Mulan (1998)

Best movie ever!

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

The first act of Mulan is decent enough to get the viewer interested, the second act is where it starts to pick up. The second act is by far the best part of the film. However, once we get to the third act, it all falls apart and becomes a boring mess. Still, great music and Eddie Murphy's voice talents are charming.

I've considered Mulan (and Tarzan) to be the last great animated Disney features to be produced. A lot of comparison has been made between Mulan and Pocahontas in that most fans and critics consider Mulan to be a better film. While I do think Pocahontas is a great film, I do agree with that sentiment. Both films feature a strong and admirable heroine that break the mold of what their respective societies expect them to adhere to. Mulan is more successful in portraying the theme of breaking the gender roles. And Disney didn't whitewash the historical realities of how women were treated in Ancient China, which conveyed the theme so much stronger. Another aspect that makes Mulan a much more enjoyable film are the songs. Virtually every song (even the deleted songs) are very catchy and memorable.The supporting characters are also very memorable. Eddie Murphy seems like a curious choice for Mushu, but it works so well. Chein Po, Ling, and Yao bring comic relief to the trials of basic training and also to the dramatic war scenes. Disney had gone back to the appealing cartoony designs, reminiscent of their golden age animated features, at the start of the renaissance. However, like their films of the 1950's, they moved toward realistic designs for the human characters starting with Pocahontas. I believe this was a factor as to why Pocahontas was not as successful as say Beauty and the Beast or Aladdin, because the drawing style lacked that Disney charm. In Mulan, only the comic relief characters (i.e Chein Po, Ling, and Yao) are drawn with that exaggerated cartoony look.Speaking of gender roles, this is a Disney film, billed as a "Princess" film in later years, that can be enjoyed by both genders. In theory girls can appreciate the theme of hardship and pressure she goes through to fit the criteria of becoming an ideal woman and bride, while boys can enjoy the thrilling war scenes that are so brilliantly executed. But, both boys and girls alike can admire Mulan for her feat of twice taking down an entire army (almost single handed) that threatens her country.

When I still watch Disney animated movies, it is because I think there is more to them than just great animation and family entertainment. Mulan has shown me that real life issues can be handled in a way so we can translate those problems into a visual delivery. Therefore I will highlight some points for which Mulan should get more recognition.Mulan shows us the generally male dominated culture we live in (the Chinese setting is secondary). Mulan is a good role model for young girls, because she acts instead of just being pretty and waiting for her prince to save her (Snow White and Sleeping Beauty for example). The horrors of war is also visually shown when Li Shang and his army finds the dead bodies of his father and the other soldiers. It is a brilliant scene which seldom is mentioned in various "scariest Disney moments"-countdowns. Those are the messages I feel are underrated. Now for some quick technical aspects I see as great. The Hun army's run down the mountain side is incredible, when the crowd in front of the emperor's palace bows is also great and the scene in which the Chinese army finishes the song "A Girl Worth Fighting for" and discovers the burned down village. However, I would have liked to see more of the terror of the Huns. Shan Yu was not that memorable (I still find him scary, though).

"Mulan" always seemed like the more interesting of The Mouse's late-'90s output; certainly the cast is first-rate, and I do really like the animation style - but it also features an array of subpar songs in a Disney flick. Seriously, you have Lea Salonga and you waste her talents on these? But despite the lame villain and some of the ineffective comedic elements (including a pre-Donkey Eddie Murphy) this was a hit with the real target audience; my kid really liked this, and I enjoyed this much more through her eyes than I would've alone. And in the end, Mulan is a great character. Even with shaky writing, this is a good story.7/10