Holy Fuck, I Love the OceanI should probably stop swearing so much in my analysis for kids movies &a

Holy Fuck, I Love the OceanI should probably stop swearing so much in my analysis for kids movies … Ah well. How many kids have Tumblr, anyway?Back to the point. The ocean. I don’t know if you figured it out from the giant anchor in my icon, but I’ve always absolutely loved it. The beach is my safe place, and ironically, it leads to my biggest fears (I’ve been afraid of fish since second grade).So now here comes this movie– a glorious, wonderful movie at that– that’s so much fun, so heartfelt, so well put together, and centers itself entirely around the ocean? Even if I usually pretended to be unbiased, which I don’t, I mean, I just … what the HELL, Disney? i’M IN LOVE???Okay, so you can tell I had a good time. And if you haven’t seen it yet, I’ve just gotta say, you have my recommendation. Go enjoy it. Right now. I’ll be here when you get back, I promise, I love you. I’ll just sit here and wait for you to come home.… I take it if your eyeballs are scrolling over this you’re ready for the rest of it? Good. Because there are some spoilers ahoy!Hero’s JourneyLet’s talk story. I’ve seen a couple of reviews for Moana so far, and what seems to trip a few people up the most (if anything does) is that the story seems pretty standard. You know, the classic hero’s journey, road-trip style. There may be one or two neat twists (there are), but nothing groundbreaking, I guess.And is it true? Well, yeah, but at the same time, it really suits this movie. The hero’s journey (from what I know, but always feel free to fact check me) is Greek in origin, and for Westerners like me it’s the way some of our greatest legends and myths were told. Homer’s Odyssey, the Iliad, all that good stuff.One of the many cool things about this movie is how it incorporates real Polynesian legend, like the character of Maui. It’s a movie partially about myths, so using the classic hero’s journey formula just feels right to me.Note: I don’t know if the hero’s journey really originated from Greece, or if it was used elsewhere, like the Polynesian islands– but I’d like to learn! I can do the research myself, but I’d rather leave this note here instead because I’m bound to make mistakes, and encouraging your own research and knowledge seemed like a better call So, yes, it’s a standard structure, but in a movie this well made it’s also a solid foundation, for all the other elements to shine. Like, say, the music!DAMN, LIN! YOU’RE ON FIRE!So, you’ve definitely heard Lin-Manuel Miranda, writer and composer of Hamilton, wrote the soundtrack to this movie. I know when I first heard that, I suspected it would be similar to Tarzan’s soundtrack, composed in large part by Phil Collins.But the thing about the Tarzan soundtrack is that you can hear Phil Collins basically everywhere, by which I literally mean hear him because he’s singing the majority of the songs. And just like Lin, he’s got such a distinct voice that you can instantly recognize it’s him (if you know the name).Which is why I thought it’s be a lot like that, hearing Opetaia Foa’i/We Know the Way in the trailer, when he sings the English part. And while you can hear his influence in there, for sure, Moana’s soundtrack is all its own– and ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC. The score and the music numbers sell every feeling they want to feel and totally reel you in to the setting and culture.I mean, we had to listen to it all the way home, it was so good! Bravo again, you freaking genius you.And a quick note on the voice-acting? All phenomenal, so many great deliveries from both old stars in the industry and new. The girl behind Moana, Auli’i Cravalho, has a bright future ahead of her.“Modern Disney Princess”For as long as I can remember, there’s been talk of the “modern Disney Princess.” And I can understand why. Disney has such a special place in our hearts, and more importantly, the hearts of our children. We want all our kids to have role-models, right? If Disney’s going to continue to shape so much of our childhoods, we really hope we’re shaping them with the right ideals.And … oh my god. Oh my god, you guys. Moana. MOANA.I love– no fucking adore that Moana isn’t a statement character. She isn’t someone who always has to constantly remind you ‘Hey! I’m a girl! And Polynesian! Deal with it! I’m a strong female character!’ … she just is, and we can appreciate her all the more for it!The movie never shoves it down your throat that you should be applauding because wow! So progressive! It just lets Moana be strong, and resourceful, and relatable (LittleNightwing’s never related to a Disney princess more, by the way). It feels so built in to who she is, and hell, even the world around her– the village looks to her for guidance and there’s never any questions about it. And how well (I’m told) she and the rest of this movie represents the culture? And lets even more little kids feel included in the Disney world (again– it depends if you count Lilo)?It’s just so natural and a part of me feels like me pointing it out sorta ruins that, but I just … I just had to give them so much props. I’m so, so happy that Moana is a character kids are growing up with. The same way Elsa can represent a Disney Princess with mental illness, but doesn’t have to shove that in your face, either. I don’t know. It … it’s just the best thing.Moana is an absolutely awesome character. Funny, inventive, emotional, REALLY relatable, and exactly what I think of when I think modern Disney princess … despite the fact that I’m pretty sure she’s the most ancient Disney princess in the timeline.BeautifulNow we get to my favourite part of any animated movie Fangirling About– the animation!I don’t understand how Disney can keep topping itself like this. Every movie they put out keeps getting more technically and visually advanced, and this no exception. Before I get into the technical side, I have to give Maui his obligatory shoutout (yes, Maui, I love you). We may be past the age of 2-D and traditional animation, but his tattoos feel like a nice homage to that. You know, just ten years ago, in 2006? They couldn’t have made this movie. Not anything like this at least. In fact:That’s the second Ice Age movie, Meltdown. Now that’s a movie with a lot of water, too, and it’s 10 years old now.Is this a fair comparison? Heck no (I mean, I also grabbed a really drab screenshot to be entirely fair), that’s the point!Look how far the technology has come– it’s not like Meltdown didn’t do water well, it looks pretty dang good, but if you watch the two of these movies side by side you’ll see the difference in how the water moves– how it looks on hair, how it reflects and refracts.Some of my favourite reviewers have been joking that Moana is like Wind Waker: the musical, and it’s so true, because both Wind Waker, in all its stylized, cartoony glory, and Moana in its beautiful, high definition style– the capture the feeling of the ocean. And I don’t know if it’s just me, but I really, really appreciate that.(Oh, and Hei Hei? Absolutely mcfreaking hilarious)So, yeah, I might have a new favourite Disney movie. LittleNightwing does, too, though, so maybe I’m not alone. Maybe it’ll be a lot of people’s favourite Disney movie.Just … be prepared for another Let it Go. There’s no telling how far this’ll go. -- source link

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