PLOT: After receiving an sudden name from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana should journey to the far seas of Oceania and into harmful, long-lost waters for an journey not like something she’s ever confronted.
REVIEW: Each time a studio will get a success movie, you’ll be able to nearly assure that there will likely be a sequel ultimately. And after Moana took the world by storm in 2016, it was clear that we had a brand new franchise on our fingers. So Disney has gotten to work, making a Moana theme park at Disney World and even producing a live-action model set to launch in 2026. However it might be foolish to disregard the precise supply of all this success, so that they’ve taken to creating a direct sequel to their hit movie, and it’s just about precisely what you’d assume it’d be.
I wasn’t an enormous fan of the primary movie however I’m fairly open-minded relating to Disney Animation. Give me a heartfelt story that tugs at my heartstrings and I’m all about it. Moana 2 follows the title character (voiced once more by Auli’i Cravalho) as she units out to search out different islands of humanity. Her and Maui (Dwayne Johnson) should elevate a complete island as a way to carry the individuals collectively. Whereas Moana and Maui are clearly the celebs of the present, this additionally works as a team-up movie, together with her getting varied characters to hitch her on her journey. They every are arrange with good characterizations and really feel distinct from each other. I had a blast with all of them they usually carry an vitality that was principally reliant on The Rock the primary go round.
Typically these movies want an enormous villain for our heroes to go up in opposition to however this time round it’s principally an all-powerful being. Meaning we’re saved from any stereotypical monologues or story beats that we’ve seen time and time once more. As an alternative, the villain is basically a power of nature that our heroes should deal with. Given the fundamental strategy to the lore of this world, it feels very apropos. This can be a bizarre factor to focus on provided that this can be a musical, however I used to be extraordinarily impressed with how appropriately timed the music sections felt. They didn’t undercut any dramatic moments and are there to carry that trademark Disney pleasure and happiness. Although I definitely missed the Crab.
I actually cherished the visuals as I simply can’t get sufficient of that fantastical mysticism blended with islander tradition. The 2 mix collectively very effectively and make for some visually spectacular moments. Animation is getting so good that, if there wasn’t already a caricature look to the design, these individuals would enter uncanny valley. The hair seems to be prefer it could possibly be in live-action it’s so sensible. At a sure level, live-action stuff goes to really feel moot with how shut animation can get to the true factor.
Lin-Manuel Miranda didn’t return for the music this time round but it surely nonetheless sounds very comparable. There’s that Pacific Islander theme blended with varied up to date stylings. The largest distinction is that’s looks as if they weren’t in a position to disguise Dwayne Johnson’s lack of singing expertise. He’s principally simply reciting the traces and it actually stands out amongst the opposite powerhouse vocals. He solely actually will get the one track and that’s in all probability for one of the best. I nonetheless actually benefit from the Maui character and get that he’s the primary attraction for a lot of.
We’re in a wierd time as a result of, with the live-action model on the horizon, we might very effectively be seeing this sequel take the same route. However the world of Moana is a lot enjoyable; permitting for dramatic moments amongst the extra light-hearted ones. Moana 2 is ready to carry the same taste to the unique whereas really enhancing upon it in some ways. That is clearly not the final we’ve seen of Moana and buddies, and I’m certain that Disney will likely be making financial institution alongside the best way.
MOANA 2 RELEASES IN THEATERS ON NOVEMBER 27TH, 2024.
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