Hi, y'all! Hope your week is going well! I want to point out one quick thing before we get into this article. I know some of the STUFF in the live-action is different, from the characters and their names to certain parts of the story, so I might actually be all over the place as I talk about the article. Just a fair warning. Now, why don't we get into it?
The characters:
Mulan:
You know what? I'm just going to talk about both versions in one piece for a second. They're both fearless, headstrong, loyal, and badass. I knew the original version was all those things, but see how the live-action version is also all those things, it makes my heart swell. In fact, I'm going to say this before I get back to the rest of it. Both Mulans are flawless. I just can't say ANYTHING bad about either one. I could go on and on about how wonderful they are. It was beautiful to see both versions be so alike they're practically replicas of each other. It was amazing to see.
The original Mulan starts out by trying to find her place in the world. She wants to make her family proud of her in all that she does, but at the same time, it's also like she doesn't know how. I guess what I'm trying to say is she kinda puts pressure on herself half the time. Hey, don't get me wrong, she's got SOME confidence, and the bit she DOES have can be shown at certain points. While she only has some confidence in the beginning, the rest of it she picks up along the way. That all starts with her going out of her way disguising herself as a man to join the army. She doesn't fit in at first, mainly with the other recruits bullying her, but once she sees that arrow on top of that pole once again, she proves to herself that, not only is she capable of doing anything she sets her mind to, but also she also gains the rest of that confidence I mentioned earlier. Another thing, just when it seems like she's lost it after Shang finds out about her real identity, Mushu help her pick up the pieces, and it's as if it never left in the first place. The rest is history.
The live-action Mulan, on the other hand, was born with, not only confidence, she was also sure of herself. I loved where they went with that trait. What's heartbreaking is she practically gets forced to hide all that later on. I'll get to the reasons why in a minute, but as I was saying, it's horrible to see her be someone she's not. Going back to her childhood, I get kids will be kids, but getting forced in concealing everything she's capable of? That's just pure heartbreak within itself. Now, I know that wasn't normal back in that day and age, but it's still wrong! When she's finally given a chance to show off her skills, it comes on the day she meets with the matchmaker, and, for a short while, it actually saves her from all that embarrassment the original version *unintentionally* caused. Yet, it only lands her in hot water. After the army comes to her little town, she FINALLY gets to show off what she's capable of. Here's my little issue. While I liked how she already knew martial arts in the beginning of the film, I also feel like she got robbed of the chance to show people what she can actually do. Again, I know that wasn't the norm back in the day, but she should've never been forced to hide wat she was just so damn good at. Of course, that's just me. I'm just that much of a fan of both versions.
Fa Zhou/Hua Zhou:
The original version of the dad is just perfect. He wants what's best for Mulan, but at the same time, he sees her for who she really is. The live-action version has that quality, too, but her mom has him fearing for her future before we get to see her as an adult. I'll get to more of that part in a minute. Anyway, I admire how much the original version loves Mulan. He sees past her flaws, he doesn't let her imperfections get to him, and, he even sees her potential. Yes, there were a couple moments where his negative emotions got the better of him, and, that right there, my friends, is a literal NO THANKS to Che Fou, but, he picks up the pieces upon reuniting with Mulan. The same thing happens when both versions tell her about learning her place. The live-action version, on the other hand, just had one of those "That's enough!" moments and that's where it led to. Speaking of the live-action version, he also sees past Mulan's flaws, even after her mom got in his head. One part I liked is his relationship with Mulan had a bit of a bigger role in this adaptation. From how much he loves her to their heart to hearts while fixing the phoenix and before the war, it was incredible to see. In some ways, he's different from the original version, but in other ways, he's just like the original version. Both are amazing in their own ways.
Fa Li/Hua Li:
I feel both versions are similar to each other. They both want what's best for Mulan, and they're both doing what they think is best for her, but here's where my problem with the live-action version comes in. Because Mulan is already gifted with mastering martial arts, the live-action version feels like making Mulan basically into something she's not will help the town not look at her like she's a witch. A witch? Seriously?!? She might think she's doing what's best for Mulan, but she's actually forcing Mulan to hide one of the best parts about her. That's sad. When I think about this, she's practically sheltering herself from what Mulan can really do outside the box. That's one hell of a heartbreaker. Again, I know it wasn't the normal for girls to be warriors back then, but NO mother should try to force their children into hiding what they're truly good at! With my pet peeve put aside, I'd like to talk about one moment in the movie made me change my perspective on her. She tells Mulan her dad has no chance of coming back home during his next go-round in a war. And I'm not talking about his past injury. I'm talking about how she realizes he just isn't strong enough anymore. She also pleads for Zhou to go after Mulan before she gets killed, like the original version. If you were to ask me about both versions, here's the verdict I would give. I like the original version better, but I think the live-action version stands out more. I know, complicated answer, but I say this because the live-action version has a more present role than the original version. I'm not saying the original one doesn't have any less of a role. It's just I think the live-action version is more involved in the movie. The original version, I think, is less involved, but I like her character more. Why? Because she isn't as harsh with Mulan. I guess you could say I prefer the original version over the live-action version, but both versions are are portrayed in different but wonderful aspects regardless.
