Disney' new movie, "Moana," the tale of a witty brave young girl fighting for the salvation of her people, has been long awaited. Well, it's finally here! After seeing it, uncontrollably sobbing a few times and almost falling off my theater seat laughing, I completely fell in love with the story. Here are five reasons why you should love it, too!
1. Who needs a knight in shining armor?
Moana doesn't, thats for sure! She does not have a love interest in this Disney film, unlike many of their other productions. Moana and Maui, the demigod tasked with helping her return the heart back to Te Fiti, have a mentor and pupil relationship. There is nothing to get in her way of saving the day! I truly loved this because it shows the audience that love isn't everything, sometimes you need much more.
2. Chief Moana
Moana is the daughter of Chief Tui, a powerful and nenign chieftain who is like a father to the entire village. Throughout the movie, Chief Tui makes it very apparent that Moana is the rightful heir to the throne and no one questions it. Yes, that's right, NO ONE objects to a female leader; there are no riots nor smart remarks about her ability to rule. In fact, everyone applauds her and believes she will govern the village wisely and kindly.
3. Lin-Manuel Miranda, Alessia Cara, Olivia Foa'i, and many more
The musical quality of this movie is mind-blowing, but then again, how can we be surprised when Disney has hand picked the best of the best? I promise these musical geniuses will have you singing along very loudly in a crowded theater, and if you don't... well then you might not have a heart.
4. Aced the Bechdel-Wallace Test
The Bechdel-Wallace is a common movie test to see whether or not the movie portrays common gender stereotypes. The criteria to pass the test include: 1) movie has to have at least two main female characters 2) they must talk to each other 3) and they must talk about something other than a man. In "Moana," her mother and grandmother play huge roles in encouraging Moana to follow her destiny and to venture off beyond the reef.
5. Beautiful Portrayal and Respect for Polynesian Culture
Tons of research went into the five-year production of "Moana" in order to truly capture the Polynesian culture in the right way. Researchers traveled to many countries such as Fiji, Samoa, Tahiti, Mo'orea, New Zealand, Bora Bora and Tetearoa. They put forth a lot of effort to incorporate the culture into the movie to provide a real ,inside look at a beautiful culture. That hard work and dedication should not go un-rewarded.
So go out buy a ticket , some popcorn and a large soda and sit down to enjoy a truly gorgeous and amazing story. Good job Disney, you killed it!
