I saw Moana yesterday on a whim with my boyfriend, and honestly, it was a fantastic Disney movie. My boyfriend and I were in downtown Santa Cruz to go to our favorite cafe for breakfast, and as we passed by the movie theater we saw that Moana was playing. My boyfriend immediately ran up to see what time the movie was playing and wanted to see it and so did I, so we did. I took a class this quarter on culture and art in the Pacific Islands and this movie corresponded directly with what I have been learning, as the movie took place in Oceania, a place filled with islanders who have a great connection with the ocean, with each other, and possess a great number of art pieces and relics that have a history behind them that is worth telling.
There has been a lot of controversial talk about this film, as some Pacific Islanders believe the film was an inaccurate portrayal of Oceania, while other Pacific Islanders believe the film accurately portrayed Oceania. In my opinion, I thought the film was a good portrayal of the Pacific Islands. I cannot directly put my personal experience into this argument as I am not a Pacific Islander, but the movie referenced a lot of things regarding culture, demigods, tattoo, the connection with the ocean, navigating the ocean, discovering new islands, connection between the different islands, canoes, etc. that makes up the life of Pacific Islanders. Although I thought some parts were stereotypically Disney, such as the plot circulating around an individual's mission to achieve something, embarking on the journey and facing many challenges, overcoming those challenges, accomplishing the goal, and having a happy ending, the film was still very enjoyable. My boyfriend also thoroughly enjoyed the movie as well.
The film kept me engaged throughout the entire showing, which is obviously a perk in my eyes. The combination of singing, dancing, intense action, and emotional parts in the film had me laughing, feeling sad, and on the edge of my seat waiting to see what was going to happen next. Yes I am a 19 year old girl who saw this movie with her 20 year old boyfriend even though the film specifically appeals to kids. However, it was a fantastic movie. I loved how I was able to recognize everything I learned in my Pacific Islands class in the film, which further showed me how the film did incorporate actual references from Oceania to try and accurately portray Pacific Islanders.
Yes, I am continuously saying in this post how I loved the movie and thought it was an accurate portrayal of the Pacific Islands, but I also think it is not a completely accurate portrayal. Some parts seemed very Disney-like as if Disney tweaked a few things to make it more appealing to their intended audience, and I think the film was a good step in portraying the Pacific Islands, but more work could be done. I am basically in the middle; I think that the film did a very good job of attempting to accurately represent the Pacific Islands, but some parts of the film did seem very Disney-like, and that they could be revised. However, if you want to see the movie, go see it. You do not need to have a kid to see this movie; anyone of any age can see this film. It is a worthwhile film to watch and is filled with comedy, action, and emotion, and gives a great insight into parts of Pacific Islander culture, and I can guarantee you will leave the movie awestruck by how good the film is.
Moana Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKFuXETZUsI
There has been a lot of controversial talk about this film, as some Pacific Islanders believe the film was an inaccurate portrayal of Oceania, while other Pacific Islanders believe the film accurately portrayed Oceania. In my opinion, I thought the film was a good portrayal of the Pacific Islands. I cannot directly put my personal experience into this argument as I am not a Pacific Islander, but the movie referenced a lot of things regarding culture, demigods, tattoo, the connection with the ocean, navigating the ocean, discovering new islands, connection between the different islands, canoes, etc. that makes up the life of Pacific Islanders. Although I thought some parts were stereotypically Disney, such as the plot circulating around an individual's mission to achieve something, embarking on the journey and facing many challenges, overcoming those challenges, accomplishing the goal, and having a happy ending, the film was still very enjoyable. My boyfriend also thoroughly enjoyed the movie as well.
The film kept me engaged throughout the entire showing, which is obviously a perk in my eyes. The combination of singing, dancing, intense action, and emotional parts in the film had me laughing, feeling sad, and on the edge of my seat waiting to see what was going to happen next. Yes I am a 19 year old girl who saw this movie with her 20 year old boyfriend even though the film specifically appeals to kids. However, it was a fantastic movie. I loved how I was able to recognize everything I learned in my Pacific Islands class in the film, which further showed me how the film did incorporate actual references from Oceania to try and accurately portray Pacific Islanders.
Yes, I am continuously saying in this post how I loved the movie and thought it was an accurate portrayal of the Pacific Islands, but I also think it is not a completely accurate portrayal. Some parts seemed very Disney-like as if Disney tweaked a few things to make it more appealing to their intended audience, and I think the film was a good step in portraying the Pacific Islands, but more work could be done. I am basically in the middle; I think that the film did a very good job of attempting to accurately represent the Pacific Islands, but some parts of the film did seem very Disney-like, and that they could be revised. However, if you want to see the movie, go see it. You do not need to have a kid to see this movie; anyone of any age can see this film. It is a worthwhile film to watch and is filled with comedy, action, and emotion, and gives a great insight into parts of Pacific Islander culture, and I can guarantee you will leave the movie awestruck by how good the film is.
Moana Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKFuXETZUsI