By Megan Ruge Living and arts editor
As 2016 came to an end, many new movies premiered in theaters. This is often the case at the end of a year, because film companies want the movies to be considered during awards season. Since this is the case, many of the new films released at the end of last year are now on DVD.
One of the many films coming out on DVD is Disney’s newest “princess” movie “Moana.” Nominated for several awards, the film follows the story of a young Polynesian girl who is destined to be chief of her people, but something inside her is calling her to break her father’s only rule: keep your feet on the land and stay out of the water.
In the film, the people of Motunui know the legend of a demigod who was in charge of making life better for humans. He devoted his time to pulling islands out of the water and harnessing the breeze. Maui, the demigod, also decided to steal the heart of the goddess Ta Fiti to give humans the power to create life itself.
Instead of creating an opportunity for them, the theft of the item plunged the islands into a spreading darkness that will kill the islands one by one. The only way to stop the spread of darkness is to find Maui, retrieve the heart and return it to the goddess Ta Fiti before it is too late. In the film, the ocean chooses Moana to accomplish this task.
One of the most well done aspects of this films is the use of history. Every Disney princess movie happens at a different place and time in history. “Beauty and the Beast” occurs in 1740 in France and “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” takes place in Germany in 1545 for example.
This film takes place in a Polynesian village about 3,000 years ago during Polynesian colonization and voyaging. It utilizes the historical and traditional aspects of early Polynesian settlements.
The film is very specifically focused on the legends and lore of the Polynesian people, which adds an aspect to the film that makes it stand out from the other Disney films.
This historical and interesting aspect of the film draws in a new, older crowd—one that is interested in the history and legends of these people.
Another fantastic aspect of the film is the soundtrack. The soundtrack was a collaborative work by composer Mark Mancina, songwriter Opetaia Foa’i and Broadway composer and producer Lin-Manuel Miranda of “Hamilton.”
After they accepted the job, Disney sent the team to New Zealand to attend a traditional music festival.
While in New Zealand, the trio learned a little more about traditional rhythms that would make their pieces more authentic.
They took to the studio in New Zealand and recorded “We Know the Way,” the song used to introduce Moana’s voyaging ancestors.
The team, which created the entire soundtrack together, put together a number of iconic pieces for the film. The film’s song “How Far I’ll Go” is the main character’s defining moment. The song is bound to become as iconic as the “Frozen” song, “Let It Go.”
Another song that has become very popular from the movie is the song titled “You’re Welcome.” The song was written for the demigod, Maui, to be sung by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Miranda said the song was meant to be like “Gaston” from “Beauty and the Beast” and “Friend Like Me” from Aladdin.
Moana will be released on DVD March 7. I give this film five out of five stars for soundtrack, storyline and historic reference.
