"The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all."— The Emperor
Initial thoughts before viewing: I remember watching this movie is theaters in 1998 and thinking it was a really fun watch. Mulan has always been a favorite of mine, and "I'll Make a Man Out of You" IS MY JAM.
If you have never seen Mulan or need a refresher, here is a link to the movie's Disney Wiki page where you can read the plot summary.
Highlights:
-The dynamic duo of Mushu & Cri-Kee. 🦗 Next time you watch Mulan, keep an eye on Cri-Kee in the background. He's always doing something adorable or hilarious, and his partnership w/ Mushu never gets enough credit.
-I'LL MAKE A MAN OUT OF YOU. ⚔️ Why is this song so good, so catchy, and so legendary?! If I could only sing one Disney song for the rest of my life, this may be it.
-Shirtless Li Shang.💘 Is is weird to find cartoon characters attractive? I don't know, and I don't care -- Li Shang will always be a childhood crush.
-Mulan as a character means so much to so many, including me.💖 As far a progressive Disney heroines, Mulan blows them all out of the water. Like a rare, beautiful flower that blossoms in the face of adversity, Mulan proves her worth outside of her tradition-bound society and becomes a legendary warrior. The sequence where she decides to run away from home, cuts her hair, and takes her father's armor is probably my favorite in the entire movie. Plus, I am pretty sure Mulan is the only female protagonist in a Disney movie (at least up to that point) who has a direct hand in defeating a villain. Girl power to the max.
Disliked:
-Eddie Murphy as Mushu was an interesting casting choice. 🐲 A black dude in medieval China? Hey, it's a little weird. Although Mushu quickly grows on the audience, this main role could have definitely gone to an Asian voice actor.
-Mulan is an Americanized version of a beloved Chinese legend. Although the voice cast was full of Asian actors, the production team, animation staff, and writing staff for Mulan was unsurprisingly full of white males. This would have been a great opportunity for more inclusion and diversity from the production team.
Random Thoughts While Watching:
-I know that Mulan is technically a part of the Disney Princess line, but why exactly? Mulan is not born as a royal, nor does she marry into royalty. So why is she still an official part of the Disney Princess lineup? The official answer is something like Mulan is considered a princess due to her significant portrayal of heroism. Hey, Mulan kicks butt, so I'll take it.
-Does Shan Yu's falcon have a name? Yes, it's Hayabusa. And he's a dude (apparently).
Closing Thoughts:
Mulan is an impressive achievement, with a story and treatment ranking among other greats like Beauty and the Beast. What sets Mulan apart is that it is both one of the funniest and one of the darkest Disney films.
Overall, this is an inspiring film, ranking with the best of Disney's animated features while taking on rather serious issues of war, honor, gender roles and family pride.
My Rating: 9/10