Shang/Commander Tung/Chen:
Before I dive into these characters, I'd like to point out while I thought it was rather interesting that Shang was split into two characters, I HATED the reasons behind it, but, I'm not going into those reasons because that would cause an unnecessary arguement. Now, let's talk about each character.
We all know Shang is from a military background. He's eager to follow in his dad's footsteps, and he's eager to prove himself. He's basically your all around military brat. The same things resonates with Commander Tung. Chen may also have Shang's full on confidence and ambition, but I thing Shang's dedication keeps him more focused more than anything.
One thing I didn't see coming is Commander Tung's attempt to set Mulan up with his daughter. That was surprising, to say the least, but of course, that was all when she was still disguised as Jun. Another thing I didn't see is Chen's continued adoration of Mulan after she came clean and tried to warn the army about the capturing and execution of the emperor, whereas Shang continues to be a jerk to Mulan after coming clean and trying to warn him about the surviving huns. To be clear, I can see Commander Tung also having the same feelings, but for Chen to get over his own shock and see Mulan for who she truly is was, I think, a beautiful twist. Surprising, but beautiful. I just mentioned Commander Tung feeling the same way as Shang upon Mulan being revealed. In this instance, they're similar. They both feel blindsided, conflicted, and mad. Here, I see very evident similarities, but what also caught me by surprise is Commander Tung eventually came around and believed Mulan as well, where Shang, however, STILL didn't believe Mulan. Okay, I get he still felt those rather intense emotions after Mulan's reveal, but just because he was still feeling that way and didn't believe Mulan about the huns didn't give him the right to treat her like crap! Again, I get he still felt conflicted, but still. One thing I appreciate is how he grows to like her again while trying to rescue the emperor, and developed something more after.
Well, I guess you could say I have mixed feelings about the character development with Shang and Chen. This is honestly the first time I've felt torn between an original character and their live-action counterpart. (Or in this case, one of their counterparts.) While I was surprised to see Chen's continued loyalty toward Mulan, I grew up with Shang, like many of you. He's bold, confident, powerful, amazing, I could go on. I should probably explain the reason why i didn't mention Commander Tung in that piece because he reminds me more of Shang's dad. Maybe it's because they're both leaders. Maybe it's because of a trait I didn't see. I don't know. As for the character development of Shang and Chen, I'll let you form your own opinions on this one.
Shan Yu/Bori Khan and Xianniang
I want to start off by saying Shan Yu is one of the best Disney villains EVER! They did such an epic job with, not only with his character development, but also with his animation. Even his voice actor did such a phenomenal job! We all know Shan Yu is a naturally bad to the bone bad guy, but one thing I liked about Bori Khan is they actually gave him a bit of background to his character. He's trying to avenge the death of his dad, which is the main reason he's trying to capture and kill the emperor. I feel like his storyline is alittle more specific, whereas Shan Yu just wants to conquer China altogether. Xianniang is quite a character. She's this shapeshifting witch who was cut off by her her village because of her own gift, and only fights with Bori Khan because he treats her like an equal. The reasons behind this are sad. They're sad because the main person who looks at her for her is the villain. The beauty I find in her character is, not only does she turn into one of the heroes, but she sees Mulan for the woman SHE is and becomes one of the heroes. (I.E. sacrificing herself, giving Mulan a lead on Bori Khan's true intention toward the emperor.) I don't know about the rest of you, but it was so refreshing to witness this type of character portrayal in a remake. As for Bori Khan, not only is he like Shan Yu, but I like the backstory they gave him. It just shows you how creative they really were with the live-action adaptation. In fact, Xianniang actually reminds me of Namaari from Raya And The Last Dragon. SHE was a villain turned hero. You can read more about HER portrayal in an earlier review about Raya And The Last Dragon. Anyway, as for my opinions on Shan Yu and Bori Khan? I'm probably going to say this over and over again, but here it goes, they're both two different characters. In this case, they might actually be the same villain with two different types of motives.
