Moana

This afternoon, Shirley and I took Little Phoebe to the Odeon Luxe cinema in the centre of the city. We were there to attend the 12pm screening of "Moana 2". This popular animated film has just about reached the end of its tether on the cinema circuit and that's the main reason why today's audience comprised of just the three of us. We had the best seats in the very centre of the auditorium.

The sound system was so thunderous that Phoebe covered up her ears during the ad and preview section. She doesn't like loud noise and at just four years and one day old, she does not fake this distaste. Shirley asked the cinema staff to turn it down a notch or two and they kindly complied.

If as an adult you do not have much contact with small children, you are probably mystified by the very mention of Moana. She is a Disney figure who starred in the first film that bears her name in 2016. We watched that one down at Ian's house in Fulham, London at Christmastime 2022. It was spectacular and yet very human too. I loved the way that references to genuine Polynesian life and history had been woven in to the fabric of the film. We all enjoyed it.

Moana lives on the fictional Pacific island of Motunui. She is the daughter of Tui, the island's chief. Ultimately it falls upon her to fight for the island's future  in a battle between the ancient forces of good and evil. It's roughly the same theme in "Moana 2". Of course it is of some socio-cultural significance that Moana is female and pretty tough.

In both films we meet the huge shape-shifting tattooed figure of the demigod Maui whose streetwise voice is that of Dwayne Johnson. He befriends Moana and acts as her champion.

"Moana" and "Moana 2" are visual masterpieces that demonstrate how far Disney animation has come. Both films contain strong musical elements and songs. It is easy to lose yourself in them - especially on a big screen.

As Christmas had just passed by, we were a little stuck when thinking about gifts to buy Phoebe. You might be interested to learn that all four gifts  were "Moana 2" branded - a jigsaw, a singalong microphone, a Moana doll and Moana 2 shower gel. I am not proud to admit this but that's how it was.

When we emerged from the dark cinema, Sheffield was bathed in golden light - the glare so sharp that you had to shield your eyes. Phoebe refused to put her coat on because, bizarrely, after the recent wintry weather, it was now as if summer had arrived early. Perhaps Moana and Maui the demigod had had a hand in that.

Maui in "Moana 2"