Disney has yet another sequel of a hit movie release in theaters on November 26, 2024. Moana 2 has been receiving a lot of hate on all social media platforms, but is it really as bad as people say?One thing that was well done in this movie compared to the first one was the cultural representation. Although there were a few references in the first animation, the sequel seemed to have more sensitivity to that subject. The Polynesian culture was a lot more evident through the characters and songs, which had more background vocals in their native language. 

Another thing that was well done with this controversial sequel was the imagery throughout the movie. The cinematography painted some beautiful pictures, with the colors and art coming together to keep the watchers engaged. A lot of details were drawn and it really made the world of Moana come to life on the movie theater screen.

Moving away from the good things, there was a feeling of the lack of emotional depth when it came to the characters Moana teams up with for her journey across the ocean. Yes, they were fun and likeable with one-liners to keep the watchers entertained throughout the movie. However, there didn’t seem to be anything underneath that. All of Moana’s friends except for herself and Maui seemed to be only surface level, with no deeper dive exploring their characterization. Although they are only side characters, it would have been nicer to have more emotional attachment with them to keep the watchers engaged and rooting for Moana’s group and their journey.

There also seemed to be a problem with conflict within the plot of the story. Every potential villain we faced, there was no real conflict and each villain seemed to end up helping Moana and her team. The end goal was there within the plot, however, the challenges weren’t. Because of this, there wasn’t much tension or anything coming in between the characters and resolution they were trying to reach.

Now, for the biggest topic that is talked about when it comes to this sequel. The music.

When you think of Disney, one of the first things you think about is the music. It’s clearly an important part of the entire company. I think it’s important to note that the songwriter, Lin Manuel Miranda who is most widely known for the musical Hamilton, wrote the songs for the first movie. However, the second movie was pitched to him as a TV show, and Manuel Miranda backed out. By the time the show was scrapped and the movie was born, it was too late. 

This switch in songwriter is clearly evident in the soundtrack of the movie. It wasn’t horrible, but it didn’t meet up to the level of the first movie. The first movie’s soundtrack was well thought out and engaging. The second soundtrack seemed to lack the same engaging, fun tone Disney movies are known for. Honestly speaking, I felt the least engaged throughout the entire movie when the songs were playing.

To sum things up, Moana 2 wasn’t particularly bad, but it didn’t match up to the previous movie. It felt like it was for money grabs, which isn’t new when it comes to the company. If there was more thought, attention, and care put into this, it could’ve been much better.