Mushu/The Phoenix:
I couldn't do this article without talking about Mushu! It was bugging me so bad as to how I was going to include HIM in here because I knew going into this his character was too big for just a shoutout, or an honorary shoutout. When I figured out that he and the phoenix were both guardians, I knew I had the answer. The Phoenix DOES play a vital role in helping Mulan when she isn't sure of what to do, but Mushu? Not only does he play the same role, he also develops this unbreakable bond with Mulan as the movie progresses. Oh, let's not forget about his comedic side. The way he always jokes about Mulan's horse, the rather playful beef he has with Crickee, his wit, I could go on. Time to get serious again. One thing I admire about our beloved dragon is while he tries to boost his ego, he still tries to fix all the wrongs he's caused in the end. That's, not only character development, it's also a moral. It's a moral. Now, I don't mean to get too literal, but I think we all need to live by this moral, even if we don't realize we did anything wrong.
Let's talk more about the phoenix. I know I'm going to get some flack for this, but, I kind of understand why the phoenix was Mulan's guardian. Why? I believe they were trying to stay true to, not only the original Mulan, but also the real life story behind the original movie. I'll get to that shortly. Although the phoenix wasn't a major character in the live-action movie, it's role was still just as important as Mushu's role. As I said earlier, it flies out to Mulan and helps her whenever she isn't sure of what to do next. I admit, I wish they gave it alittle more screentime, I do. While I'm like the rest of you on that, I knew deep down the live-action movie was focusing more on the real life story, which is that old Chinese folk tale. Before I go too off topic, I thought the phoenix's role was just as big as Mushu's, but if you were to ask me that brutally this or that question, I'd probably have to choose Mushu. Being born in the 90's, I always choose what I grew up with. He and the phoenix are fantastic characters, though.
The Emperor:
I thought the live-action Emperor had a bigger role than the original Emperor, BUT, I felt the original Emperor's character had more of an impact on me. This may be because I grew up with this version, or, his character is incredibly powerful. On the other hand, the live-action version was more involved because, well, he's trying to keep the Imperial City safe. Also, he and Bori Khan are after each other. Those two additions to the plot, I think, helped give more depth to his character. I feel we got to, not only see alittle more screentime from the live-action Emperor, but I also think we got to see a different side to him as well. It was interesting to see such a headstrong side to him, a side we never got from the original version because A. He had alittle less screentime. B. He'd also been inda soft around the edges. Or C. Both. I liked how they gave the live-action Emperor more screentime, but, I feel the original Emperor had more of an impact that's going to to be legendary for us 90's/early 00's kids all around the world.
Both versions of Ling, Yao, and Chien Po:
Honestly, both versions are fantastic. We all love the original version of these three, right? Well, I thought they did a great job sticking to their character traits with the live-action versions. I felt slightly dissapointed we didn't see any jokes from the live-action Ling, though. I say that because no one can top the original Ling's comedy! But, aside from that small detail, I think both versions of these three are great.
Before I get to the next thing, I want to give a shoutout to Grandmother Fa and Xiu. Don't get me wrong, I was pretty bummed Mulan's beloved grandmother wasn't in the live-action movie, but I liked the addition of the live-action Mulan's younger sister. I still wish they added Grandmother Fa in the live-action movie, but there's only so much they were able the production team was able to pay for. Either way, both versions are spectacular.
The music:
Okay, I already know what some of y'all are thinking. You feel bummed there weren't any musical numbers in the live-action version like there were in the original version. Please hear me out for a second. I LOVED how they incorporated afew of the original songs in the live-action movie. I'll give you an example. If you watch the scene in the live-action movie where Ling, Yao, and Chien Po are talking about what kind of woman they want, they quote some of the lyrics to A Girl Worth Fighting For. That gave me a whole new respect for the live-action movie. Also in the live-action movie, the score play Honor To Us All when they get Mulan ready to meet the matchmaker. Oh, drumroll please. When the score plays Reflection in the live-action movie when Mulan prepares to reveal herself, I thought that was just downright BEAUTIFUL! I mean, holy hell! They couldn't have picked a more perfect time to have the orchestra play that song! I even found myself singing along to the music during that scene. If you ask me, I personally think that part alone deserved an Oscar. If I remember correctly, they also paid homage to Make A Man Out Of You. Some of the lyrics were also quoted. Another plus is, I was SO HAPPY to see that Christina Agulera did a song for the live-action movie. If you don't already know, that song is called Loyal, Brave, and True. BEAUTIFUL tune! Speaking of which, Liu Yifie, not only did a Chinese version of Reflection, in which plays at the end of the live-action movie, she also did an English version you can hear/see on Disney+. Let's just say my jaw was left on the floor for about 5 minutes after hearing that version, and I strongly recommend you go hear that version for yourself.
