WHAT WE’RE WATCHING: Disney’s live-action Moana fails to capture the magic of its animated predecessor

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING Disney’s live-action Moana fails to capture the magic of its animated predecessor Faithful to a fault. That idiom could have been coined specifically for Disney’s live-action Moana. The remake isn’t bad, just bland and unnecessary. By Noelle Adams 24 Jul 2026 Catherine Laga’aia as Moana. (Photo: Walt Disney Pictures) Dive Deeper Speed Read Summary Listen Dive Deeper When it comes to live-action remakes of Disney animated movies, there are two kinds: the first, and rarer, is where filmmakers explore beyond expectation, shaking things up storywise and offering audiences something new.The second is a near shot-for-shot copy of the original, putting all its chips on the idea that audiences want to see all their favourite characters, moments and musical numbers revisited in…

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