Moana 2 (2024)★ 7.2/10

As long as Disney continues making movies that focus on freedom, bravery, love, and world peace, I'll keep showing up to watch them.

A blend of musical, adventure, and animation that mirrors its predecessor but lacks its depth and originality. While Moana remains a strong symbol of female empowerment, the sequel’s overly predictable plot and occasional lapses in logic leave it feeling like a pale imitation of the first.

A vibrant continuation of Moana’s journey that's stunning and heartwarming. This Disney sequel expands its world with a thrilling narrative full of unexpected twists and surprises while exploring Moana’s growth as she embraces new challenges. The film’s lush visuals and imaginative storytelling create a mesmerizing experience that celebrates courage, resilience, and the beauty of discovery.

I can’t believe it’s already been eight years since MOANA came out. I remember loving the music, the amazing visuals, and the great chemistry with the lead characters. Now we have MOANA 2, taking place three years after the events of the original. Moana (Auli’i Cravalho) has been searching for clues of other islands in the open sea. After finding her first clue, the ancestors point her in the direction of a sunken island cursed by an angry god named Nalo that could finally connect seafarers from across the water. With the help of a few new characters (who felt kind of useless and dumb), along with Maui of course (Dwayne Johnson’s gotta get paid again this month), they go on another adventure that feels very like their first one. I actually enjoyed this a little more than I thought I would. The animation is spectacular, easily the highlight of this movie, and apparently the first feature film done at the Walt Disney Animation Studio right here in Vancouver (yay us!). The songs are not from the genius mind of Lin-Manuel Miranda, which is a shame. They’re nowhere near as memorable as the original. The story starts off meandering. It doesn’t really kick in until the third act. The idea of MOANA 2 started off as a Disney+ TV series, until they announced that it had been reworked as a theatrical movie. I guess Disney is finally realizing that Disney+ isn’t the answer for everything. Unfortunately, I could still feel the episodic structure. This is also more kid-friendly than the original, which is…fine I guess. This is tough because I genuinely enjoyed the final act, but getting there felt like going through rough waves. I could feel the “sequelitis”, a sickness movie executives go through that requires them to shoot off a similar story but make it feel like a cash grab. Speaking of money, MOANA 2 has already broken box office records, making boatloads of money. I enjoy how Moana isn’t concerned about finding love, she’s just focused on connecting humanity together, which I can vibe with. There is a very important mid-credits scene that honestly should’ve been in the actual movie. I’m not sure if another installment is necessary, but I still think this should be seen on the big screen. Am I getting more critical with my critiques? Yes, I believe I am.

Buena

🥰

Ni la he usado

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Vaiana, una adolescente de las islas del sur del Pacífico, atraviesa el océano y explora el mundo para demostrar que es tan valiente como el resto de su familia. En su periplo se encontrará con Maui, quien en el pasado fue un semidios poderoso.