The setting:
I'm going to talk about the village for a minute. In the original movie, the village itself is small, but, at least the people could still get around. In the live-action movie, the village is basically in this huge hut thing that looks like it could fit up to 50 people who are traveling. It also looks like people can't really get around. Now, I know they can still get around, but, it looks hard to. As a matter of fact, that's something I pointed out in my Beauty And The Beast article, whereas the same thig happened in the live-action Beauty And The Beast. Both villages in that movie and the live-action Mulan are so small it looks like people can't turn around without bumping into each other sometimes. At least in both original villages the people could still get around freely. That small complaint aside, I would like to talk about the campsite.
The campsite in the original film was almost like a small city. There were tents everywhere you looked. And I'm not counting Mulan's own tent that was at least 20 feet away from the campsite. It looked so neat and so nice I felt like I was looking at a city within the campsite. The live-action campsite, however, didn't really had the same appeal. Mulan and the cadets had to share quarters! As I mention this, it kinda goes back to what I was just talking about-crammed. Hey, I know some military camps are designed like that, but, how do they manage to share space with other people and NOT get on their nerves? Okay, I don't want to lost track of this topic, so, let's cut straight to the scenery.
The scenery in the live-action movie was gorgeous. One thing I liked was the countryside in the opening of the movie. In the opening of the original, we get to see the Great Wall of China. That's something I wish we also got to see in the live-action movie, too. Speaking of which, I recently heard the live-action movie was, not only filmed in China, but also in New Zealand. That explains the remarkable beauty! Anyway, I think the scenery in the live-action movie is still similar to the original movie. The production team of the live-action movie did a good job staying true to the scenery of the original movie. It was a really epic thing to see.
The story:
Okay, we all love the story of the original movie, right? When I first heard about the live-action movie, I was like a majority of you-all bummed and mad about those plans to remake the movie. Well, I'll probably lose a reader or two for saying this, but, here it goes. I am SO DAMN PROUD to admit I was wrong. Y'all trust me-that isn't something I tend to admit too often. They stayed true to the magic of the original movie from beginning to end. I'll also admit I was a bit dissapointed certain things weren't in the live-action movie as in the original movie, but, I understand nowadays, and let me tell you why. Back in November, I was talking to a friend of mine, and SHE understood them wanting to the legendary folktale. Let me teel you this-for them to be able to stay true to the original movie and the folktale and blend it all together was such a beautiful combination to see come to life. It takes alot of effort to do that, and they exceeded all the expectations I had. The live-action movie also had some surprising twists. I was stunned when The Emperor actually went to Mulan's village to personally ask her to join the army as an Imperial officer. That was a total surprise for me. Another twist is Mulan seemed hesitant to accept Chen's love. I was crying inside. Incidentally, I've heard people hate how the live-action Mulan is already good at doing self defense. Come on! We get to see her pick that up during her childhood! (Apparently, they don't know about the folktale. Or, they just hate change with a passion. Or, perhaps, both.) Enough about my little rant. Both movies are pure gold. The hold each movie has on you stays with you, and you never forget the magic you felt seeing both movies. I know I just mentioned how some people hate change, and all this positive hype I'm currently giving about the live-action movie is coming from a person who doesn't really like the idea of change much herself. I already knew the original movie was a classic, but looking back now, I'm glad I gave the live-action movie a chance, no matter how reluctant I was. If you were to tell me I'd be amazed by the live-action movie about 5 years ago, I probably would've snorted in your face. If you haven't seen the live-action movie yet, I suggest you do so. It stays true to the original move, and you will NOT be dissapointed.
Overall review:
The original: 10/10
The live-action: 10/10
I know you're probably wondering why I didn't mention Chi-Fu. Well, I'm about to tell you why. He is so ignorant and full of himself, especially after Mulan's identity is revealed. Oh my God, I hate him so much. In fact, I'm glad he wasn't in the sequel.
Again, apologies for a REALLY long delay! Between me STILL being sick at the beginning of the year and half my family having birthdays from now to June, I haven't really had time to write. I PROMISE to have an earlier release with the next article! Thanks so much for your patience, not only during the delay, but for also how all over the place this article might be!
