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In 1998, Disney’s Mulan gave audiences a very different heroine: one who marches off to save her country instead of staying home to become an honorable bride. And the long-awaited, long-delayed live-action adaptation of Mulan tells the beloved story with even more grit.
Mulan retells the story of a spirited little girl who was born with the kind of strength that little girls weren’t supposed to possess. She was born to bring honor to her family by making a good match—not by being strong and brave and smart. Still, even as a young woman, Mulan (Yifei Liu) knows that she has more to offer. So when an army from the north attacks cities along the Silk Road, threatening commerce in the Empire, Mulan decides to post as a man to fight in her disabled father’s place. But her dishonesty puts her family’s honor and her own life in danger.
This adaptation may still be a Disney movie, but it’s strikingly different from the animated original. Gone are the peppy musical numbers and the silly talking dragon, mixed in with a few battle sequences. While this Mulan tells the same story, it does so with less singing and silliness and more dark, gritty action—and a creepy, shape-shifting witch (who, admittedly, might feel a little off-putting at times).
What isn’t missing, however, is the heart. Mulan may be classified as a Disney princess, but she’s really a Disney warrior. She’s the patron princess for girls who love nothing more than a good adventure. And as she ventures out to fight in her father’s place, as she trains and fights and proves herself to be a gifted soldier, and as she realizes that she needs to be true to herself, she’ll inspire a kind of heart-swelling pride in viewers. Her transformation from the timid, anxious young woman who’s been told to hide her gifts and become someone she’s not to the confident warrior who stands strong and proud, no matter what the consequences may be, is truly moving.
Director Niki Caro did an excellent job of staying true to the original film, carrying over the score, the characters, and some touches of humor. Yet she makes it her own work of art. She gives the film color and culture and beautiful costumes. She gives it drama and action and makes it all feel larger than life.
While some of Disney’s live-action adaptations struggle to respect the original films while standing out on their own, Mulan strikes a great balance. If you grew up loving the playful but inspiring animated film, you’ll love this more grown-up version, too.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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