Disney's Mulan makes up for its missing songs with plenty of heart

Who is that girl I see?

I’ll say it right off the bat: Mulan (2020) is not nearly as good as Mulan (1998). It would be an extremely difficult task for fans of the iconic animated movie to walk into this and not be disappointed in some way. Where are the songs? Where is Li Shang? Where is Mushu? Where’s the funny? This live-action remake eschews most of what made the original so beloved, which is a move that actually worked for me. Unlike Disney’s drab beat-for-beat remake The Lion King (2019), Mulan’s actually trying to bring something new to the table. 

Climactic action scenes and dazzling spectacle more than justify a trip to the cinema here, but the movie’s held back by weak writing and tonal issues. It’s a shame that the most expensive movie ever made by a female director and the first Disney movie with an all-Asian cast has been relegated to a Disney+ release, but hey. That’s 2020 for you. 

No red dragons to be seen here

Just in case you missed the boat on Mulan by two whole decades, this movie follows Hua Mulan (Liu Yifei), a young woman who lives with her family in a small village. She has trouble following her village’s conservative ways of life - but when a group of Rouran raiders start becoming a threat to the kingdom, the Emperor (Jet Li) decrees that every family must provide one man to build up an army against the raiders. 

Mulan’s disabled father (Tzi Ma) volunteers on behalf of his family, knowing that he will likely never return home. Mulan doesn’t take this very well, and decides to steal his armour, sword and horse before riding away to do battle for her family. All of this might seem familiar to fans of the original, before they're introduced to the antagonists. 

Xian Lang (Gong Li) is a shapeshifting witch, working with the Rourans to overthrow the Emperor. The movie tries to make us feel empathetic for this murderer without a place in society, but she remains unremarkable until her character arc takes a sudden (and utterly rushed) turn. Rouran warrior leader Bori Khan (Jason Scott Lee) has his sights set on the emperor for killing his father, and… that’s all we get from the guy. As far as villains go, these two really aren’t the most compelling duo. Thankfully, the movie recognises that and mostly focuses on Mulan and her journey - instead of the boring opposition she comes to face later. 

Chi-sy

Mulan’s best moments are in the training camp, where she disguises herself as a man to fit in with the rest of the Imperial army. She quickly forms a small band of friends and allies, but their interactions never feel as fluid or believable as the movie wants them to be. We don’t actually see them talk to each other about much other than the war (and at one point, what their ideal woman would be like), which leaves them in the same camp as Bori Khan: could’ve been something, ended up being nothing. 

We also learn that Mulan is blessed with an unusual amount of qi, which gives her extraordinary skills in combat and martial arts. This isn’t too far out there, considering that the movie also has a witch that can turn into animals at will. Why not introduce a Force-like energy into this world?

However, it does weaken Mulan as a character, giving her a ‘Chosen One’-like status that ultimately wasn’t necessary. In the animated movie, she worked hard to earn a place in the Imperial army. Here, her qi just seems like a cheap reason for her to be front and centre in all battles, and fight against enemies much more experienced than her. Displays of qi are also hilariously cheesy - on the same level as Peter Parker catching a tray of food in Spider-Man.

One of Disney’s better live-action remakes

It’s obvious why Disney is deadset on digging up the graves of past animated movies: money. I do wish future remakes end up going the way of Mulan, however. It does a great job of retelling a familiar story without losing its visual splendour. Where The Lion King (2019) heavily watered down the bright, colourful aesthetics of its animated counterpart in favour of something more realistic, Mulan practically bursts at the seams with eye-catching imagery. 

Mulan’s production design also has to be applauded. Costumes are vibrant, colourful and detailed - and so are the sets themselves. Cinematographer Mandy Walker does a terrific job of translating all of this into enrapturing action sequences, as well. A battle between Mulan’s friends and the Northern invaders comes to mind, where Mulan triggers an avalanche that violently blankets the battlefield in clouds of snow. It’s a real looker, this movie. 

Iconic songs like Reflection and I’ll Make a Man Out of You are missing, and their absence is clearly felt. However, composer Harry Gregson-Williams smartly compensates by incorporating these themes in his soaring soundtrack, bringing emotional punch to the most climactic action sequences (and training montages). I’m not saying that I want Disney to keep resurrecting its library of classic animated movies, but if they’re going to keep doing it (they are), I’d rather it be done like this. 

Verdict

Mulan is packed with blockbuster spectacle and gorgeous visuals, and a certain voice actor’s cameo alone makes it worth every penny. Mulan’s relationship with her father supplies the movie with just as much heart as the original as well, delivering some truly moving moments as Mulan grapples with what she wants versus what’s wanted of her. 

While certain characters and villains could’ve used more breathing room in this quickly-paced story, I’ll give Mulan credit for trying something different with its source material. It might not have paid off all the way, but let’s hope future adaptations follow suit. 

***

7.5 reflections showing who I am out of 10

Mulan is now out in theatres. 

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