling beyond her island’s reef and find out who she really is. Through the power of the ocean, she is teamed up with Maui, a demigod that has been lost for centuries, in order to save her family, her island, and the rest of the world from an evil force.

 

That’s about all I can say without spoiling the movie for you.

 

I do not want to spoil the movie for you.

 

You should go see the movie.

 

So, without spoilers, what can I reflect on?

First off, I give props to whomever cast the voices for the leads of Moana and Maui. Moana is voiced by Auli’i Cravalho, who was chosen out of hundreds of entries by Polynesian women. According to Disney, she was the last to audition, and the one chosen. Her voice is sweet, strong, and fits the character of Moana perfectly… especially when dealing with the demigod Maui, voiced by Dwayne Johnson. You might know him better as WWE’s The Rock. While Johnson has a very confident, commanding voice, he can also be playful, fun-loving, and caring. All of those are perfect for Maui, who is trying to, once again, find a place in this world.

The sidekicks of Pua the pig and Heihei the chicken are a lot of fun. I do wish Pua was in the movie more, though I can see as to why he wasn’t. Heihei is just… dumb, to a fault that you find it endearing. It has been stated by a few Disney people tied to Moana that Hei Hei is probably the dumbest Disney character ever. I can totally see that. Scrump, the inanimate doll in Lilo & Stitch, is probably smarter. While the stupidity brought to a lot of funny moments, it also made you want a dumb chicken of your own.

Oh, and we all need more Kakamora in our lives.

The animation is breathtaking, and captures the inherent beauty of the Polynisian islands and culture wonderfully. Those diverse volcanic islands, so rich with plant life. The ocean (a character in its own right) all gleaming in the sun and filled with beautiful creatures. The night sky, where you can chart your course by the stars and see for miles. The buildings, décor, ships, etc of the Polynesian people. All of the animation is finely done to create and amazing canvas for the story to unfold.

Some might question its’ cultural inaccuracy. I know that Disney is notorious for doing that, as Hercules and Pocahontas are two examples. Now, I cannot comment on that part, as I am not well versed in that realm of things. I do know that the movie is created to not highlight one specific group in Polynesia, and as an original story, not taking a story line from historical perspectives or myths and legends. Beyond that, I will leave that to the experts to decide.

The music, created by Lin-Manual Miranda, Mark Mancini, and Opetaia Foa’i, combines contemporary lyrics, verse, and rhyme with the tribal feel of the Polynesian cultures. I have personally been a fan of Lin-Manual Miranda’s work for years now, especially his first Broadway musical hit In the Heights. In fact, I see a lot of his musical styling from his female driven songs from that musical in the songs written for Moana. While Moana sang about wanting to be true to her family but also wanting to be something more, I saw both Nina and Vanessa, the two female leads in In the Heights, in the music. Whether that was intentional or simply happenstance, without delving into it further for fear of spoiling part of the movie, it struck a cord with me as the some of the music of In the Heights got me through a rough part of my life years back.

Overall, Moana is, with the possible exception of a misplaced song/ character in the middle of the film, top notch. There are laughs and tears. There are lessons learned, friendships formed, obstacles overcame, and wrongs righted. And all done in the wonderful world that is Disney Animation. A new “princess” has emerged, and I have a feeling that Moana is here to stay.

Pop! Vinyl Review

In addition to giving my take on the movie, I thought I would also take a quick look at some of the Funko Pop! Vinyls that were released recently. Missing from the review is the Books-A-Million exclusive Maui, Target exclusive Moana w/ spear, and the Moana with Kakamora 2pk.

Young Moana (Sitting- Hot Topic Exclusive)

For a part of the film that is not very long, we get two versions of Young Moana, one being a Hot Topic exclusive. Yet nowhere did we get a Pop! version of Heihei.

Maui

This is one of two versions of Maui. Both versions have him holding his magical fishing hook, just in a different pose.

Close up look of the tattoos, which play a pivotal role in the movie.

Moana w/ Pua

Even though we don’t have a Heihei, at least we have Pua. Such a cute little Pop! Sidekick.

 

Voyager Moana (Walmart Exclusive)

A version of Moana from a specific scene from the movie. Fortunately, it doesn’t really give any plot points away, but is pretty accurate to that version of our leading lady.

Overall, a strong showing of Pop! Vinyls from the movie. I do hope more is made, perhaps of Moana’s family, Heihei, and some of the creatures we see during the film… a multi-pack of Kakamora would be amazing.

Well, that’s it for today’s review. If you see the movie or pick up some of the Pop! Vinyls, let us know what you thought below.

Happy Thanksgiving weekend everyone!