Short Movie Review of Mulan (Live Action) from 2020
My Review of Mulan Live Action
Opening Statement
I know this is a politically charged debate, and for personal reasons I felt the need to share my perspective on the film. Hundreds of people who are at the top of their art worked on this film. One actress wrote and reposting dumb tweets shouldn't make people boycott a film that hundreds of other people worked together on to accomplish. I don't think she should have done that given the political climate and the fact that actors opinions shouldn't matter. BUT don't let this distract you from the fact that this is a movie made by hundreds of people who have different perspectives.
Intro
I expected this movie to be cheesy and overly CGI driven. What I was surprised by, was how it contrasted the actual trailer. The movie took many liberties and steps away from the original animated one. All of the changes are refreshing and seem to tell a more complete story. The emotion felt more real because of better storytelling that makes us believe her sacrifice for her father and country more. Also, no Mushu and ancestors means that the storytelling had to be carried by the actors and the relationships which were far more real feeling.
Acting
This movie had some of the most subtle and refreshing acting. Especially when in the comparison to other Disney live-action films that were treated more like musical theater shows vs movies. Mulan was perfectly casted, among a number of other characters.
Choreography
The choreography in the film was stunning. They mixed traditional kung fu style choreography with hollywood style sword fighting and because of this it really gave a heavy not do chinese filmmaking without it losing it's mass appeal for the general international audience that may not be into kung fu as much.
Music
This may not be the musical you may expect. However, musicals in my opinion pull you outside of the story most of the time. This is a case where having them not sing, and the orchestra/chinese instrument hybrid score by Harry Gregson-Williams really shined through. It was lush, delicate, elements of traditional chinese instruments, and the main themes were brought back in a very beautiful, and often subtle way.
Cinematography
The cinematograpy was astonishing. That's all I can say, it used new perspectives, movements, ways of cutting that I've never seen in film which propelled the story in ways I though were brilliant.
Chi
For those worried about her "superpowers", she doesn't really have them. She has a high amount of Chi which is "vital energy that is held to animate the body internally", and can be expressed in eastern medicine with different martial arts. I couldn't help but feel like Chi is essentally like Midi-chlorians, but the way they use the skills she has is more similar to kung fu than it is magic or superpower. It's not gratuitous, it is tasteful. It doesn't solve all of her problems and she still has immense struggle throughout the movie, which seems a much more lofty reward that is fitting for her sacrifice presented at the end.
$30, Really Disney? Yes, Really it is worth it.
Now, the reason I put this part of my review at the end is to hopefully let you know valid reasons that aren't politically charged about why it is worth $30. A few more: This movie would have been $14-21 in CA to watch for me per person. Now, if there are people watching as a family, you get your money's worth at 2 person capacity. That's just accounting, however I would have paid $30 for that movie just to watch alone due to the reasons above, but also due to the fact that I believe Disney took a huge risk here by changing so much of the story in ways that really work well in furthering the story. This is probably the most refreshing movie I've seen from them in at least 7 years (not including Pixar becauase they operate independently).
