Who's excited for Moana?

It looks like it's going to be so gorgeous and amazing, I'm really looking forward to it. Thoughts?

Yes, more Disney, please. I think it looks very unique--I'm excited about the unusual setting and original visuals. ("Talking" tattoos? C'mon!) Since Disney's films have all been amazing as of late, I expect great things.

I just hope people sit back, relax, and make an effort to enjoy the film, instead of making a racial outrage over it. There always seem to be some controversy with films that attempt to embrace a new culture (whitewashing, or inaccuracies, etc.), and it'd be nice to just enjoy a new thing with an original story, and respect the creative idea, instead of assuming Disney had ill-intent.

Woohoo, we finally got to see this movie--at the theater at Disney Springs.

It definitely met my expectations. It was a solid story--I love how they wove traditional fables into the plot--with all of the solid elements I expected: some good humor, great characters, beautiful animation, and some good song numbers. I have to say that overall it wasn't as revolutionary as some of Disney's other recent titles (Frozen, Big Hero 6), but I have no reason to complain.

I just got to see it too! (While chaperoning date night for my bro and his girl, but whatever. XD) It's a gorgeous movie, and well-made.

Also. Alan Tudyk. Seriously. When will the day come I actually recognize him being a character before the credits roll.


Cons
Tamatoa???? like, wut?
Kinda felt like Pocahontas meets Tangled? Am I wrong?
I was a little underwhelmed with the plot. Maybe it's because I'm not familiar with Polynesian storytelling, but the story felt too easy? Like, I was never concerned about anything.

Pros:
No love interest.
Beautiful representation of folktales.
Atypical heroine.
Girl expected to be leader, actually groomed for leadership role.
No real villain???? That was cool.
Maui and Moana's relationship arc.
Moana's mother finds her running off and supports her. Yes!
I loooovvee their story of Te Fiti. So beautiful.
The muuuussiiiccccc
The animaaattiiooonnnnnnn

Regardling Polynesian folklore, I didn't know squat about that either, so I took it at face value. Therefore, I found this video Gaijin Goomba did recently very interesting. He unpacks all the cultural basis for Moana, and what Disney got right and wrong about Polynesian folklore. (If you don't follow Gaijin--and I highly recommend you do--he does cultural analysis videos on games and movies and finds the hidden cultural/folklore significance, or lack thereof, as the case may be. Very fascinating, and a clean and mature channel.)

https://youtu.be/Emn1TdkQmNs

Finally saw this. It was definitely funny - love the rooster and the ocean. And I liked the music though someone in my house has been playing the OST on repeat for the past two days and if I hear the theme song one more time... Oh - and I love that I didn't see the twist at the end coming - that's always nice, especially when you don't feel tricked like Frozen did.
But I have mixed feelings overall. It was a cute, sweet story but I agree with Caeli. It just felt weak on any deep themes/messages. Maui's backstory felt a little trite and tacked on, too - like they wanted to give him more depth but tried to shoehorn it in.