Moana 2 (2024)

So Moana 2.

Warning: This review will contain SPOILERS, so take this as you will.

Well, we are here now.

I mean what did you expect, of course when something gets popular, they get a sequel but Moana is in a different case. It was reported that Moana is the most watched movie on Disney+ so of course they are making the sequel and the live-action remakes.

Why, like just how did Disney get themselves like this?

The box office is kind of concerning because Disney's original movies flopped, they tried with Strange World on Disney plus and it fails miserably, they tried to put Wish but nobody likes this movie. Moana 2 in the other hand (in the box office) makes 1 Billion at the box office, that's crazy but again its concerning because they are just making sequel, sequel and sequel.

They making a live-action remake despite being 8 years old, this is getting out of hand and Disney is (obviously) blood thirsty for money.

But without a further-a-do lets get over with it:

My biggest problem with the movie is the narrative, the why they select it, it feels off.

Moana gets no struggle in the movie and the only thing she cares about is her people but the movie dosen't go any further then that.

I also think the pacing could have been better, like when you really think about it. The first movies works is because of the journey, it feels like a open world with scale and landscapes. It feels like the world or any where feels dangerous but here it's just big giant monster and the mountain by the end of movie.

Yeah, the movie dosen't offer much of its world building, I mean it's originally going to be a tv show but the executives make it a movie and it shows.

The new characters are pretty rushed, the girl who is smart and likes to wreck things, the guy is a Maui fanboy and the old guy is grumpy and dosn't like water. They show it but after the montage they are just there for out of the entire movie.

So Moana has a sister? Okay? She dosen't want Moana to go despite she leaves to a random mountain at the start of the movie so why is she upset here? I just don't get here inclusion.

Same with the villains, they are lame. The bat woman is a Tomatoa cop-out and Nalo is a joke.

They beat him for one battle and that's it, he appears in the end credits and holds the bat-woman hostage and that's about it. Wow, what a compelling villain which he just appears at the end of the movie with a few lines of dialogue.

While yes, I do think there are a few humourous things the movie but none of them make me laugh and I hate the stupid blob that goat scream. Its the most hideous sound effect I've ever heard and its incrediblely cheap. Like they just pick a stock sound.

Music?: I also need to address the music because its not the worst, most are fine I guess but I don't think they truly capture Miranda's music. Some many songs try to emulate his but it fails because they include a bit of tapping and quotes from the first movie but also the feel like reworking of the first movie. Like they are deleted songs.

Final Thoughts:

So overall it's a pretty painfully average mid movie with nothing to offer or expand the world of Moana. Its no where nearly as bad as Frozen 2 and no where near insulting as Ralph Breaks the Internet but its such a waste of time.

It works fine as a tv show with the least fluid and energy but they made it a Theatrical release because money. Of course but hey at least we have Tomatoa.

So that's everything I got to say!