Mulan (2020) is Disney’s latest live-action adaptation of their beloved animated movies. I am going to confidently say that I no longer look forward to their live-action remakes. Between this and Lion King, I have lost confidence in them doing these kind of movies justice. Let’s talk about Mulan and why I feel this way.
This is a very different movie than the animated one. This borrows some elements from it, and also borrows some elements from the original Ballad of Mulan. This does not blend them well. This movie is boring. Some might call it darker and more serious, but it’s just more boring. The animated movie brought humor, liveliness, and characterization to the audience. The 2009 Mulan was a more accurate take on Mulan from the original story, while this just felt like it wasn’t necessary.
Mushu is not in this movie, which takes a lot away from the story in my opinion. It feels like Aladdin without Genie. I understand that this movie was going for a more serious tone, but they take away Mushu and add some magic elements and it just leaves me to wonder why they would take Mushu out of the movie. The movie looked beautiful for the most part, although some green screen was noticeable for some scenes. The pacing was a mess and the editing was jarring. There is no music in this iteration and almost no humor.
Overall, this movie just fell flat for me. If you want to enjoy a Mulan movie, just watch the animated version. It tells a better and more fun story in a shorter amount of time. Keep in mind, I don’t hate Disney live-action remakes. I enjoyed Aladdin and Jungle Book, but this just felt lifeless. I probably won’t remember this movie in two days. Don’t waste $30 on Disney+. If you want to watch it, just wait until it’s free on Disney+ on December 4th.
4.5/10
Written by: Manny Talancon
Keep it Short 