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Is Moana the best animated film Disney has ever made?

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Mossybrew

Mossybrew

Member
Just watched it this weekend for the first time and am tending to agree with OP. Wasn't expecting it to be so good.
 
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dude

dude
What? Out of all of Disney's recent efforts, this one ranks probably lowest for me. It was a huge disappointment coming after the genius Zootopia.
 
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faridmon

Member
Zootopia is the best Disney Film there is.

The only aspect I prefer Moana is the visuals, but everything else, Zootopia has done it better.
 
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Gravy Boat

Member
I actually thought Moana was pretty weak as far as Disney goes. No memorable villain , none of the songs left me whistling them hours or days later, the ending felt really rushed. It was fine but it was no Aladdin.

I still enjoyed it but it wouldn't be top 10 Disney for me I don't think.
 
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Fancyarcher

Member
It's good, but there are certainly several Disney films I prefer over it.

Gravy Boat said:
I actually thought Moana was pretty weak as far as Disney goes. No memorable villain , none of the songs left me whistling them hours or days later, the ending felt really rushed. It was fine but it was no Aladdin.
Click to expand...

Lacking a memorable villain doesn't it make bad, though. I actually think the decision to not have a specific "evil" antagonist worked in the film's favor, for the most part.
 
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Gravy Boat

Member
Fancyarcher said:
It's good, but there are certainly several Disney films I prefer over it.



Lacking a memorable villain doesn't it make bad, though. I actually think the decision to not have a specific "evil" antagonist worked in the film's favor, for the most part.
Click to expand...

It made it less enjoyable for me. Disney villains are often the best characters.
 
D

Doc Holliday

SPOILER: Columbus finds America
I liked Zootopia and Tangled more out of the 3d ones.

Lion King, 101 Dalmatians, Pinocchio, Bambi, The Jungle Book and Beauty and the beast are better overall.
 
Mossybrew

Mossybrew

Member
dude said:
What? Out of all of Disney's recent efforts, this one ranks probably lowest for me. It was a huge disappointment coming after the genius Zootopia.
Click to expand...

Interesting. I found Zootopia entertaining enough, but it just didn't have any emotional resonance for me.
 
kunonabi

kunonabi

Member
Gravy Boat said:
I actually thought Moana was pretty weak as far as Disney goes. No memorable villain , none of the songs left me whistling them hours or days later, the ending felt really rushed. It was fine but it was no Aladdin.

I still enjoyed it but it wouldn't be top 10 Disney for me I don't think.
Click to expand...

With a better singer you're welcome would have been the best Disney song in years.
 
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sirap

Member
Finally watched this on BR and thought it was okay. Great premise and ending but I found the middle lacking.

Classics are definitely still up there.
 
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Ethelwulf

Member
Saw it during the weekend and it is absolutely fantastic! On my top 3 CG Disney movies easily. The music, damn. Really got me there. We know the way, You're welcome, Shiny.... Thought about David Bowie during the Shiny scene and it looks like this song is a tribute! Also, touching lyrics that match the story, setting and art-style:

"We tell the stories of our elders in a never ending chain".

Moana's so cool. Mawi's so funny lol.

Only Disney can do this.
 
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Dalek

Member
I don't think any other Disney scene gives me goosebumps the way "I Am Moana (Song of the Ancients)" Does. Fucking amazing
 
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jem0208

Member
I thought it massively overrated. I really don't understand why everyone loves it so much.

The best bit was Jemaine Clement singing the shiny song. Everything else was predictable, generic and boring.


Edit: visually it was amazing though.
 
A

AmaterasuOni

Banned
I'm one of those who doesn't like Disney animations that much. I hate their spontaneous singing and that sugary feeling they have.

And I liked Moana. Vaiana for us. I actually ranked it on top of the Disney flicks. I haven't seen Lion King etc. in may many years, so my memories of them are a bit foggy. Vaiana is the best modern Disney at least.

I don't count Pixar movies as Disney animations though. I love Pixar. They're my favorite animation studio alongside Laika.
 
