I was about to explode waiting for this movie, which originally was to premiere in theaters April 2020. So of course I paid to see it before the free December 2020 release on my Disney+ account.
I was NOT DISAPPOINTED. I have not read the dismal reviews of others and it would not matter. I loved the animated Disney Mulan story and music, but was annoyed by the whole ancestral dragon and good luck cricket comedy relief throughout. This movie left all of that out with the more dignified image of the phoenix, sent by a loving father, looking after Mulan; and instead of a cricket we saw a likeable young man named "Cricket". Brilliant! Another aspect of paying homage to the first movie was using words and background music from the first movie very effectively, especially in the "I'm going to make a man out of you" sequence.
Another thing I really, really loved about this movie was that it gave more background for how Mulan was able to achieve all that she did. She inherited it either genetically or through a strong love and admiration for her father, and appeared to have been secretly trained by him? This movie showed a father who was very progressive for his time and culture by being proud of his daughter for her strong qualities/abilities (her Chi), even though society did not approve of those qualities in girls. This similarly happened in the movie "Brave" between father and daughter only in that case the daughter developed obvious strong qualities gained from both parents, not just the father.
I was intrigued by the Huns being helped by a witch who often presented as a hawk or falcon and who interacted and eventually was transformed by Mulan's stronger moral character. In the animated version, it was just a smart hawk spy for the Huns. The Huns were fleshed out pretty well and seemed like a real threat in the story, just as in the animated movie.
And finally, I was very happy they dropped the whole love interest part out of this Mulan movie. Mulan's goals were to show honor for family and country and to save her father. She was very focused and not distracted. These are very admirable qualities and very exciting to see in a Disney movie, that too often has to throw in "and they lived happily ever after" endings for the female leads. I am sure there are those that were hoping she turned out to be a Lesbian or something, but the stronger ending is to leave sexuality out completely and show how strong a female can be in traditionally male skills/ roles. This movie did that well.
I will be watching this movie over and over. Kudos to all involved with it's production!
I was NOT DISAPPOINTED. I have not read the dismal reviews of others and it would not matter. I loved the animated Disney Mulan story and music, but was annoyed by the whole ancestral dragon and good luck cricket comedy relief throughout. This movie left all of that out with the more dignified image of the phoenix, sent by a loving father, looking after Mulan; and instead of a cricket we saw a likeable young man named "Cricket". Brilliant! Another aspect of paying homage to the first movie was using words and background music from the first movie very effectively, especially in the "I'm going to make a man out of you" sequence.
Another thing I really, really loved about this movie was that it gave more background for how Mulan was able to achieve all that she did. She inherited it either genetically or through a strong love and admiration for her father, and appeared to have been secretly trained by him? This movie showed a father who was very progressive for his time and culture by being proud of his daughter for her strong qualities/abilities (her Chi), even though society did not approve of those qualities in girls. This similarly happened in the movie "Brave" between father and daughter only in that case the daughter developed obvious strong qualities gained from both parents, not just the father.
I was intrigued by the Huns being helped by a witch who often presented as a hawk or falcon and who interacted and eventually was transformed by Mulan's stronger moral character. In the animated version, it was just a smart hawk spy for the Huns. The Huns were fleshed out pretty well and seemed like a real threat in the story, just as in the animated movie.
And finally, I was very happy they dropped the whole love interest part out of this Mulan movie. Mulan's goals were to show honor for family and country and to save her father. She was very focused and not distracted. These are very admirable qualities and very exciting to see in a Disney movie, that too often has to throw in "and they lived happily ever after" endings for the female leads. I am sure there are those that were hoping she turned out to be a Lesbian or something, but the stronger ending is to leave sexuality out completely and show how strong a female can be in traditionally male skills/ roles. This movie did that well.
I will be watching this movie over and over. Kudos to all involved with it's production!