“Moana 2” Is a Sequel that’s Lost at Sea

Siri Kolanupaka and Sruti Allani

“Moana 2” rehashes the original film in an uncreative way, falling flat in plot structure and storytelling despite captivating visuals and upbeat songs. Unlike the original “Moana” (2016), the sequel included songs that were eerily similar to the first and shallow new characters that fail to entertain.

Following the $643 million box office success of the original “Moana” in 2016, fans of the franchise were eager to see what the sequel, released on November 27, would bring as the first movie delivered stunning visuals and captivating songs. “Moana 2” is a recycled version of the Oscar-winning original film that pales in comparison to the first. The filmmakers tried to recreate the magic of the first film by using similar shots and dynamics, taking away from the uniqueness and entertaining ability of the film.

In the sequel, Moana of Motunui (Auliʻi Cravalho) seeks to explore the islands surrounding her homeland but learns that the storm god Nalo (Tofiga Fepulea’i), who serves as the main antagonist, sank the legendary island Motufetu, severing the connection between oceanic people by destroying their means of communication. Moana assembles a crew, including returning crew member Maui (Dwayne Johnson), to restore the island and save her homeland but faces multiple challenges, especially due to Nalo’s pursuit to destroy Moana.

A large part of the Moana’s popularity was due to its iconic original soundtrack and vibrant visuals. Even with just 7 original tracks, tunes from the original film quickly found spots on the list of classic Disney anthems. However, despite having over twice as many original songs, none of the musical pieces in the sequel received the same audience acclaim as those of the original soundtrack. Moreover, the abundance of original songs, 16 total, is abnormal for typical Disney movies and mirrors the feel of a musical. The new songs had a repetitive beat and lacked emotional depth which the original’s hits were so abundant with. This failure was partly due to the absence of songwriter Lin Manuel Miranda, who was responsible for the tracks in the first movie. Miranda is a talented composer and lyricist, so his absence is one of the reasons for the substandard soundtrack.

Cravalho and Johnson were the stars of the entire movie. Despite the scattered nature of the plot, Moana and Maui are emblems of the original movie’s best parts; from the vocals to the voice acting, the two performances reinforce the original strengths of the first movie. However, the film moves the focus away from Maui, despite originally being the hallmark character. Adding the new characters takes away from the plot as Moana’s younger sister, Simea (Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda), is suddenly introduced. Simea is meant to be Moana’s motivation for her journey and a way to tug at the audience’s heartstrings. Yet, the abrupt introduction dilutes the theme of family by making the bond between the two characters seem unconvincing and forced.

The post-credits scene sets the stage for “Moana 3” by finally revealing Nalo, who had only been mentioned until now. The stunning graphics and visuals of “Moana 2” failed to mask its mediocre attempt at incorporating new characters and a subpar soundtrack. Hopefully, “Moana 3” will bring back the original film’s appeal by making sense of unfinished plot lines and delivering a stronger film score.

Donate to Portola Pilot

$210

$500

Contributed

Our Goal

Your donation will support the student journalists of Portola High School. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.

About the Contributors

Siri Kolanupaka, Staff Writer

Siri Kolanupaka is a staff writer for her first year on the Portola Pilot. She is excited to be able to write about current events and represent the newspaper. In her spare time, she likes spending unnecessary amounts of time window shopping and trying different coffee shops with her friends to see which one has the best drinks.

Sruti Allani, Staff Writer

Sruti Allani is a staff writer for her first year on the Portola Pilot. This year, she is excited to work with her fellow Pilot members to create compelling stories. When she’s not playing Fashion Makeover, you can find her struggling with her math homework, eating oranges or rearranging her room for the twentieth time.

Mia Jong, Co-Managing Editor

Mia Jong is the Co-Managing Editor for her third and final year on the Portola Pilot. She loves to create, whether it be with a paintbrush and canvas or a pen and paper, and she can’t wait to make more memories with her fellow Pilot members. In her free time, you can find her penny-boarding at the park, attempting to learn Korean or debunking the “best Yelp-reviewed eats.” She believes everyone has a unique story to tell and hopes to give a voice to the Portola High community through her writing.