Wednesday evening, families packed Event Cinemas Brisbane City for the exclusive preview of Disney’s live-action Moana (2026) — not a sequel, but a fresh retelling of the beloved Oscar-nominated animated adventure, now rendered in flesh, salt water and handwoven tapa cloth.
Disney has long demonstrated the ability to make films that resonate across generations, and Moana is no exception. Rich in colour, culture and musical energy, the film celebrates life, family and our collective responsibility to the world around us.
A Film for Every Generation
Younger audiences will be swept up in the adventure, the characters and the music — Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foaʻi and Mark Mancina’s reimagined soundtrack is genuinely exhilarating, the songs feeling alive rather than merely reproduced. For adults, there is quiet humour and real emotional depth woven throughout — themes that linger well past the final credits.
Catherine Lagaʻaia, selected from over 32,000 submissions worldwide, steps into Moana’s role with remarkable instinct and grace. Dwayne Johnson returns as the shape-shifting demigod Maui — warm, self-aware, and more emotionally grounded here than audiences might expect.
More Than Entertainment
What elevates this production is the sincerity of its ideas. Environmental stewardship, intergenerational respect, the strength found in community — these are not decorative themes but the actual spine of the story. They arrive without preachiness, folded naturally into the adventure.
Director Thomas Kail (Hamilton) worked throughout filming with a dedicated Cultural Trust of Pacific scholars and artisans. Over 200 cast members of Pacific descent bring Motunui to life — costumes handcrafted from tapa cloth, sets constructed using traditional lashing techniques, every detail carrying cultural intention.
The Verdict
Moana is a confident, moving piece of cinema — joyful without being naive, culturally rich without being heavy-handed. It works for children because of its adventure and music; it works for adults because it has something genuine to say.
Starring Catherine Lagaʻaia as Moana, Dwayne Johnson as the demigod Maui, Rena Owen as Gramma Tala, John Tui as Chief Tui, Frankie Adams as Sina, and Jemaine Clement as Tamatoa.
★★★★½
Disney’s Moana | Rated PG | 115 mins | In cinemas now
Directed by Thomas Kail
Photography: Max Vethaak / Vethaak Media
