Mulan (Live-Action)

[DisneyFan09]

It doesn’t look any different from any other Chinese epic. And that’s fine because that’s what it is, but I was really hoping for some sort of Disney magic in there. But it’s just not. I know there are no VFX in this trailer, and there’s probably a lot of heart in the film, but I’m really worried this trailer is going to turn people off even more so than the Aladdin ones did. We’ll see.

Exactly. I couldn't said it better myself!

To he honest, I didn't really like it. The visuals are impressive but I think it lacks a certain "Disney magic". It feels somber and emotionally sterile. I didn't like the interaction between Mulan and her father. It lacked any sort of warmth and affection. He seems like the typical traditional, strict dad who doesn't really care about his daughter or her dreams. I fear the special bond betwen them will be gone and he won't be portrayed in a positive light. I also didn't like that Mulan seems interested in being a warrior from the beginning and had training in martial arts before she joined the army (unless I misunderstood the footage). The point was for her to not be competent and great from the start but learn and adapt. I didn't like they removed her grandma or that they added a sister. The matchmaker seems devoid of any personality. I did like that Mulan isn't enthused over the prospect of having an arranged marriage.

Her saying she will "bring honor to us all", a meta reference to the song annoyed me knowing the songs were cut. The same goes for the instrumental version of "Reflection" that played over the footage. I find it hypocritical of them to use the songs in the trailer for nostalgia and ambiance but not deem them worthy enough to be included in the film itself.

Well said! I disliked this trailer due to all your mentioned reasons and because it feels like an emotionally sterile Chinese drama. None of the actors had any emotions whatsoever put into their performances and were completely absent of any charisma. The locations were lackluster and had absolutely no trace of "Disney Magic". As nomad2010 said, it felt like the typical Chinese epic, but with absolutely no heart or soul put into it.

To be honest, everything about this remake sounds off-putting to me and makes me completely uneager to see it. Though Mulan has never been one of my favorites from the Renaissance to begin with, at least it had it's redeeming qualities and a solid, resonant plot that was well executed. But all of these new choices just seems off and doesn't seem to resonate to the plot and the premise that Mulan already had, which was about a girl impersonating a soldier to save her fathers life. What the heck has a Chinese witch to do with it?

Even the logo is lackluster as heck. Pretty generic and not appealing at all.

[Disney's Divinity]

I wish Disney cared less about what china thinks. It's not that great of a country anyway.

And all of my favorite parts of the orginal movie were disliked in china. So i am sad they removed to appeal tro that country they could just have changed these elenets to be more culturely respectful not remooved them altogether.

It would be funny if they changed so much about this to appeal to China only for China to give it the cold shoulder again anyway, and the changes only end making U.S. audiences have a muted response to the film, too, because it’s not like the original.

Not me. I want my Disney remakes as faithful as possible. Not in a slavish, shot-for-shot way though. Within reason. Expand the story where it makes sense but preserve all the important narrative elements, characters, and story beats. Most of these properties are in the public domain so let other studios do radically different takes on the material and have Disney make remakes that are unmistakably Disney.

I agree. Only the Disney live-action films can feature the popular songs and characters that people grew up with.

[thedisneyspirit]

Disneyfan97 insults all of the Chinese / China yet throws a tantrum when people don't like the idea of a black Ariel.

Gotta love his selective racism.

[estefan]

Not me. I want my Disney remakes as faithful as possible. Not in a slavish, shot-for-shot way though. Within reason. Expand the story where it makes sense but preserve all the important narrative elements, characters, and story beats. Most of these properties are in the public domain so let other studios do radically different takes on the material and have Disney make remakes that are unmistakably Disney.

I’m with DisneySpirit on this. Even if the remake is not a slavish shot-for-shot recreation of the animated original - as you described it - I find its merits very much reduced if it makes much reference to the original film. Hence, I approve of the direction Disney is taking with Mulan. As Clindor aptly put it, it appears to be “its own thing.” I feel that should be the philosophy behind every Disney remake even if it is an unpopular opinion.

The question appears to be what defines a Disney movie. Because when I think Disney, I think "quality family entertainment" and that can be anything. It can be a charming and visually impressive animated film, an enchanting musical (Mary Poppins, Enchanted), an imaginative sci-fi or fantasy film (Tron, Tomorrowland), a high-concept silly comedy (The Absent Minded Professor, Sky High), a heartwarming story told beautifully (The Parent Trap, Old Yeller) or an action spectacle (20000 Leagues Under the Sea, Pirates of the Caribbean). This is even reflected in Disneyland and its different lands with wide selection of rides. Mulan appears to want to be an action spectacle and if it can succeed in being a rousing adventure that takes audiences of all ages to another time and place with endearing characters and an inspiring message, well, that's a Disney movie to me.

[Sotiris]

What I meant by "unmistakably Disney" was the use of elements exclusive to the original Disney film that other studios can't use like the songs or original characters.

[DisneyFan97]

So they replaced Mulan's old grandmother with a young sexy sister for her instead.

I guess no want old(ugly) people in a movie.

Also there goes a big role in a big blockbuster for an older chinese actress.

Because as we all know (Ironic voice)asian women over 70 just has tons of opportunities in Hollywood.

If china disileed the grandma in the annimated movie you changer here a lot. Not cut her !. Surely it isn't unrealistic there are old people in ancient China ?