That's it for this article. My next article will be on both versions of The Little Mermaid.
Thanks for reading! Much love! <3
The characters:
Mulan:
You know what? I'm just going to talk about both versions in one piece for a second. They're both fearless, headstrong, loyal, and badass. I knew the original version was all those things, but see how the live-action version is also all those things, it makes my heart swell. In fact, I'm going to say this before I get back to the rest of it. Both Mulans are flawless. I just can't say ANYTHING bad about either one. I could go on and on about how wonderful they are. It was beautiful to see both versions be so alike they're practically replicas of each other. It was amazing to see.
The original Mulan starts out by trying to find her place in the world. She wants to make her family proud of her in all that she does, but at the same time, it's also like she doesn't know how. I guess what I'm trying to say is she kinda puts pressure on herself half the time. Hey, don't get me wrong, she's got SOME confidence, and the bit she DOES have can be shown at certain points. While she only has some confidence in the beginning, the rest of it she picks up along the way. That all starts with her going out of her way disguising herself as a man to join the army. She doesn't fit in at first, mainly with the other recruits bullying her, but once she sees that arrow on top of that pole once again, she proves to herself that, not only is she capable of doing anything she sets her mind to, but also she also gains the rest of that confidence I mentioned earlier. Another thing, just when it seems like she's lost it after Shang finds out about her real identity, Mushu help her pick up the pieces, and it's as if it never left in the first place. The rest is history.
The live-action Mulan, on the other hand, was born with, not only confidence, she was also sure of herself. I loved where they went with that trait. What's heartbreaking is she practically gets forced to hide all that later on. I'll get to the reasons why in a minute, but as I was saying, it's horrible to see her be someone she's not. Going back to her childhood, I get kids will be kids, but getting forced in concealing everything she's capable of? That's just pure heartbreak within itself. Now, I know that wasn't normal back in that day and age, but it's still wrong! When she's finally given a chance to show off her skills, it comes on the day she meets with the matchmaker, and, for a short while, it actually saves her from all that embarrassment the original version *unintentionally* caused. Yet, it only lands her in hot water. After the army comes to her little town, she FINALLY gets to show off what she's capable of. Here's my little issue. While I liked how she already knew martial arts in the beginning of the film, I also feel like she got robbed of the chance to show people what she can actually do. Again, I know that wasn't the norm back in the day, but she should've never been forced to hide wat she was just so damn good at. Of course, that's just me. I'm just that much of a fan of both versions.
Fa Zhou/Hua Zhou:
The original version of the dad is just perfect. He wants what's best for Mulan, but at the same time, he sees her for who she really is. The live-action version has that quality, too, but her mom has him fearing for her future before we get to see her as an adult. I'll get to more of that part in a minute. Anyway, I admire how much the original version loves Mulan. He sees past her flaws, he doesn't let her imperfections get to him, and, he even sees her potential. Yes, there were a couple moments where his negative emotions got the better of him, and, that right there, my friends, is a literal NO THANKS to Che Fou, but, he picks up the pieces upon reuniting with Mulan. The same thing happens when both versions tell her about learning her place. The live-action version, on the other hand, just had one of those "That's enough!" moments and that's where it led to. Speaking of the live-action version, he also sees past Mulan's flaws, even after her mom got in his head. One part I liked is his relationship with Mulan had a bit of a bigger role in this adaptation. From how much he loves her to their heart to hearts while fixing the phoenix and before the war, it was incredible to see. In some ways, he's different from the original version, but in other ways, he's just like the original version. Both are amazing in their own ways.
Fa Li/Hua Li:
I feel both versions are similar to each other. They both want what's best for Mulan, and they're both doing what they think is best for her, but here's where my problem with the live-action version comes in. Because Mulan is already gifted with mastering martial arts, the live-action version feels like making Mulan basically into something she's not will help the town not look at her like she's a witch. A witch? Seriously?!? She might think she's doing what's best for Mulan, but she's actually forcing Mulan to hide one of the best parts about her. That's sad. When I think about this, she's practically sheltering herself from what Mulan can really do outside the box. That's one hell of a heartbreaker. Again, I know it wasn't the normal for girls to be warriors back then, but NO mother should try to force their children into hiding what they're truly good at! With my pet peeve put aside, I'd like to talk about one moment in the movie made me change my perspective on her. She tells Mulan her dad has no chance of coming back home during his next go-round in a war. And I'm not talking about his past injury. I'm talking about how she realizes he just isn't strong enough anymore. She also pleads for Zhou to go after Mulan before she gets killed, like the original version. If you were to ask me about both versions, here's the verdict I would give. I like the original version better, but I think the live-action version stands out more. I know, complicated answer, but I say this because the live-action version has a more present role than the original version. I'm not saying the original one doesn't have any less of a role. It's just I think the live-action version is more involved in the movie. The original version, I think, is less involved, but I like her character more. Why? Because she isn't as harsh with Mulan. I guess you could say I prefer the original version over the live-action version, but both versions are are portrayed in different but wonderful aspects regardless.
