Codec: HEVC / H.265 (46.6 Mb/s)
Resolution: Native 4K (2160p)
HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR10+
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
#English: Dolby TrueHD with Dolby Atmos 7.1
#English: Dolby Digital Plus with Dolby Atmos 5.1
#French: Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
#Spanish (Latino): Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
Polynesia’s unique culture is mesmerizing. I feel as though I’ve sensed the soul of a people who live bathed in sunlight, between the ocean and the volcanoes. It’s a fantastic adventure that never gets boring, since you meet new characters along the way—each one more extraordinary than the last: “ship rats,” “a has-been showbiz star,” and so on.
The screenwriters are wise people; they understood that you can’t improve on something that’s already perfect.
I really liked the pairing of 17-year-old newcomer Catherine Lagaya and 50-year-old movie titan Dwayne Johnson. It turned out to be a genuine story of friendship between a young girl and a demigod.
Moana, played by Catherine Lagaya, is a Polynesian beauty in whom the producers found the image of a modern Disney princess. She is a proud and courageous young woman of her people, rebelling against the “restrictions of the old world.” Her tribe is in trouble. Moana must stay with her people, just like her father and mother did. Her heart tells her she must venture beyond the reef, into the raging ocean, face her fears, and seek new opportunities. To step forward and turn her familiar world upside down.
This is a story about learning to trust yourself. Like the movie *The Secret*, only better. The connection to the universe, to the ocean—which is portrayed as “alive,” as a character who empathizes with you and believes in you—will open up possibilities and make your dreams come true; you just have to believe.
It’s also great that the themes of sisterhood and the continuity of the lineage were explored. The world around us, fertility, and the continuation of humanity depend on women’s peace of mind and harmony. Women must support one another, trusting themselves and their sisters. The magic for everyone is echoed by the ancestral Goddess Te Fiti, the wise grandmother, and young Moana—a creative circle of women.
Maui, aka Dwayne Johnson, is as handsome as a god. And even though he was cast in a family film, he doesn’t slack off or act silly—instead, he responsibly portrays his character’s drama. It might seem like a mismatch, since the animated Maui was younger, mischievous, and charismatic. He’s comically self-absorbed, expecting worship and adoration. The character created by Dwayne Johnson is also comically self-absorbed, but behind that lies confusion and resentment. Maui is worn out, of course, and dissatisfied with himself, just like an ordinary person. He’s resented the world, “burned out” from his exploits and human ingratitude, and, in a perpetual creative crisis, has retreated to the island. I just wanted to say, “Maui, I know who you are!”
And I don’t need to examine your tattoos to know your story. People have told more truth about you and your deeds than your tattoos ever could. This is definitely a movie about respect and gratitude.
The most important thing in the movie is friendship. Moana and Maui fool around, tease each other, compete, and push each other out of their comfort zones to do something brave and show their best sides. And they also believe in each other, trust that their friend will succeed, and support one another. When a friend is by your side, time flies by happily, and nothing is scary.