"Mulan": A Disney classic redone

One of the most anticipated movies of the year has finally made its long-awaited debut. After delays due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the live-action version of a Disney classic, "Mulan", is now available for Disney+ members with Premier Access. 

The movie follows the story of a young and powerful woman with a great deal of courage as she slips away in the night to take her father’s place in the war against the Northern invaders. The movie includes exciting action scenes and stunning landscapes as well as a strong message of empowerment, courage and family devotion.

Despite the film's positive message and beautiful workmanship, the film earned mixed reviews. Some viewers noted that they missed the witty humor in the original film from 1998. On a Google review form, one viewer wrote, “2020 was a year full of difficult moments, none of these painful moments, however, were as agonizing as the 90-minutes that one has to endure to get to the roll of credits of this sad-sad reboot of what otherwise would have been remembered as a Disney all-time favorite.” 

While some reviews felt the changes to the traditional storyline were a personal affront, others appreciated the artistry of the film and reworking of the story.“The live-action "Mulan" was a breath of fresh air—unlike the other Disney remakes, it didn't try to be the cartoon movie we all know and love, which has been my biggest complaint about all these remakes,” said a viewer on the Google review forum.

The film itself features many empowering women including director Niki Caro. By directing "Mulan", Caro became the second female director of a Disney film with a budget of over $100 million, following Ava DuVernay’s “A Wrinkle in Time”. Additionally, according to the movie’s cinematographer, the actress who portrays Hua Mulan, Liu Yifei, chose to do her own stunts for the movie, an impressive feat after watching the film. Some of these stunts included horseback riding, sword fighting, martial arts, and specific stunts that accompanied battle scenes. 

Overall, the beauty of the film and creativity in the new storyline has earned the film high reviews, but some original characters were missed this time around. 

When you sit down to watch the new live-action “Mulan”, keep an open mind about the new ideas incorporated into the beloved classic and enjoy the captivating and colorful scenes before you. 

Overall Rating: 8.5/10