Mulan Discussion

[SpringHeelJack]

GTFO POINTY-HEAD

[ajmrowland]

No.

[SpringHeelJack]

Maybe THEY permanently invaded HER country, rowland. History is written by the winners.

[ajmrowland]

True. But this is a fairytale.

[SpringHeelJack]

I can't tell if you're taking me seriously or not. I really hope you aren't. You can't take me seriously. No one takes me seriously. I don't take myself seriously.

[ajmrowland]

No, I'm not taking you seriously.

[SpringHeelJack]

Thank heavens.

So, anyhoo, pointy-headed lady who lives in the kingdom and no one likes and no on can do anything about. El fin.

[CampbellzSoup]

If she really wanted to kill Sleeping Beauty why not just use one of those thunders she threw out on Phillip...she has to be so over dramatical...a spinning wheel out of all things

not a knife, sword, or hell even a sowing needle a SPINNING WHEEL

[ajmrowland]

If she really wanted to kill Sleeping Beauty why not just use one of those thunders she threw out on Phillip...she has to be so over dramatical...a spinning wheel out of all things

not a knife, sword, or hell even a sowing needle a SPINNING WHEEL

Yet, when I play Oblivion, I can't help but be the same way. Actually, I'm more of a stealth-assassin.

And dramatical's not a word.

[Sotiris]

Since there isn't a general Mulan thread, I'm posting this here.

Mark Henn talks about (and draws) Mulan. You can find a closer look of his drawing, on the Disney Princess Instagram account.

Becoming Mulan with Animator Mark Henn
https://www.facebook.com/DisneyPrincess ... 435492620/

[DisneyFan09]

But being her animator, Mark should've realized that she's not a Princess

Sorry, I couldn't resist

[Disney's Divinity]

Watching Mulan after Cinderella, I couldn’t help noticing the turquoise necklace she wore at the beginning was exactly like Cinderella’s necklace (with the pink dress). Actually, I wonder if her pink matchmaker's dress was intended as a minor callback to Cinderella? Probably not.

I’ve often read other people say Mushu is their least favorite part about the movie, but I actually have always loved his part in this film? His lines always make me laugh and Mushu/Cri Kee/Khan are a great accent to the action throughout the film for me. I guess I like, too, that Mushu is pretty much an a**hole and that the character grows throughout the film. I remember reading something about Murphy being difficult to work with during the making of the film (because he was never available), but I would have had no idea considering how well he works within the film. I am not a fan of Murphy in general; I only think his voice lends itself well to animation, which is the case for a lot of comedians, imo.

I never even realized that Miriam Margoyles played the matchmaker?? That’s so cool.

[DisneyFan09]

Well, to give my thoughts about the topic; When I saw the film initially (which I've also cited in my blog entry for the film), I considered it to be underwhelming. It wasn't bad, it just didn't have the spark and good components which defines Disney at it's very best. I'm one of the minority who wasn't particularly fond of the score. The same could be said of the songs (only I'll Make A Man Out Of You being the stand out piece, with the Chinese stock melody of Honor To Us All being also passable).

The characters are a mixed bag as well. Shan-Yu is labeled as a weak villain for a good reason, mainly because besides his threatening nature isn't given the charisma and personality which defines a Disney villain at it's best. The same can be said about the dull and personality-deprived Shang, who's perhaps one of the weakest Disney males ever (and Disney actually made interesting male leads during their Renaissance, regardless of what naysayers have cited).
Mulan herself is okay, but ironically she becomes duller through her movie after having started out as an interesting character. The other characters are underwhelming, yet those who's yields potential aren't given enough screentime to shine (Grandmother Fa, Cri-Kee and Ling). Mushu is okay, though, but he's not that compelling to steal the show. The animation is fine, yet it never has the crisp, isual splendor of it's predecessors.

However, what I do appreciate about Mulan, is it's smart and savvy screenplay and how it blends action and comedy well. I also like it's engaging premise and how the film is solid as a whole. As for itself, Mulan is okay enough. It's just not one of my favorites, yet I don't despite it either.

[JeanGreyForever]

Mulan has always been one of my favorites, but now little anachronisms bother me. For example the scene where Mushu whips out toothpaste and starts to brush his teeth and when he gives Mulan her breakfast of a smiley face bacon and eggs. Also Mulan hugging the emperor at the end which is really uncalled for and I think out of character for both of them. Finally of course the fact that the end credits song starts playing before the film actually finishes so the ancestors are having a dance party.

Otherwise, I think this film is one of the greats and there's a reason it was the most successful Renaissance film after Lion King and even under the vault system for a time. Pocahontas and Hunchback were too highbrow while Hercules took the opposite extreme end, but Mulan managed to combine elements of the early Renaissance films while still feeling unique. The romance was sidelined, the musical format phased out, the villain was no longer comedic, etc. It still had plenty of other Renaissance elements, like Mushu, but I think he works for the film and I always preferred him to the Genie (probably because I loved Shrek so Eddie Murphy was more palatable for me than Robin Williams). I like the score and even the songs although I only ever cared about the first two. All the songs after never resonated with me as much even though I know most people adore I'll Make a Man Out of You.

