A brave teenager named Moana leaves her island for the first time and sails with a shape-shifting demigod named Maui to fix a dangerous curse.
Many Disney remakes have suffered critical and commercial failures, with “Snow White” sparking controversy over the film’s changes to the story, casting, actors’ political issues, and its reliance on sloppy visuals and CGI. The recent “Lilo & Stitch” remake, however, received lukewarm reviews and, having grossed over $1 billion at the box office, reignited the studio’s interest in making more remakes. The film follows Moana, who answers the Ocean’s call and, for the first time, voyages beyond the reef of her island, Motunui, with the infamous demigod Maui on an unforgettable journey to restore prosperity to her people.
Catherine Laga’aia stars as the lead character, marking her acting debut, while Dwayne Johnson returns as Maui and also serves as a producer. Like the animated version, the story follows her character’s desire to explore beyond the Ocean, despite her parents’ and tribe’s objections. She learns her people were once voyagers and embarks on a quest to find Te Fiti’s heart and restore her homeland. Lagaʻaia delivers a standout performance, and Johnson brings enthusiasm and commitment to Maui. Their on-screen chemistry is engaging, with Johnson enjoying the opportunity to perform musical numbers on set instead of in a recording booth.
Director Thomas Kail, known for his work on “Hamilton,” leads this reimagining, with franchise writers Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller returning for the screenplay. Auli’i Cravalho, the original voice of Moana, did not reprise her role but serves as an executive producer. Jemaine Clement returns to voice Tamatoa, while Disney voice-acting veteran Alan Tudyk, the voice of Heihei, is also the only main cast member not to return. The film largely repeats the original plot and lacks new ideas.
The additional dialogue, CGI, and visual effects are unremarkable, and the pacing follows a standard two-hour format. However, the musical numbers and the performances of Laga’aia and Johnson provide the film’s highlights. While visually adequate, the production feels driven by commercial motives, rather than creative ambition. Despite their flaws, the filmmakers aimed to create an enjoyable experience for children and Moana fans. It’s hard to describe my Disney fan experience when it comes to anything new and original.
“Moana” is a disappointing, unnecessary live-action remake that rehashes the style of the original animated version. I was 20 years old when the first animated version came out in 2016, along with Zootopia, and those two films were the peak of cinema for me. Since “Moana” isn’t making enough money and is set to hit streaming services soon, there is no chance a future sequel will be made. We already got “Moana 2,” released in 2024, which received mixed reviews but has grossed over $1 billion at the box office. Even though it’s a terrible live-action movie by Disney, I will still show up anyway since I’m a Disney buff.
Now available on Digital, and on 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™, and DVD October 6th
10k
20k
1.5k
2.2k