"My little baby, off to destroy people." Mushu is so funny. This is one of the best Disney animated movies, always fun to watch.
Classic songs.
Warfare and gender politics (plus musical numbers and pet dragons) around imperial China in this Disney-fied adaptation of an old eastern fable. It's flashy and well-produced, with a strong female lead and up-front morals, but the plot seems too convenient and there's very little life outside the spotlight's bright glare. Funny, that last point, as Disney's always been so thorough about granting attention to the little details in their better preceding efforts.
Mulan is just fine. The animation is fluid and smooth, a crisp blend of classic western style and traditional Chinese décor that brims with character while paying service to a stiffer, more respect-driven society. The plot, up-tempo but shallow, hits its important points and changes the scenery before younger minds have a chance to wander. Singing and dancing cartoons aren't really my thing, but the tunes in Mulan are aurally inoffensive, at least, and kept rather short and utilitarian. I didn't hate anything, but I also didn't love anything... it was all just there. Yep, that looks like a Disney movie. Yep, that's the bad guy. Yep, there's the cursory romance. I appreciate the envelope-pushing hinted by the premise, encouragement to challenge the status quo if you find it unjust, but the film's conviction to see that message through adversity seems shaky at best. Even Eddie Murphy's comic relief side character, the aforementioned cat-sized dragon, doesn't get much to do.
The ideas are good, the animation is top-notch, the music is tolerable, but the big picture stuff is half-baked and the window-dressings are shockingly bland.
Tough chicks are so cool
Let's get down to business... :)
animation, funny, great songs. I enjoyed it immensely and we all (watched with friends) broke into song, even the one who was less motivated to watch this movie.
This is a classic children's movie that adults will enjoy and sing along.
Beautiful and hilarious Disney animated movie. Mulan is a role model to all.
It was probably a mistake to watch this right after watching Hua Mulan - the 2009 movie, and reading the legend of Mulan. The storytelling for this Mulan was trite (they went with "follow your heart" rather than the heroic "love woth sacrifice and bravery" of the original tale?) and banal, especially considering the richness of the folklore that has survived over 20 centuries. But kudos for bringing us an Asain heroin, some great voice casting, fun tunes, and, as always, great animation. I give it a 6.5 (just short of good) out of 10.
Mulan is the perfect example of how to do a strong character that also has feelings and can have a crush
Like Disney really look at your past this is what we want
Mulan trained her thighs so much in this army that she even lifted a horse! ;)
I've sung "I'll Make a Man Out of You" at karaoke so many times. Amazing film.
One of the most well made animation films by Disney. Way to embrace international cultures with a story that ties to a history lesson kids learned in school about China and the huts. The plot was very well executed with the set up, main portion and conclusion (all though that was a bit rushed but fixed with a sequel). A very encouraging story about a young woman who takes her elderly father’s place when a military draft occurs after embarrassing her family on the day when she gets chosen a groom.
Every song is a banger...
I desperately need to give this a rewatch, especially after that remake
THE WACPINE OF ‘MULAN (1998)’
WRITING: 8
ATMOSPHERE: 7
CHARACTERS: 7
PRODUCTION: 9
INTRIGUE: 7
NOVELTY: 8
ENJOYMENT: 8
The Good:
Mulan is one of the rare instances of Disney fully embracing a (from a Western point of view) foreign culture, with unfamiliar traditions and ways of life. It makes the subject matter, the characters and the setting fascinating and interesting for kids and adults alike.
Mulan is easy to connect with thanks her clumsy but warm-hearted demeanour. Her journey from a nobody to a fearless warrior is one of the more fascinating character developments in any Disney film. Mulan is one of the stronger female leads in a Disney animated film, at least pre-Pixar.
Ming-Na Wen (of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D) fame does a great job portraying Mulan; her sweet and soft side as well as her fiercer warrior persona.
The brisk pace, the fluid animation, beautiful colours and fine use of music and sound make this a very enjoyable animated film that still holds up today.
The interesting historical setting, the beautiful music and the strong leading characters help Mulan break from the undoubtedly very formulaic Disney plot structure that otherwise forms the bulk of the story.
Eddie Murphy might be a somewhat strange choice to play a Chinese dragon, but he effectively makes the character his own, which is partly the reason why Mushu is such a fan-favourite character.