I think Shan Yu was sort of a weak villain. He has lots of potential but I agree that he lacked the charisma that other threatening and non-comedic villains held like the Evil Queen and Maleficent. I wonder if Disney should have played up his supernatural element more since those types of villains are typically more popular.

[Vlad]

Mulan is definitely one of my favorites. I used to watch it every weekend with my sister when we were kids.

[Disney's Divinity]

Ever since Frozen and TP&TF, my top favorites have pushed out to 14-15 movies, and most days I’d still rank Mulan in my top 10. I do think it and Tarzan are objectively the best films after the Fab Four of the '90s; Hunchback and Pocahontas both have serious issues weighing them down, and Hercules is definitely an acquired taste so to speak. If only Atlantis: TLE had taken off, since I think it’s nearly on that same level as those two whereas TP has serious issues like H & P and TENG falls in the same category as Hercules.

Shan-Yu is personally one of my favorite male villains, probably third favorite after Hades and Scar (well, fourth if we count Monstro, but I consider him more of a primal force than a villain....). I enjoy the fact that he’s cold and menacing; more of death personified, than anything else—no comedy or real personality. Sort of a better Sykes; although I’ve always thought Sykes was a decent villain, too. And I love his design. The only villain who is just straight-up sexy. Mulan is pretty bland, but I do really like all the other characters—Shang is one of the best leading men, Mushu is the best of the comedians-turned-sidekicks characters, Cri-Kee is charming, Grandmother Fa and Little Brother are hilarious and definitely should’ve got more screentime, Fa Zhou is my favorite Disney dad after Triton and Geppetto, the Emperor is perfectly magisterial, and the Matchmaker and Chi-Fu hit all the right notes as comedic antagonists. The soldier trio aren’t my favorites, but they’re all funny at points throughout, so... *shrug*

As far as the music, I’ve always loved “Honor to Us All.” “Reflection” is good, too, but I’ve never really been crazy about Lea Salonga although she’s technically very good. I wish they’d got someone a little more expressive (personally). I don’t really care for the others, although “A Girl Worth Fighting For” is a hilarious scene, which is it’s only real purpose. I’ve never been crazy about “IMaMOoY” or Donnie Osmond, but it’s undeniably the film’s most popular song. The sequence to the song is great though. Particularly Mulan climbing the pole. I loved "TtYH" when I was young, but wish it wasn't there now. Although I can understand that Aguilera's "Reflection" (which is phenomenal, imo) would be a weird transition from the party ending.

[D82]

Soon-Tek Oh, who voiced the aging warrior Fa Zhou in two Mulan films, aided Roger Moore in The Man With the Golden Gun and fought Chuck Norris to an explosive finale in Missing in Action 2: The Beginning, has died. He was 85.

Source: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ ... 85-1100765

[Disney's Divinity]

Rest in peace. Fa Zhou was one of my favorite of Disney's father characters, along with Mufasa, Triton, Geppetto, O'Malley, and Pongo. I don't believe I've seen anything else he was involved with, but considering he played many one-off TV roles, who knows. (Off to YouTube to check out Sondheim's Pacific Overtures.) He did a great job with Mulan, nevertheless.

[DisneyFan09]

Shan-Yu is personally one of my favorite male villains, probably third favorite after Hades and Scar (well, fourth if we count Monstro, but I consider him more of a primal force than a villain....). I enjoy the fact that he’s cold and menacing; more of death personified, than anything else—no comedy or real personality. Sort of a better Sykes; although I’ve always thought Sykes was a decent villain, too. And I love his design. The only villain who is just straight-up sexy.

Well, you're one of the few to think so! Don't get me wrong, but the majority seems to dislike Shan-Yu because of his lack of screentime and personality.

Grandmother Fa and Little Brother are hilarious and definitely should’ve got more screentime

Agree on that one, especially about Grandma Fa, who was genuniely funny (though she was supposed to have a bigger role, though)! It's remarkable that Mulan (though having a lot of sidekicks already) had one who never was even with her on her journey. Canine Disney sidekicks are usually prominent characters and Little Brother is almost discarded.

Either way, rip Soon-Tek Oh. It's a pity that he had to die so soon.

[robinhood21]

This is 1 of my all time favourite Disney Movies. My favourite character is The Emperor and my most hated is Shan-Yu followed by the Matchmaker. The avalanche scene is my favourite part of the movie and I love Mulan's clothing that she wore when we first see her with her father. I think she'd be a perfect wife for Peter Pan, Aladdin, Quasimodo, Hercules and Tarzan as I can hear her saying their names and them saying her name. I'd also like to see the villains from the movies above as well as Prince John, Gaston and Scar fight Shan-Yu and kill him or feed him to the crocodile in Captain Hook's case.

I havn't seen the sequel yet and I found her voice actor Ming-La on Twitter and have tweeted various messages to her, but I don't know if she has the time for replying as it's 20 years since the movie was released.