Shang/Commander Tung/Chen:
Before I dive into these characters, I'd like to point out while I thought it was rather interesting that Shang was split into two characters, I HATED the reasons behind it, but, I'm not going into those reasons because that would cause an unnecessary arguement. Now, let's talk about each character.
We all know Shang is from a military background. He's eager to follow in his dad's footsteps, and he's eager to prove himself. He's basically your all around military brat. The same things resonates with Commander Tung. Chen may also have Shang's full on confidence and ambition, but I thing Shang's dedication keeps him more focused more than anything.
One thing I didn't see coming is Commander Tung's attempt to set Mulan up with his daughter. That was surprising, to say the least, but of course, that was all when she was still disguised as Jun. Another thing I didn't see is Chen's continued adoration of Mulan after she came clean and tried to warn the army about the capturing and execution of the emperor, whereas Shang continues to be a jerk to Mulan after coming clean and trying to warn him about the surviving huns. To be clear, I can see Commander Tung also having the same feelings, but for Chen to get over his own shock and see Mulan for who she truly is was, I think, a beautiful twist. Surprising, but beautiful. I just mentioned Commander Tung feeling the same way as Shang upon Mulan being revealed. In this instance, they're similar. They both feel blindsided, conflicted, and mad. Here, I see very evident similarities, but what also caught me by surprise is Commander Tung eventually came around and believed Mulan as well, where Shang, however, STILL didn't believe Mulan. Okay, I get he still felt those rather intense emotions after Mulan's reveal, but just because he was still feeling that way and didn't believe Mulan about the huns didn't give him the right to treat her like crap! Again, I get he still felt conflicted, but still. One thing I appreciate is how he grows to like her again while trying to rescue the emperor, and developed something more after.
Well, I guess you could say I have mixed feelings about the character development with Shang and Chen. This is honestly the first time I've felt torn between an original character and their live-action counterpart. (Or in this case, one of their counterparts.) While I was surprised to see Chen's continued loyalty toward Mulan, I grew up with Shang, like many of you. He's bold, confident, powerful, amazing, I could go on. I should probably explain the reason why i didn't mention Commander Tung in that piece because he reminds me more of Shang's dad. Maybe it's because they're both leaders. Maybe it's because of a trait I didn't see. I don't know. As for the character development of Shang and Chen, I'll let you form your own opinions on this one.
Shan Yu/Bori Khan and Xianniang
I want to start off by saying Shan Yu is one of the best Disney villains EVER! They did such an epic job with, not only with his character development, but also with his animation. Even his voice actor did such a phenomenal job! We all know Shan Yu is a naturally bad to the bone bad guy, but one thing I liked about Bori Khan is they actually gave him a bit of background to his character. He's trying to avenge the death of his dad, which is the main reason he's trying to capture and kill the emperor. I feel like his storyline is alittle more specific, whereas Shan Yu just wants to conquer China altogether. Xianniang is quite a character. She's this shapeshifting witch who was cut off by her her village because of her own gift, and only fights with Bori Khan because he treats her like an equal. The reasons behind this are sad. They're sad because the main person who looks at her for her is the villain. The beauty I find in her character is, not only does she turn into one of the heroes, but she sees Mulan for the woman SHE is and becomes one of the heroes. (I.E. sacrificing herself, giving Mulan a lead on Bori Khan's true intention toward the emperor.) I don't know about the rest of you, but it was so refreshing to witness this type of character portrayal in a remake. As for Bori Khan, not only is he like Shan Yu, but I like the backstory they gave him. It just shows you how creative they really were with the live-action adaptation. In fact, Xianniang actually reminds me of Namaari from Raya And The Last Dragon. SHE was a villain turned hero. You can read more about HER portrayal in an earlier review about Raya And The Last Dragon. Anyway, as for my opinions on Shan Yu and Bori Khan? I'm probably going to say this over and over again, but here it goes, they're both two different characters. In this case, they might actually be the same villain with two different types of motives.
