Moana 2: Wayfinding Back to Our Hearts (Mostly)

Okay, okay, I just got back from seeing Moana 2, and I have thoughts. First off, visually? Stunning. Like, Disney animation has been consistently raising the bar, but the ocean textures in this movie were just breathtaking. There's this one scene where Moana is communicating with the whale spirits, and the way the light filtered through the water and the animation of the whales themselves? Chef's kiss. Cinematography-wise, I really appreciated how they used wide shots to emphasize the vastness of the ocean and Moana's smallness within it, highlighting the scale of her journey. I'm still processing the plot, tbh. The call from the ancestors felt a little rushed, and I wasn't entirely sold on the new crew. They felt a bit… underdeveloped? Maui, bless his heart, was still the scene-stealer. Dwayne Johnson's voice acting continues to be perfect. I loved the new songs, though – especially the one during the storm sequence. The visuals perfectly matched the intensity of the music, creating a genuinely thrilling moment. And I can't help but get choked up when ever Moana interacts with her grandmother. My biggest hang-up is probably the villain... or lack thereof? While the movie explores themes of environmentalism and respect for nature, there wasn't a clear antagonist. It gave the narrative a slightly meandering feel. I get what they were going for - highlighting societal impacts rather than individuals – but it could have been executed better. A more present evil, even if just a force of nature, would of helped the movie. Overall, Moana 2 is a beautiful, visually impressive film with some great music and heartwarming moments. It's not quite perfect and might not hit with the same emotional force as the first one, but it's definetly enjoyable, and I think I'll need to see it again to fully wrap my head around it. What did everyone else think?