Disney's live-action remake of Mulan has faced many release delays due to the pandemic we are facing. It has finally been released on Disney Plus. This remake highlights messages of female empowerment with devotion to your family alongside bravery in an uncertain and constantly changing world. The animated version of Mulan from 1998 is very loved by its audiences hence this remake is predicted to do well yet with some changes.
This remake was directed by Niki Caro. Caro has directed another film which was about a determined girl called Whale Rider (2002). The script was written by Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Elizabeth Martin and Lauren Hynek. Caro has interweaved the story we know with element of the story's ancient roots. This remake is very family friendly as we don't see hardly any blood apart from a few drops considering we see many battle scenes. Caro also plays on the theme of women standing up for themselves and demanding that men hear and believe what they say. This can be seen in the world and media right now. A film about a woman with many talented women working behind the scenes, including cinematographer Mandy Walker and designer Bina Daigeler.
Mulan is played by Yifei Liu struggles in finding a balance between embracing her abilities but also honouring China. She is told that her duty is to bring honour to her family through marriage. Yet from a young age, she is blessed with a special energy called chi. As she gets older she struggles to hide her powers and abilities. Alongside this her father must overlook his daughter's skills because she is a girl. Mulan is told to hide who she is, this leads her to feeling that she can't belong anywhere, neither in a man or woman's world.
Liu does a great job in portraying this iconic character. Liu transforms Mulan from a rebel to a mature and commanding leader. She finds her voice from her journey and she discovers more about who she is. Liu's performance is strong but we don't really get to see the other side of Mulan. Liu's performance is all about putting on a front and stony faced at times but it is clear she is an excellent warrior. Overall, her performance is good but it feels as if we could have been given more and gone deeper with some of her relationships towards other characters. Wish we could have seen more of Mulan and her sister and understand how they work together.
For those watching this film due to their love of the 1998 animation, it is clear that there is an absence of the songs, which are still loved today. The songs are normally a big appeal of many Disney film, without them in this remake you notice that they aren't there if you are familiar with the animation. However, without them in this remake the film still works and moves along at a good pace. There is a nod to the music in the animated version with an instrumental rendition of Reflection that can be heard throughout the film.
This remake has a more serious tone, hence there is much less humour. We don't witness Mulan's witty grandmother and there is no Mushu. Instead Mulan's father rises the power of the phoenix, a symbol which is referred to and see throughout, which watches over Mulan and helps her when in great times of need. As previously said, there is much less humour in this remake, therefore Mulan is more serious. As a result, she may come across as less relatable and loveable as she was in the animation. She is still fierce and a powerful character.
We are introduced to some new characters in this remake. We meet Mulan's sister who is the complete opposite to Mulan. The lucky cricket from the animated version is reimagined as a solider named Cricket in this remake. We are also introduced to a witch who often takes the form of antagonist Bori Khan's bird, her name is Xianniang played by Gong Li. She can take the likenesses of male victims. Mulan and Xianniang are very similar as they both struggle to be accepted and disguises themselves so they can be accepted. The relationship between these two characters is unexpected but enjoyable to watch as the film progresses. These two women are both strong and are fighting for their place in the world which many women can relate to like the #MeToo movement and the constant demand for equality.
The villain in this version is Bori Khan, played by Jason Scott Lee. We don't really see much of this character and we spend more time with Xianniang. However, this doesn’t stop Lee putting on a good performance, we believe that his character is trying to avenge his father's death and is an excellent fighter but there isn’t too much we can say about Khan as Lee has limited screen-time.
Mulan takes her father’s sword, armour and horse and rides off to report to the stern commander Tung, played by Donnie Yen. It is notable that in this modern remake that Mulan makes the decision not to cut her hair, which has such a huge significance in the 1998 film. It makes us question why she didn’t in this remake as it has such a big thing, watching her cut her long hair short. It is also noticeable that there is no character Shang in this remake, instead this character is split into two different character who are Commander Tung and fellow solider Honghui (played by Yoson An). Mulan and Honghui have a spark between them but nothing comes of it. This film is all about female empowerment and is showcases how she may have found someone who loves her for who she is but she is a strong enough women that doesn’t rely on a man and is her own person. It would have been nice to see what may have happened between these characters but it is clear from what isn’t said that there is a spark between them.
Alongside this it is a shame we don't see the friendship between Mulan and the other soldiers. We witness a few moments of them together and a really nice moment is just before battle, Mulan jokes and reassures her friends. This moment is something we have been craving as we want to see the bond these characters have yet it is understandable why we don't also. This is due to Mulan more of an independent character and doesn’t want to rely on others that much but there isn’t anything wrong in relying on others sometimes as they help you reach your goal. You discover who your true friends are.
There are many battle scenes which sees sequences of movement which make you question how they did it. There are lots of stunts involving the warriors twisting in the air in slow motion. Visually this film is beautiful. The sets used are stunning and every detail is thought about. A moment that will stick in your mind is when the phoenix rises behind Mulan. This moment is pleasing to see as we see Mulan fully accepting herself as the emperor accepts who she is and finds her inner strength to fight.
The film's ending is very emotional, the re-joining of Mulan with her family especially her father may bring a tear to your eye. The father-daughter relationship is really strong in this film just like in the animation. Hua Zhou, Mulan's father is played by Tzi Ma. Liu and Ma have great chemistry in scenes and we really believe in their relationship and we can see how strong they are. As an audience you really buy into their relationship and know that they both are trying to do what’s best for their family and each other.
This film holds many messages which should be listened to today. It focuses on the bravery. Mulan's father tells her "there is no courage without fear". The world right now is scary place but we must have courage to carry on while be our authentic selves in this world of uncertainty right now is the bravest thing we can do. Standing up for what we think is right and embracing the person/people we want to be. Fighting against the norms that we have gotten use to so we can have a better world.
Mulan is a very loved animated film and this remake will also be loved but for different reasons. Mulan (2020) is truly a feminist film, it tells girls and women that they should stand up and speak up and be their true authentic self. Mulan can't achieve her full potential until she is fully honest about her identity. When Mulan lets down her hair and embraces who she is this is a moment that stands out and won't be forgotten. It shows she is not afraid to hide who she is anymore and is stronger than ever.
It's interesting to see how the 1998 and 2020 film are so different yet they both tell the same story. Mulan 2020 is a good watch and it is inspiring. This remake will also be compared to the animation but it is its own film in its own rights. Hence it is difficult not to compare these two films but they both will be loved separately.
Mulan is loyal, brave and true. However, even though this is a feminist take and the film is still a good watch. It lost its charm that makes the animation so loved. This remake focuses so much on making Mulan an independent woman finding her place, that the humour is gone therefore this film becomes very serious. This isn’t a bad thing but what made the animation so loved is gone and the plot in this remake isn't as clear. The first 20 minutes is extremely fast-paced and snappy but once we get into training the rest of the plot isn't explained, there is just a lot of talking. There was a lot of hype for this film, visually it is beautiful. The battle sequences are stunning and do make your mouth drop. Performances are strong from the cast but there was a missed opportunity in exploring certain relationships further.
