Disney's Moana is not just a kid's movie. There, I said it!
Years ago, I bought a big screen T.V. and a nice sound system for my makeshift theater room. I wanted to test the subwoofer and faux surround sound brilliance that was promised by the Atmos soundbar.
Flipping through Netflix, I came across Moana, which was showcased at the time as a new addition. I had never seen the movie but I knew Disney Pixar films are known not only for their graphics but for their sound quality as well.
So I selected Moana to watch for a few minutes to test the soundbar. Like most childless adults in their mid-30s, I had absolutely zero intention of watching Moana. I, like many others, believed it was a stupid kid's movie that adults suffered through only because their kids wanted to watch it.
But fate had other plans.
Instantly, I was blown away by the production values of this film. Moana is a movie that is visually stunning with clear, high-resolution Pixar magic. The Atmos speakers I was testing, by the way, sounded amazing. Disney sound engineers know their stuff.
Sure, the sound quality of Moana is amazing, and its visual complexity is breathtaking, but I wasn't really going to sit there by myself and watch a damn kid's movie was I?
I was 36 years old at the time, after all. A man's man who likes guns, hair metal, hot babes, cold beer, Chuck Norris films and practicing old-school martial arts.
About 20 minutes into the movie I knew I was hooked. Not only were the production values top-notch, but the storyline was captivating and interesting as well. It's based on Polynesian folklore, legends, culture and tradition. It's cool stuff.
When I was finished watching Moana, it instantly became one of my favorite Disney films of all time. It's an epic masterpiece of a film that anyone can enjoy, not just kids.
Moreover, I would even dare to say that, packaged differently, it could be a movie that only adults would like.
One must remember that Disney puts in a lot of work to make these movies tolerable to adults and favored by children.
The marketing is effective. We tend to think of these movies as children's movies because of the branding and merchandising that goes into them.
If the pink aisle at Target with all the little girl's toys featuring Moana dolls is your only perception of the film, of course, you'll think that the movie is only for little kids; little girls more specifically.
Many insecure young men would instantly veer away from admitting they like the movie Moana because of its refined demographic targeting and its association with female empowerment etc.
But badasses like me can easily admit that the movie was a stellar production. Moana is a wonderful, epic movie that anyone can enjoy if they simply step outside of their preconceived notions and prejudices. I love it. Moana is such a great film.
Watch the damn movie, it's fantastic!
And then go watch Moana 2.
Thanks for stopping by! Before you go, check out our premium line of Graphic Tees!
