Set sail with ‘Moana’ this weekend
The newest film from Walt Disney Animation Studios invites audiences to set sail for adventure along with Moana Waialiki in the latest film “Moana” in theaters this weekend.
In the film, the main character Moana (voiced by Auli’I Cravalho in her acting debut) is the only daughter of the chief, who loves the sea and going on adventures. When her family calls on her to help she must set out on an odyssey. Joining her on her journey is the demigod Maui (voiced by Dwayne Johnson “Central Intelligence” and “The Mummy Returns.”)
In addition to vibrant computer animation, the film features original songs from Lin-Manuel Miranda, the writer and creator behind “Hamilton” and “In the Heights;” Mark Mancina, who co-wrote, produced and arranged the score for the musical production of “The Lion King;” and Opetaia Foa’I, a songwriter, producer and member of the band Te Vaka.
In an interview with Michael Gioia from Playbill.com, Cravalho shared the words of advice that Miranda had told her about life.
“He basically told me to be myself, which is something that I think everyone hears, but to really internalize it, and to hear it from him — someone who has had so much success — and (realize) that all you really need to get there is to be yourself, it hit me true,” she said in the interview.
The film had received early criticism for the portrayal of Maui. Many of the critics said it promoted a negative stereotype since the demigod was portrayed as obese.
Johnson, whose mother is Samoan, said during a press conference in Los Angeles to promote the film, “There was some hesitance from a lot of people in our culture as well; ‘What’s going to happen if our culture is going to be showcased for the very first time on this level and this capacity from Disney?’
“I can tell you …with great confidence, and this is my hope too as well, that our experience has been that we were in such great hands.
“I feel like the Polynesian people are going to be incredibly proud of the movie.”
Early critic reviews of the movie have been very favorable.
“‘Moana’ has a lot of the hallmarks of your classic Disney adventure-the goofy animal sidekicks, the feel-good messages – but its heroine is something new, a smart and fiery deviation from your standard European lovestruck princesses,” wrote Devan Coggan of Entertainment Weekly.
The film is rated PG for peril, some scary images and brief thematic elements.
Other films new to theaters this weekend include:
n “Rules Don’t Apply” starring Lily Collins, Haley Bennett and Taissa Farmiga and directed by Warren Beatty in this comedic romance about an aspiring actress, an in love driver and the unique billionaire they work for.
The film is rated PG-13 for sexual material including brief strong language, thematic elements and drug references.
n “Bad Santa 2” starring Billy Bob Thornton, Kathy Bates and Tony Cox and directed by Mark Waters in a film about a not so jolly Santa who teams up with his sidekick to rip off a charity on Christmas Eve. The film is rated R for crude sexual content and language throughout, and some graphic nudity.
n “Lion” starring Rooney Mara, Nicole Kidman and Dev Patel and directed by Garth Davis in this drama about a young boy who is lost in the streets of India, far away from home.
Before being adopted he faces many of life’s challenges and then later sets off to find his family.
The film is rated PG-13 for thematic material and some sensuality.