It’s hard to believe that anyone out there expects the live action Disney remakes to surpass their original films. So far only one has managed to do that, 2016’s “Pete’s Dragon”, and that’s really only because the film it was based on wasn’t that great to begin with. So, how does one judge one of these remakes if not by their original source material?
Well, its actually quite simple: do the remakes try to set themselves apart from the originals? Are they like “Aladdin” or “The Lion King” where they are so obsessed with the original films that it ends up being to their detriment, or are they like “Maleficent” or “Christopher Robin”, where they take characters and worlds and turn them on their head in new ways? In the case of “Mulan”, the answer is a bit of both.
This new film is more so a new adaptation of the legend of Mulan, rather than a straight remake of the 1998 animated classic. It brings more eastern influences to the story and locations, as well as concepts of chi and witchcraft. While the overarching narrative remains the same, these smaller changes help to differentiate it from the 1998 film in nice ways.
Quite simple there are plenty of times where it doesn’t feel like a Western film. The editing is easily comparable to Chinese martial arts and wars films, with quick cuts and sword fights that happen at superhuman speeds. While they might seem a bit odd, the film fully embraces these moments, peppering them throughout the film. The discussions of honor, chi, and a woman’s place come off cheesier than the editing, mainly because they’re mentioned so frequently. It is inherent to the story, and of course a 2020 remake would double down on these themes, but it nevertheless feels like it’s just a bit too much.
Those aforementioned action moments are sweeping and epic though. Swords clash and arrows fly with wild abandon, and the excellent cinematography creates battles of great scale and action. Numerous moments that play with smoke, snow, fog, fire, and other elements billow forth to create a wonderous sense of depth and creativity on the battlefield. These fights are also great highlights for the sweeping landscapes. A 200-million-dollar budget can buy a lot of shooting time in real locations, and its used to great effect here.
Director Niki Caro’s (“The Zookeeper’s Wife,” “McFarland, USA”) decision to excise some of the more-Disneyfied elements of the original film might be the subject of debate for years to come, but in the film they work well. The inclusion of certain lyrics in regular dialogue might cause some eye rolls, but they’re nevertheless effective, and the instrumental reinterpretations of some of the songs that play underneath some important moments are stirring.
It is one of those films that does take a bit to get going. The first 10-ish minutes aren’t the films strongest, but it is important exposition for the rest of the film. This is also an odd case that every single member of the cast is good, without anyone really standing out as excellent enough to mention on their own. Yifei Liu (“Outcast,” “Hanson and the Beast”) is great as Mulan, balancing her internal struggle with her external force. Donnie Yen (“Ip Man,” “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”) is also good as Commander Tung, the commander of Mulan’s regiment. Yoson An (“The Luminaries,” “Mortal Engines”) as Chen, the soldier who befriends Mulan, is also good without really standing out.
The few cast members worth mentioning in particular are Jason Scott Lee (“Lilo and Stitch,” “Seventh Son”) as the scenery chewing villain Bori Khan, who’s performance isn’t so much good as it is overacting in the best way. Gong Li (“Raise the Red Lantern,” “The Story of Qui Ju”) as the witch Xian Lang provides the most depth in the film outside of Mulan, and the scenes the two share together are rich with tension and chemistry. Jet Li (“Kiss of the Dragon,” “Hero”) seems miscast as the Emperor, lathered in old age makeup and seeming as though he’s putting on an “old man” voice for the while film. He isn’t in it that much, so it isn’t a huge issue, but it is an odd choice.
Thankfully, the new “Mulan” manages to be in a rare class of live-action Disney films that differentiates itself from its original film rather than trying to simply replicate it. There are some hokier moments and some editing and shooting choices won’t be for everyone, but its hard to deny that the film simply works on a fundamental and earnest level that few other live-action Disney films do. It’s not perfection, but its quite the adventure. 3.5/5
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