The Sea Didn’t Call Moana This Time

I’m torn about the new Moana. On the one hand, I enjoyed the story, but on the other, I don’t think we needed it.

The original Moana is undoubtedly one of Disney’s best films, so why did it need a live-action remake? Well, money, of course. At the moment, the film is struggling to sell tickets, and I think that’s because audiences are growing tired of remakes.

I almost feel guilty for enjoying parts of the film, and that’s purely because of the story. The animation worked brilliantly, but in this version there are simply too many things that don’t translate well. I think the cast is excellent, and I absolutely love the songs, but not everything comes together as well as it should.

The fact that it’s almost a shot-for-shot remake is actually one of the things I like about it. The reason is that it still delivers all the right emotional moments. At its core, the story remains the same, and that’s exactly why I loved the original film so much. Moana is a remarkable character, and her journey remains deeply moving.

The filmmakers have made a few changes here and there, including adding a handful of jokes aimed at adults that will hopefully go over younger viewers’ heads. There are also scenes that simply don’t make the transition from animation to live action very well, yet they decided to include them anyway. Even so, one of the film’s greatest strengths remains its cast.

Original vs remake

Catherine Laga’aia is outstanding. I genuinely can’t think of anyone better suited to the role. She has incredible screen presence, and her singing is even more impressive. Her chemistry with Dwayne Johnson works wonderfully, and while we’re on the subject of The Rock, I’m honestly surprised his wig didn’t get washed away by the sea. He’s excellent as Maui, although his larger-than-life presence can occasionally be a little distracting.

The rest of the cast also delivers strong performances, and I’m pleased to say the singing is consistently excellent throughout. Unfortunately, the world around them looks a little too artificial, and not in a good way. It’s painfully obvious that much of the film was shot against green screens. The original worked not only because of its story, but also because of the rich, beautiful world it invited audiences to explore.

Sadly, this version doesn’t quite capture that magic. Some of the visual effects feel cheap and unfinished. I admire what the cast and crew were trying to achieve, and I appreciate that they kept the story largely unchanged, but I don’t think everyone will see that as a positive.

A remake should usually offer something fresh that sets it apart from the original, but unfortunately this one doesn’t. Do I think less critical audiences will enjoy it? Maybe. Do I think it’s a good family film? Absolutely. Is it a film I’ll watch again? No… unless they’re paying me.

Moana is still light-years better than Snow White, but it ultimately feels unnecessary. For me, Moana earns 2 out of 5 stars.