Sorry for that depressing post last time. There's more where that came from, believe me, but I do not like being unhappy. Especially not when it's pointless. And so, I have a tiny anecdote from my Chicago trip to share with you.
We were all listening to Disney music in the back of a car when a song from Moana came on. One of the girls in the front seat groaned and said "What's even the point of that movie?". Well. Let me tell you girly.
FIRST of all, just because you don't necessarily like something doesn't mean people can't like it (and if you dislike Disney it's probably because you're a dark psychopath or sociopath. Or you secretly like it but like people thinking you're manly/tough/edgy and think that you should say you don't like Disney to feed your ego). Like, seriously, is it so hard to wrap your head around the fact that someone else may like something you're less inclined to? Some idiots dislike Skyward Sword, or Twilight Princess or, dare I say, Harry Potter and Star Wars. And if you question why adoring masses love all those things, I will be happy to tell you in GREAT detail.
After punching you.
A few times.
Don't insult my fandoms, m'kay?
So, after that long intro, may I introduce you to: Top Ten Lessons (one may, if they choose to gain) From Moana:
1: You are what makes you you
Let's get the obvious one out of the way. Moana straight up says this to Maui, so if you somehow missed this point, I think you need to pay better attention to the movie next time you watch it. And there WILL be a next time. But I digress. Maui did all the work of his heroics for people, for their praise and love. But their praise and love isn't what made Maui Maui. He is. He couldn't shape shift when he was doing it for their praise and love, for their acceptance. He could only do it when Moana said maybe HE was what was worth saving, he was Maui no matter what.
2: That voice inside is who you are
"And if that voice starts to whisper, to follow he farthest star, Moana that voice inside is who you ah-ah-are". Maybe "But nothing on Earth can silence, the quiet voice still inside you". Or perhaps "It calls me... And the voice isn't out there at all it's inside me! It's like the tide, always falling and rising!" Either way, it is definitely a point of this movie. I believe everyone is firmly drawn to something they love -- Doctors to helping save people physically, Engineers to innovation and new ideas, Moana to the see. And maybe, just maybe (I was born to break the silence?) that isn't some worldly calling or push for them to be rich and famous, maybe it's who they're meant to be, maybe one should embrace the voice that tells them to follow the farthest star, because perhaps that's how one can truly learn what they're meant to do in life.
3: The ones you love will never really leave you
Okay, as if this hasn't been in every Disney movie since the beginning of time. Every movie, every book, every story perhaps. And with lines like "The the people you love will change you, the things you have learned will guide you" or "I will carry you here in my heart, you'll remind me, that come what may, I know the way!" you know they affect you a lot. And although people we have loved who have died haven't started reappearing as manta rays, I believe that Moana's line fits a little better. I will carry you here in my heart. They won't physically be there, but... You've still learned from them, and they influence what you think, what you do. Cheesy line -- they'll always be a part of you. But, really. Your experiences make you you. The people you love make your experiences. They're intertwined in who you are.
4: It's okay to give up
Here you might be thinking "You talk a big game about watching the movie for someone who thinks the movie was about giving up". And I do. Because it's 1/10 lessons. And honestly, the movie isn't. But it's a lesson that comes from the movie. "It's not your fault. I never should have put so much on your shoulders. If you're ready to go home, I will be with you." No judgement. No "you should've been able to do it". Just simple clean I understand, and I love you anyways. Which is pretty much one of the best and most underused lessons. It's okay if everything is too much for you to handle. The people you love will still love and support you through it.
5: Every path leads to where you are
Yeah, maybe the song, for the most part, sounds very rigid and non-metaphorical. But just like let it go's "I'm never going back, the past is in the past!" Where you are's "Every path leads you back to where you ah-ah-are" doesn't mean a physical place. Your job, your success, your future situation doesn't really make a difference on where you are in an abstract sense. Those who are happy with anything will, no matter which path in life they go on, be happy. Those that are unhappy will, no matter if their path leads them to mind numbing fortune, will be left wanting. It is very likely and possible that you yourself change. But it isn't the path's job to change that. It's your own. Because the paths lead you back to where you are -- You change where you are.
