‎Moana (2016) directed by Ron Clements, John Musker • Reviews, film + cast • Letterboxd

Moana

2016 Directed by Ron Clements, John Musker

The ocean is calling.

In Ancient Polynesia, when a terrible curse incurred by Maui reaches an impetuous Chieftain's daughter's island, she answers the Ocean's call to seek out the demigod to set things right.

Auli'i Cravalho Dwayne Johnson Rachel House Temuera Morrison Jemaine Clement Nicole Scherzinger Alan Tudyk Louise Bush Chris Jackson Oscar Kightley Troy Polamalu Puanani Cravalho

107 mins More details at IMDb TMDb Report this film

Popular reviews

Review by Evan ★★★★½ 19

Not only is Moana the best animated film I've seen in 2016, it's one of the better films I've seen in general in 2016!

Moana >>> Frozen.

This is probably my favorite animated film since Toy Story 3. Yes, I enjoyed Moana that much!
Review by Kait ★★★★ 2

I had to go to the campus health center tonight bc I was having an anxiety attack and the nurse let me watch this on her computer so shoutout to jennifer
Review by Arielrocks5 ★★★★½ 63

I can not put into words how happy this movie made me.

Ron Clements and John Musker have and always will be two of my heroes. Ever since I saw "The Little Mermaid" for the first time about three years ago, I've never been the same. They awoke something deep inside my heart that very few people did. The only others who have come close to doing the same magic are, most recently in fact, Charlie Kaufman and Duncan Jones.

Granted, it's an entirely different story with what the latter did than the former, but it doesn't change what the former did and managed to do once again here.

"Moana" reminded me of why I love Disney the way I…
Review by Sally Jane Black 22

CW: erasure, appropriation, white supremacy/racism, capitalism, feminism/gender, trans stories, urine reference

A goddess of life, of verdure, of creation, is sought out by a masculine force of divine power, and for a time, becomes infernal, until she is restored in a moment of regret by the same masculine force. Then, spring returns. Her name is Persephone, kidnapped by Hades at the discretion of Zeus, then later restored (for part of the year) by Zeus again. The pieces, places, people are different. The story is structured in a different way. New elements are introduced in different versions. A woman knows herself, but dominant masculine forces erase it. She remembers herself when they are changed by her restorative powers; a woman knows…
Review by adrianbalboa ★★★★★

☝️ I 🖐 AM 🌸 MOANA 🌺 of 🏖 MOTUNUI ⛰YOU 👉 WILL 🚶 BOARD 🏃 MY ⛵️ BOAT 🛶 SAIL 🚣‍♀️ ACROSS 🗺 THE 🌅 OCEAN 🌊 and ✊️ RESTORE 👊 THE 💜 HEART 💙 OF 🏞 TE FITI 🌋‼️
Review by SilentDawn ★★★★ 2

74

So pleasing in its aesthetic depiction of elements corresponding along with Moana's main journey that you'll cry from the sheer beauty of each beat in its obstacle structure. The environment is seamless in how it represents emotion by literally rising to life as dancing textures and substances - renditions of internal state - within her familiar quest. Its specificity matters, clinging to the beauty of showcasing an underrepresented culture taking the reins in a decidedly accustomed Mythic system. Unequivocally gorgeous and warm.

Recent reviews

Review by Melina ★★★★

As much as I loved the chicken.. Why didn't the pig get to on the adventure with them?
Review by Olly ★★★★★

My intense adoration of this movie isn't out there at all, it's inside me.
Review by Chris Richmond ★★ 1

This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

Me while watching this film: "This feels a lot like a mish-mash of The Little Mermaid and Hercules"

Me when finding out the guys who made The Little Mermaid and Hercules also made this: "Ah, right."

Is it too much to ask for something new?

Congrats guys, you paid tribute to Polynesian culture...with a formula-dependent, uber-predictable movie.

There are basically two characters here, and neither one is particularly deep or memorable, though Moana is at least thankfully a resourceful and headstrong woman who only kinda relies on a man to get things done.

I say "kinda" because she also relies on the ocean's supernatural powers, which effectively remove nearly any and all conflict she may encounter.

But given that Moana…
Review by osttimor ★★★½

Rather weak story about an interesting topic.

6,75/10
Review by gigi ★★★★

the hamilton man really made the
Review by Elya ★★★★½

One day they will finally retire Frozen and ask a Moana question at my regular film trivia night and my friends will see me shine as bright as Tamatoa.
Review by Jeremy Wilkerson ★★★★★

WOOOOOHOOOOO it’s still very good and I liked it even more this time
Review by Arne ★★★★

Wirklich schöner Film. Nicht der stärkste von Disney, aber wir reden hier immerhin über einen Disney Animationsfilm. Das verspricht Qualität, die der Film auch liefert.

Ich habe den Film auf deutsch gesehen und die Synchro ist allgemein sehr gut. Bei den Liedern, die wie gewohnt schön sind, bevorzuge ich allerdings deutlich das Original.
Review by Tim Bo ★★★★

Eigentlich bin ich nicht so der Freund von Filmen in denen ständig gesungen wird, aber ich muss echt zugeben: Bei "Vaiana" ist das alles einfach stimmig und der Film macht mir gute Laune. Klasse!

Mal nebenbei: Wer hat bei den "Piraten" auch gedacht an: Mad Max meets Minions? :D