Mushu/The Phoenix:
I couldn't do this article without talking about Mushu! It was bugging me so bad as to how I was going to include HIM in here because I knew going into this his character was too big for just a shoutout, or an honorary shoutout. When I figured out that he and the phoenix were both guardians, I knew I had the answer. The Phoenix DOES play a vital role in helping Mulan when she isn't sure of what to do, but Mushu? Not only does he play the same role, he also develops this unbreakable bond with Mulan as the movie progresses. Oh, let's not forget about his comedic side. The way he always jokes about Mulan's horse, the rather playful beef he has with Crickee, his wit, I could go on. Time to get serious again. One thing I admire about our beloved dragon is while he tries to boost his ego, he still tries to fix all the wrongs he's caused in the end. That's, not only character development, it's also a moral. It's a moral. Now, I don't mean to get too literal, but I think we all need to live by this moral, even if we don't realize we did anything wrong.
Let's talk more about the phoenix. I know I'm going to get some flack for this, but, I kind of understand why the phoenix was Mulan's guardian. Why? I believe they were trying to stay true to, not only the original Mulan, but also the real life story behind the original movie. I'll get to that shortly. Although the phoenix wasn't a major character in the live-action movie, it's role was still just as important as Mushu's role. As I said earlier, it flies out to Mulan and helps her whenever she isn't sure of what to do next. I admit, I wish they gave it alittle more screentime, I do. While I'm like the rest of you on that, I knew deep down the live-action movie was focusing more on the real life story, which is that old Chinese folk tale. Before I go too off topic, I thought the phoenix's role was just as big as Mushu's, but if you were to ask me that brutally this or that question, I'd probably have to choose Mushu. Being born in the 90's, I always choose what I grew up with. He and the phoenix are fantastic characters, though.
The Emperor:
I thought the live-action Emperor had a bigger role than the original Emperor, BUT, I felt the original Emperor's character had more of an impact on me. This may be because I grew up with this version, or, his character is incredibly powerful. On the other hand, the live-action version was more involved because, well, he's trying to keep the Imperial City safe. Also, he and Bori Khan are after each other. Those two additions to the plot, I think, helped give more depth to his character. I feel we got to, not only see alittle more screentime from the live-action Emperor, but I also think we got to see a different side to him as well. It was interesting to see such a headstrong side to him, a side we never got from the original version because A. He had alittle less screentime. B. He'd also been inda soft around the edges. Or C. Both. I liked how they gave the live-action Emperor more screentime, but, I feel the original Emperor had more of an impact that's going to to be legendary for us 90's/early 00's kids all around the world.
Both versions of Ling, Yao, and Chien Po:
Honestly, both versions are fantastic. We all love the original version of these three, right? Well, I thought they did a great job sticking to their character traits with the live-action versions. I felt slightly dissapointed we didn't see any jokes from the live-action Ling, though. I say that because no one can top the original Ling's comedy! But, aside from that small detail, I think both versions of these three are great.
Before I get to the next thing, I want to give a shoutout to Grandmother Fa and Xiu. Don't get me wrong, I was pretty bummed Mulan's beloved grandmother wasn't in the live-action movie, but I liked the addition of the live-action Mulan's younger sister. I still wish they added Grandmother Fa in the live-action movie, but there's only so much they were able the production team was able to pay for. Either way, both versions are spectacular.
The music:
Okay, I already know what some of y'all are thinking. You feel bummed there weren't any musical numbers in the live-action version like there were in the original version. Please hear me out for a second. I LOVED how they incorporated afew of the original songs in the live-action movie. I'll give you an example. If you watch the scene in the live-action movie where Ling, Yao, and Chien Po are talking about what kind of woman they want, they quote some of the lyrics to A Girl Worth Fighting For. That gave me a whole new respect for the live-action movie. Also in the live-action movie, the score play Honor To Us All when they get Mulan ready to meet the matchmaker. Oh, drumroll please. When the score plays Reflection in the live-action movie when Mulan prepares to reveal herself, I thought that was just downright BEAUTIFUL! I mean, holy hell! They couldn't have picked a more perfect time to have the orchestra play that song! I even found myself singing along to the music during that scene. If you ask me, I personally think that part alone deserved an Oscar. If I remember correctly, they also paid homage to Make A Man Out Of You. Some of the lyrics were also quoted. Another plus is, I was SO HAPPY to see that Christina Agulera did a song for the live-action movie. If you don't already know, that song is called Loyal, Brave, and True. BEAUTIFUL tune! Speaking of which, Liu Yifie, not only did a Chinese version of Reflection, in which plays at the end of the live-action movie, she also did an English version you can hear/see on Disney+. Let's just say my jaw was left on the floor for about 5 minutes after hearing that version, and I strongly recommend you go hear that version for yourself.
