Moana

Evie Totty: “It was ok.”

I don't know why - but I seem to like the animated films that everyone loves less than everyone else haha.

− December 30, 2016 • more by Evie • log in or create an account to reply

Scott Hardie: This doesn't look terribly appealing to me. The grumpy-giant-man-paired-with-sassy-young-girl trope is wearing thin in everything from Trolls to Wreck-It Ralph. The weightlessness of the CGI, with Maui able to hop around and toss that giant hook as if he's on moon gravity, is irksome to me for some reason. And I get tired of hearing Moana described as Disney's first Polynesian princess when these girls came first, even if they're not canonically royalty. I'm sure it's a fun movie and I'll enjoy it when I eventually get around to seeing it; I'm just not rushing to the theater. − December 30, 2016 • more by Scott

Evie Totty: I forgot to reply to this: EXACTLY. Sick of these tropes man. − May 10, 2017 • more by Evie

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Erik Bates: “It ruled.”

I'm going to go ahead and preface this review with the important recognition of bias in that I am currently in a frame of mind in which Lin-Manuel Miranda can do no wrong.

I found this movie to be fun, touching, light-hearted, comical, and serious in all the right ways and all the right times. Say what you will about the "grumpy-giant-man-paired-with-sassy-young-girl" trope. I liked it. Though I do agree with the sentiment.

But back to my opening statement: I loved the music. It was catchy and fun, and really made the movie that much more enjoyable.

− April 24, 2017 • more by Erik • log in or create an account to reply

Scott Hardie: I'll take a look. i was probably being too hard on it. I've heard good things about the music and the movie. − April 29, 2017 • more by Scott

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Scott Hardie: “It was ok.”

I was fairly disappointed in this, and I didn't have high expectations to begin with. Yeah, it's clearly made with a lot of skill, and the animation of water and fire and wind is impressive, and some of the songs are good, and the chicken is amusing. But this feels like a cheap, watered-down version of these Polynesian legends, forced to fit the Disney mold, and something about the film's treatment of these exoticized barefoot foreigners felt wrong to me in a way that I can't quite put my finger on. The overexaggerated facial expressions and the weightlessness of the action really grated on my nerves, and the adherence to plot formula is so standard by now that characters don't even bother explaining their motives because who cares? Anyway, it's a divisive film judging from what I'm seeing online; some of its fans passionately love it and I can see why, but count me among the people who just couldn't get on its wavelength.

− August 27, 2017 • more by Scott • log in or create an account to reply

Scott Hardie: A minor but still annoying nitpick: Moana is said in the dialogue to be eight years old. Eight! She possesses way too much maturity and independence for eight years old. I would have believed eighteen. I spent too many scenes in the movie wondering, "Am I supposed to believe an eight-year-old is doing that?" − August 27, 2017 • more by Scott

Erik Bates: Hmm... I don't remember hearing anything about her being 8. According to this article (warning, auto-play video), she's 16. − August 28, 2017 • more by Erik

Scott Hardie: I swear I heard it. I searched online and didn't find any confirmation, even in exhaustive fan wikis that would normally record that information. I'll take your word for it. − August 28, 2017 • more by Scott

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