Moana's Sinking Feeling: Disney's Unnecessary Live-Action Remake
Disney's live-action adaptation of Moana has hit theaters, but it raises questions about its own existence. The film is a frame-for-frame recreation of the 2016 animated Disney classic, with many of the same story beats and characters.
The movie follows Moana (Catherine Laga'aia), a young daughter who sets sail to find Maui (Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson) after he's stranded on a tiny island. Her quest is twofold: to return Te Fiti's heart and end her tribe's fear of oceanic exploration.
The film's direction feels like it's playing scenes from the original before shouting 'Lights, Camera, Action!' The return of Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson as Maui does not help the character or his performance. He mostly plays a rock, lacking the same charm and humor as in the animated version.
The movie has been criticized for being unnecessary, especially since the original came out just 10 years ago. Some have questioned why Disney decided to remake it at all, considering many of its live-action adaptations are met with lukewarm reception.