The setting:
I'm going to talk about the village for a minute. In the original movie, the village itself is small, but, at least the people could still get around. In the live-action movie, the village is basically in this huge hut thing that looks like it could fit up to 50 people who are traveling. It also looks like people can't really get around. Now, I know they can still get around, but, it looks hard to. As a matter of fact, that's something I pointed out in my Beauty And The Beast article, whereas the same thig happened in the live-action Beauty And The Beast. Both villages in that movie and the live-action Mulan are so small it looks like people can't turn around without bumping into each other sometimes. At least in both original villages the people could still get around freely. That small complaint aside, I would like to talk about the campsite.
The campsite in the original film was almost like a small city. There were tents everywhere you looked. And I'm not counting Mulan's own tent that was at least 20 feet away from the campsite. It looked so neat and so nice I felt like I was looking at a city within the campsite. The live-action campsite, however, didn't really had the same appeal. Mulan and the cadets had to share quarters! As I mention this, it kinda goes back to what I was just talking about-crammed. Hey, I know some military camps are designed like that, but, how do they manage to share space with other people and NOT get on their nerves? Okay, I don't want to lost track of this topic, so, let's cut straight to the scenery.
The scenery in the live-action movie was gorgeous. One thing I liked was the countryside in the opening of the movie. In the opening of the original, we get to see the Great Wall of China. That's something I wish we also got to see in the live-action movie, too. Speaking of which, I recently heard the live-action movie was, not only filmed in China, but also in New Zealand. That explains the remarkable beauty! Anyway, I think the scenery in the live-action movie is still similar to the original movie. The production team of the live-action movie did a good job staying true to the scenery of the original movie. It was a really epic thing to see.
The story:
Okay, we all love the story of the original movie, right? When I first heard about the live-action movie, I was like a majority of you-all bummed and mad about those plans to remake the movie. Well, I'll probably lose a reader or two for saying this, but, here it goes. I am SO DAMN PROUD to admit I was wrong. Y'all trust me-that isn't something I tend to admit too often. They stayed true to the magic of the original movie from beginning to end. I'll also admit I was a bit dissapointed certain things weren't in the live-action movie as in the original movie, but, I understand nowadays, and let me tell you why. Back in November, I was talking to a friend of mine, and SHE understood them wanting to the legendary folktale. Let me teel you this-for them to be able to stay true to the original movie and the folktale and blend it all together was such a beautiful combination to see come to life. It takes alot of effort to do that, and they exceeded all the expectations I had. The live-action movie also had some surprising twists. I was stunned when The Emperor actually went to Mulan's village to personally ask her to join the army as an Imperial officer. That was a total surprise for me. Another twist is Mulan seemed hesitant to accept Chen's love. I was crying inside. Incidentally, I've heard people hate how the live-action Mulan is already good at doing self defense. Come on! We get to see her pick that up during her childhood! (Apparently, they don't know about the folktale. Or, they just hate change with a passion. Or, perhaps, both.) Enough about my little rant. Both movies are pure gold. The hold each movie has on you stays with you, and you never forget the magic you felt seeing both movies. I know I just mentioned how some people hate change, and all this positive hype I'm currently giving about the live-action movie is coming from a person who doesn't really like the idea of change much herself. I already knew the original movie was a classic, but looking back now, I'm glad I gave the live-action movie a chance, no matter how reluctant I was. If you were to tell me I'd be amazed by the live-action movie about 5 years ago, I probably would've snorted in your face. If you haven't seen the live-action movie yet, I suggest you do so. It stays true to the original move, and you will NOT be dissapointed.
Overall review:
The original: 10/10
The live-action: 10/10
I know you're probably wondering why I didn't mention Chi-Fu. Well, I'm about to tell you why. He is so ignorant and full of himself, especially after Mulan's identity is revealed. Oh my God, I hate him so much. In fact, I'm glad he wasn't in the sequel.
Again, apologies for a REALLY long delay! Between me STILL being sick at the beginning of the year and half my family having birthdays from now to June, I haven't really had time to write. I PROMISE to have an earlier release with the next article! Thanks so much for your patience, not only during the delay, but for also how all over the place this article might be!
That's it for this article. My next article will be on both versions of The Little Mermaid.
Thanks for reading! Much love! <3
