Moana (2016)

Moana

• I’ll be honest, when I first watched this, I didn’t really like it all. I think that’s mostly because the soundtrack was so worn out from the kids at my school, so it got really obnoxious. I’ve also never been a big fan of animated movies made for kids. But on a rewatch in preparation for ‘Moana 2’, I loved it so much more. I let it sit in my mind for several years, and I can appreciate it much more now. Yes, maybe it’s a movie for kids, but there’s so much more you can take away from it. It’s about discovering yourself, bringing out the best in others, honoring your heritage, and forming new friendships. It’s so beautifully written, which is a huge reason why it’s one of the best animated films ever. Pure adventure is awesome. The animation is astoundingly good, and though it sometimes looks and feels like other Disney animated films, it’s the scenery and visuals that really sell it. The color is so vibrant and the key focus of the film. Obviously there’s great storytelling, like I said, but without the color, there’s no film. The ocean, the sky, all the characters and sea creatures, my goodness it’s good. The soundtrack is amazing, and though there’s one or two songs that don’t stick out to me as much as the others, most of the songs are very memorable and very well written. Lin Manuel-Miranda knows his stuff. Lastly, the voice cast was great, especially from Auli’i Cravalho. Not only is her acting amazing, but her vocals are so beautiful and powerful. Overall, this film is certainly one of the best animated ones out there, and I’m hoping the sequel can carry on the magic. I’d recommend this to all animation fans. This film is officially Berry Approved, so go watch it now!