The best parts of the script are those that force Mulan to adapt to a male-oriented society and pretend she's male to fit in. This was Disney commenting on gender roles twenty years before that was popular. It brings tension to the plot and warmhearted comedy to the proceedings.
I'll Make a Man Out Of You is arguably the best Disney song of the 90s next to everything from The Lion King.
The climactic action/fight sequence is exciting, inventive and satisfying.
The Bad:
The lack of a presence of any kind of palpable threat is one of my main gripes. The Hunns are quickly introduced by barely used until the final 30 minutes of the film and even then, they remain side players.
Other than Mulan, Mushu and Shang, the characters aren't very interesting and mostly follow Disney standards.
The Ugly:
Disney was still doing training montages 10 years after they stopped being in fashion.
WACPINE RATING: 7.71 / 10 = 4 stars
Excellent in every way.. One of my all time fave Disney animated movies. I see there is a live action version out now, and I'm terrified to watch it. So many times when they take toons to live movies they degenerate it into something that shud be rated R, and it tarnishes the beauty and fun of the originals...
This one is still pretty good. I know the live-action Mulan is still flawed. But it is a completely different take. I don't compare them. They are good in their own right!
"And what are you, a sheep?" :joy: I love Mushu!
It's a little weird though, I see a dragon speaking but I only hear Donkey from Shrek :sweat_smile:. Eddie Murphy shouldn't be allowed to voice more animated characters!!! Although that would be a shame, he is brilliant.
What a great movie, probably my favourite Disney classic along with The lion king.
Also, the ending with the emperor bowing always gets to me. I'm not crying, you are! :joy:
'Mulan' is good Disney.
There's a lot to enjoy about this film, it's not without a few less entertaining parts but overall it's one that many will like. The plot is pretty fascinating, even if it isn't as dark or in-depth as it could be.
Ming-Na Wen gives a more than acceptable performance in the lead role. Eddie Murphy, though, is definitely the most memorable voice from this. I don't love his character, who is a bit too cartoon-y and looks out of place, but Murphy is simply funny, in what certainly feels like a precursor to his role in the 'Shrek' franchise. None of the other cast standout, yet still give what's required.
Animation-wise it's nice, while a few of the songs are catchy. I don't, as already alluded to with Murphy's Mushu, overly rate the character design. Aside from the aforementioned, I also don't like how Shan Yu (Miguel Ferrer) looks - he, at least to me, just looks angry all the time rather than terrifying or threatening.
I do class this as a film worth watching for sure, the pacing helps keep things enjoyable.
Like its titular character, hiding beneath the feminist exterior of this animated feature is a traditional Disney princess. Fortunately, as the respect (genuine or not) the brand has for women is evident, this is not a bad thing.
The themes are unfortunately becoming increasingly more relevant in 2020.
As for the film itself, it’s pretty good, though there are Disney films with better characters and more interesting stories.
7/10
i wasnt raised on disney so ive been trying to catch up, still have a long way to go but this one joins Coco and Toy Story at the top. i love the story and i loved the character of mulan so so much, the music and the chinese culture are both so beautiful. still, no animated movie will ever beat spirit in my heart.
Disney once again delves into forgotten lore with Mulan. Based on an ancient Chinese legend, a young girl secretly joins the Chinese army in her father’s steed in order to help fend off a Hun invasion. The film features a strong cast, but it’s Eddie Murphy who steals the show as Mulan’s wisecracking sidekick. Additionally, the music is especially well-done; featuring pop-hits by Christina Aguilera and 98 Degrees (with Stevie Wonder). The animation is also quite impressive, particularly in how it incorporates oriental artistic styles. Also, the storytelling delivers a positive message about honor and self-sacrifice without getting heavy handed or dumbing things down. An inspirational film that’s exciting and fun, Mulan is a testament to Disney’s ability to continually put out quality entertainment.
Love the movie and it was a nostalgia overkill for me after seeing the movie again after...maybe 15 years.
I'll take this training montage over Rocky any day.
I'll make a man out of you might be the best disney song. It's definitely the one I sing the most.
To be honest, after 20 years of its release, this is the first time I saw the movie and now it becomes an instant one classic favorite. Awesome music and animation.
Definitely one of my all-time favorite Disney films. Original and captivating, I could watch it over and over again. And of course, it's a thousand times better than its sequel.
Shout by AleczandraBlockedParent2014-05-18T01:06:50Z
THIS IS MY FAVOURITE MOVIE