M

mrkgoo

Member
AmaterasuOni said:
I'm one of those who doesn't like Disney animations that much. I hate their spontaneous singing and that sugary feeling they have.

And I liked Moana. Vaiana for us. I actually ranked it on top of the Disney flicks. I haven't seen Lion King etc. in may many years, so my memories of them are a bit foggy. Vaiana is the best modern Disney at least.

I don't count Pixar movies as Disney animations though. I love Pixar. They're my favorite animation studio alongside Laika.
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Have you seen Zootopia?
 
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Aceun

Member
I think Moana will stand the test of time. Lion King still remains my favorite Disney movie, but Moana is pretty darn close to taking the title.

I think it does one of the most excellent jobs of presenting the monomyth or the Hero's journey. The fact that it is linked to a really great monomyth style origin with its deities is particularly compelling.

Still the only reason why it doesn't edge out the Lion King (or even Wreck-It-Ralph which for me holds the title of the most faithful telling of the Hero's journey), is that it lacks a true foil for Moana in the form of a compelling villain.

Other than that, the visuals and music are standouts. Moana is immediately likable and she grows in her journey. Maui is a great companion and even has his own hero arc.

In terms of modern Disney movies though, Zootopia is the clear winner.
 
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Aurongel

Member
It wasn't even the best animated Disney film of that year.

But let's make something clear, the fact that Zootopia and Moana are two of the best animated films in a decade is a huge, huge achievement. Even if you don't prefer Zootopia, I can't imagine anyone looking at that without being impressed.
 
E

Extollere

Sucks at poetry
I watched it high as hell and it was fucking AWESOME.

If I watched it sober, I imagine it would still be good I guess.
 
S

ShemhazaiX

Member
No where near Disney renaissance tier. I thought it was a good movie, but suffered the same pacing and weak conflict issues that Frozen had, albeit had a more likeable cast in general than Frozen.

Has a long way to go to reach Beauty and the Beast, Lion King, Little Mermaid etc. Was about Hercules tier in my opinion.

.JayZii said:
Disney villains are often the best characters. Maybe not in the movies since Princess and the Frog, but still.
Click to expand...

Princess and the Frog gets slept on so much. Was the first time in a very long time that a Disney movie felt like it actually had a plot.
 
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Atomic Playboy

Member
As a father of a young child, I feel comfortable saying the songs are right up there with the best Disney has done. I've been listening to them multiple times a day for a couple weeks now, which is usually enough to drive you completely bonkers, but they're really well done. The way "You're Welcome" not only gives you Maui's backstory, but also incorporates him tricking Moana and stealing her boat into the lyrics; that's solid songwriting right there. It doesn't hold a candle to Beauty and the Beast, so the OP is technically wrong, but it's a great movie.
 
B

BumRush

Member
Atomic Playboy said:
As a father of a young child, I feel comfortable saying the songs are right up there with the best Disney has done. I've been listening to them multiple times a day for a couple weeks now, which is usually enough to drive you completely bonkers, but they're really well done. The way "You're Welcome" not only gives you Maui's backstory, but also incorporates him tricking Moana and stealing her boat into the lyrics; that's solid songwriting right there. It doesn't hold a candle to Beauty and the Beast, so the OP is technically wrong, but it's a great movie.
Click to expand...

Are you me???
 
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prophecy0

Member
I finally got around to watching Moana this weekend and my wife and I absolutely loved it. It's definitely within my top 5 Disney movies. The songs, animation, characters, and COLOR were just all fantastic.
 
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U2NUMB

Member
my 4 year old girl loves this movie.. THANK GOD SOMETHING REPLACED FROZEN... but I must admit the setting.. the songs.. the animation are all great.
 
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farisr

Member
It's a decent movie, but yeah, not even close to Disney's best. Does have one of the best songs in recent years though.
 
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.JayZii

Banned
ShemhazaiX said:
Princess and the Frog gets slept on so much. Was the first time in a very long time that a Disney movie felt like it actually had a plot.
Click to expand...
It has some strong elements that don't really come together into a satisfying whole.

I wish it had done better because I'd kill for them to return to the hand drawn 2D look for more movies.
 
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