Moana | Teen Ink

Moana

January 8, 2020
By MovieReviewer_18 ELITE, Short Hills, New Jersey
MovieReviewer_18 ELITE, Short Hills, New Jersey
678 articles 0 photos 8 comments

 Moana proves to be an adventurous and cheerful adventure that infuses together mythology and an upbeat story that is perfect for the whole family. Revolving around the daring and bold Moana, Moana is a teenaged girl that lives on an island with her people. She has lived on this island for nearly as long as she can remember, and staying on the island and not sailing out has always been a fundamental part of her life. Her people are so set in their own personal ways that they are ignorant of the solutions necessary to solve their problems, and doing what's necessary to help the changes of survival for future generations, and this stubbornness is something that Moana doesn't agree with. Believing that it's necessary to break the rules and dare to do what no one else is willing to, Moana decides to go on a wild mission to save her people. Along the way, Moana begins to go on one of the most wild journeys of her entire life, even meeting the confident Maui. Maui is a demigod that had been powerful and mighty in the past, but it now seems like Maui has gotten caught up in his own egotistical ways and selfish desires. Maui is no longer serving to help others, but he instead wants to be helpful to receive plenty of praise and glory. Moana however quickly appeals to Maui's vanity and convinces him to help guide her on her journey and help teacher her advice to fulfill her dreams. Maui and Moana form a dynamic duo that helps to test the odds against the ferocity of the ocean, and together they decide to sail along it during one crazy ride. Both of them are forced to encounter dangerous and wild monsters, the natural dangers of the open ocean, horrific odds, and Maui and Moana soon attempt to achieve an ancient quest that Moana's ancestors had always claimed would be necessary at one point or time. As both Moana and Maui struggle to find their way on this dangerous and challenging journey, they both begin to find their own identity. This means that Moana finally discovers the person that she was always meant to be, and so does Maui, with both of them realizing the truth of how they should act in their lives. 
 Moana succeeds fundamentally due to its ability to honor the Polynesian culture that has inspired this tale. It's clear from the beginning that this movie is going to pay some homage to the infusion of culture that has inspired the film so, and this precise combination of mythology, imagination, and the ways of a whole group of people are made key hallmarks of the film. Rich and surprisingly jammed with plenty of adult sophistication, the movie is able to craft together an entire world of its own, often making the entire storyline feel quite magical. This appeals to audiences of all shapes and in particular girls of all ages. Proud and relatable, Moana is able to become a fierce character that is daring, bold, and unafraid to do what she believes in. Moana is shown as being courageous from start to finish, and even when it seems like all is at a loss, Moana refuses to give up. This tenacity is able to leave viewers feeling hopeful throughout, and this sense of inspiration is also partly why the movie is able to form more smiles than not. 
 Moana is engaging in its entirety, and with largely captivating music, which will appeal to those that don't even typically enjoy ordinary princess movies, the movie is able to become an unorthodox story with a strong, empowering protagonist. Moana doesn't break in the face of danger or unfortunate odds, and this helps to make Moana a likable character that stands out as one of the most notable characters in one of Disney's most complete adventures. Completely fantastical and action-packed, the movie provides a profound heroine that helps to form a compelling and lovable set of characters. Both Moana and Maui are able to be showcased as their own unique characters, and the character development that is formed between the duo is noteworthy for all of the right reasons. 
 Moana is exuberantly cheerful and proud to boast a triumphant heroine, one that stands out as one of the most important parts of a pleasing oceanic adventure. Imaginative and often high-spirited, the movie crafts together an outstanding roller coaster that conveys a truly important message in someone finding their true identity. The real hero of the movie is Moana attempting to discover the person she was always meant to be, and this is a key concept that nearly everyone can relate to at one point or another. With the implementation of that instrumental message, vibrant visuals, and true homage to the beauty of Polynesian culture, it becomes easy to see why Rotten Tomatoes gave the movie an incredible 96%. As a great choice for the entire family, this is definitely a must-see.


The author's comments:

"The ocean chose me for a reason." - Moana


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