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- #Disney's mulan vs mulan rise of a warrior for free#
- #Disney's mulan vs mulan rise of a warrior how to#
Unlike the Lion King or Beauty and the Beast, this wasn't a literal remake, with the filmmakers taking a far more serious tone and booting elements like the catchy songs and Mushu (though this film does have a more subtle stand-in for the dragon).Ĭaro, in particular, should be applauded for the film's visual panache, from the sweeping shots of the gorgeous Chinese mountains to the suitably grand scenes of the imperial palace. It's especially painful knowing Caro and screenwriters Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Elizabeth Martin and Lauren Hynek tried to craft something that stood apart from the animated version, even if the plot points were similar. It's a shame it won't be in theaters in the US. With a $200 million budget and the weight of Disney behind it, Mulan was supposed to be a big moment for Asians looking to make a more significant cultural impact in the US.īut the combination of limited dialogue, some wooden acting from Liu and a hectic pace that prioritizes training montages and declarations of being "loyal, brave and true" over more exchanges between Mulan and her comrades, means the audience isn't as invested in Mulan's journey or development. And while South Korea's Parasite was a critical darling and this year's best picture winner at the Oscars, it's not exactly a film you take the family to watch. It felt like a lifetime ago when Crazy Rich Asians hit it big, setting off anticipation that the film would spark more projects with Asians and Asian Americans. And that dynamic between two Asian women - who aren't talking about their love lives - is even more rare. Having a fully fleshed-out Chinese character on the silver screen is important because, well, there just aren't that many examples in Hollywood.
#Disney's mulan vs mulan rise of a warrior how to#
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It's almost an afterthought between an epic battle and the climactic, action-filled finale. Instead, it spans about six minutes in total. Light spoiler warning here: The revelation of Mulan's real gender, her subsequent rejection, emotional breakdown and ultimate reconciliation with her comrades should serve as the emotional spine of the entire film. There are no scenes to show off the gravity of her leaving her family - she's already rocking her father's armor and holding his sword in a hero pose (maybe there's a place for her in the MCU?). There's no struggle to become a warrior - she's already supernaturally gifted from the opening minutes of the film. The shallow portrayal is especially a shame because director Niki Caro set up an intriguing dynamic between Mulan and Gong Li's mesmerizing Xianniang (who actually does get some development), which my colleague Abrar Al-Heeti calls in her review one of the film's "most striking attributes."īut Caro didn't give that evolving relationship time to breathe, and the film speeds through what should've been many of Mulan's biggest emotional moments. Steve Rogers and Tony Stark had the luxury of several sequels to evolve and grow - Mulan just had this one shot. The sacrifice of character work in Mulan, however, is a far heavier blow because this isn't the start of a franchise with multiple films. That, unfortunately, seems to be par for the course with blockbusters these days. The new Mulan, played by Yifei Liu, hits many of the same beats, but without the emotional resonance. But that version of Mulan took the time to get into the main character's head, bringing us along on her journey as she worked to become a worthy soldier while struggling to balance her dual identities. To be clear, I'm not a standard-bearer for the 1998 animated classic.
#Disney's mulan vs mulan rise of a warrior for free#
So it's ironic the animated version that debuted more than two decades ago still shows more vim, vigor and character growth than the big-budget take now streaming for free on Disney Plus, which shed its $30 premiere access status Friday. With its live-action Mulan, Disney got a chance to breathe life into the legendary female warrior - a fixture of centuries-old Chinese storytelling - with a serious retelling and a picture-perfect cast. Yifei Liu, who plays Mulan, doesn't get as much character development in the new Disney Plus film.