6: You can find happiness right where you are
"Now you're just making all your lessons quotes of Where you are, Raven" You think begrudgingly. Or maybe you don't. Maybe you're hungry and trying to figure out what to eat. Either way, not the rest of them are going to be like that. Not from Where you are at the very least. But it's true. People think happiness is the light at the end of the tunnel, something they'll obtain as a reward for beating this side quest or it's just sitting by the road at this mile marker. But it's not. It's a tiny little animal trotting along next to you waiting for you to see it. It's just right there beside you, no matter where you are or what's happening in life, "if we're only brave enough to see it" (No, that quote is not from Moana. Deal :p )
7: Sometimes our strengths lie within
*Hei Hei coughs up rock and goes back to trying to eat it* "Far beneath". Yeah, maybe she just said that one throw away line about Hei Hei, the worlds dumbest rock eating chicken. And if they're eating rocks, Hei Hei does not have heavy hitting competition. But if he wasn't there, Moana would have failed. Multiple times. Maybe eating rocks doesn't seem like a strength, but he helped Moana when it counted. Hei Hei, the real hero of this story!
8: Your parents do try to help you
"Braski, she literally spent the whole movie doing the thing her dad told her not to do," I put as dialogue from you even though, who the heck says "Braski"?
And yeah, she did. But even Ms "I'm his mother, I don't have to tell him anything" said "You are your fathers daughter, stubbornness and pride, mind what he says" and even if you remember, you may hear a voice inside and that voice maybe be who you are, she still says that yeah, what he says matters. And Moana's mom? He doesn't want you going out on the ocean because he was you. He couldn't save his best friend, but he's hoping he can save you. The dad bad at all, heck, he helps go back to way-finding. He was just trying to save his daughter. Like, really man, you can't blame him for that and it's pretty legitimate. So, seriously dear readers, mind what your parents say.
9: It's what's on the inside that matter
Okay, not as prominent here as other Disney movies, but c'mon, the villain is the one who sings about how looks are the only thing that matters. And maybe not everything villains says can automatically be dismissed as untrue, but when you think you agree with them you might want to take a step back and say "yeah no". Maui makes a big deal about how the ocean's crazy for choosing a little girl like Moana, and Moana makes the point to Maui about how maybe the ocean saw someone worth saving in the child no one wanted. And Moana sees how Te'ka is really -Spoilers- te'fiti. As if the scene of the teenage girl standing up to a giant lava monster isn't awesome enough.
10: What defines who you are?
I've already done the "who you are" thing in not just one but TWO points so far. So gloss over this one, lump em together and say I'm short on points (and then I'll just bring in some of the stuff that was cut from the film to make a point. Unstoppable and More anyone? ;-) ). But this has more to do with Te'fiti than it does with Moana and Maui, the previous points in the huge overarching theme of who you are. "I know your name, they have stolen the heart from inside you, but this does not define you, this is not who you are, do you know who you are?" Sometimes people don't know who they are. Sometimes they become twisted by things like grief, like lies, like stealing their green stone heart. But this does not define them. This is not necessarily who they are. Sometimes all people can see of
themselves is Te'ka, and someone has to be able to recognize the Te'fiti. Usually that's the best way to help people, and only permanent way -- restoring Te'fiti.
Well, thank you for indulging my ramblings and love of Disney's Moana. I'm willing to do this for other things too, and might even. Tell me if y'all want it. Or don't and I probably will anyways. Thanks either way :-)
Princess
super-chu
Raven DeWitt
Pyramid, whoo-hoo. :-)
. I never should have put so much on your shoulders. If you're ready to go home. I will be with you. Read more: http://www.springfieldspringfield.co.uk/movie_script.php?movie=moana
