After several years of waiting, “Moana 2” finally makes a comeback, introducing a new, thrilling adventure of Moana. The movie takes place a few years after Moana’s adventures. This time, it engages her in trying to take a leading role among her people. Animation-wise, it is breathtaking and vivid with strikingly beautiful landscapes and realistic ocean scenes that would surely get someone glued to the screen. It has a soundtrack fully packed with catchy songs mixed with heartfelt ballads that bring out that spirit of adventure and discovery in someone. Although Lin Manuel Miranda did not compose it as the first Moana, the songs are equally striking. Much of the storyline follows too much of the predictability from the first movie regarding the personal growth of characters with the thematic development of the environment.
“Moana 2 is a real tear jerker, ”Hugo Lim, a senior at Mark Keppel High School said.“I thought the songs were redundant yet still amazing.”
“Maui because he is the goat,” Aaryn Angeles, a junior at Mark Keppel High School replies after being asked who his favorite character is. “I think the second film did not live up to its expectations set by the first film.”
All said, “Moana 2” stands as a rather promising sequel while it develops further themes included in the original, delivering something new. The film explores Moana’s relationship with her heritage, her people, and the ocean in more depth, making it feel both fresh and familiar. The voice acting, including Auli’i Cravalho returning as Moana, remains strong, and the dynamic between Moana and Maui voiced by Dwayne Johnson continues to bring charm to the story. Not quite as magical as the first film, but Moana 2 is an entertaining and heart-warming adventure for all ages.