[Disney's Divinity]

If china disileed the grandma in the annimated movie you changer here a lot. Not cut her !. Surely it isn't unrealistic there are old people in ancient China ?

The only reason I can think of that China would have disliked the grandmother in the original film is that she's more more of a comic character and she sympathized with Mulan unlike the rest of the family. I would much rather Mulan had a funny grandma than a sister.

I'm still curious if the phoenix is supposed to be a speaking character or no? If not, it looks like they cut out all the humor in the film with Mushu, Cri-Kee, the army trio, Chi-Fu, and Grandmother Fa. The Matchmaker's there, but I don't imagine much humor from that scene either the way it's depicted in the trailer.

[DisneyFan97]

If china disileed the grandma in the annimated movie you changer here a lot. Not cut her !. Surely it isn't unrealistic there are old people in ancient China ?

The only reason I can think of that China would have disliked the grandmother in the original film is that she's more more of a comic character and she sympathized with Mulan unlike the rest of the family. I would much rather Mulan had a funny grandma than a sister.

I'm still curious if the phoenix is supposed to be a speaking character or no? If not, it looks like they cut out all the humor in the film with Mushu, Cri-Kee, the army trio, Chi-Fu, and Grandmother Fa. The Matchmaker's there, but I don't imagine much humor from that scene either the way it's depicted in the trailer.

Cri-Kee and the army trio are in the movie ! The cast list actually lists someone as the voice of the cricket. I assume "Cricket" refers to Cri-Kee.

I will almost miss the comedic elements !

Except for Chi-Fu, he wasn't that funny. They also cut the ancestors which were also comdic and whom i fund really funny in the orginal.

I really hope the phoenix talks ! But even if it does it might not have any jokes and only act as moral support for Mulan and possibly as a Deus ex machina at the end.

[DisneyFan97]

I really wish they wrote in memory of June Foray at the end of the movie would be really touching !

[Disney's Divinity]

I really wish they wrote in memory of June Foray at the end of the movie would be really touching !

Yes, I would love if they did something like that for her!

I really hope the phoenix talks ! But even if it does it might not have any jokes and only act as moral support for Mulan and possibly as a Deus ex machina at the end.

That's what I expect, too. Maybe Mulan thinks her guardian is "dead" at one point, only for them to re-emerge in a critical scene later, after rising from the ashes.

[disneyprincess11]

That trailer was great!

My problem with the Mulan remake isn’t no Mushu or the songs. I can live without both. My problem is no Shang. If they will keep the love story and their relationship anyway, they might as well as keep him. And the witch as a villain deprives the movie from “being realistic.”

[DisneyFan97]

That trailer was great!

My problem with the Mulan remake isn’t no Mushu or the songs. I can live without both. My problem is no Shang. If they will keep the love story and their relationship anyway, they might as well as keep him. And the witch as a villain deprives the movie from “being realistic.”

No offnese but i find Shang kind of bland so i won't miss him and we get Donnie Yen instead. That's a pretty good consolation prize.

[JeanGreyForever]

Yeah, I won't be missing Shang either. I love Donnie Yen as well after Rogue One and he's one of China's biggest stars so I'm much more excited for his character. I'm curious if they'll even bother with a romantic relationship in Mulan since most versions of her story don't usually feature that (except for Mulan marrying whoever her parents pick for her when she returns home). I don't think a romance is necessary for the film so I hope that chuck that out. It's more of a footnote in the animated film anyway and with all the recent films (Moana, Zootopia, The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, etc.) no longer including romances, I could see Disney not wanting to include one to make one of their most empowered heroines appear even more progressive.

[Sotiris]

The teaser has become the seventh most-viewed movie trailer in 24 hours and the second most-viewed trailer of a Disney remake after The Lion King.

In its first 24 hours, the first-look logged 175.1M online views, topping all Disney Live Action comps save The Lion King which roared to a record 224M in its debut last November. The 24-hour numbers on Mulan make it the No. 7 trailer launch of all time, in the company of such pics as Avengers: Endgame, Avengers: Infinity War, The Lion King, IT and The Fate of the Furious. Of the 175M global Mulan look-sees, 52M came from China. The video uploaded by Disney there was reposted with frequency in the neighborhood of teasers for such mega Disney/Marvel titles as Endgame and Infinity War. Mulan was also trending in China a few hours before the teaser drop, and after.

Source: https://deadline.com/2019/07/mulan-teas ... 202643480/

[Disney's Divinity]

I think people really underestimate how loved Mulan is / was because it’s not one of the Fab Four. I'd say Mulan is the next most popular of the ‘90s after them, then Tarzan.

[JeanGreyForever]

It's probably ranking that high because of China. And even regardless, Mulan is a film that has its most pull with millennials who are generally the ones responsible for these high trailer/teaser views. The film isn't well known to older generations unlike the Big 4 and Pocahontas, and even films like Tarzan and Hercules are at least iconic characters throughout the globe whereas Mulan's introduction to western society was through the Disney film. Most of the people raving about this film are always people who grew up with it, whereas the early Renaissance films have broader appeal.

[Farerb]

I know it is very popular where I come from. I think even more than The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin.

[JeanGreyForever]

I know it is very popular where I come from. I think even more than The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin.

That's shocking. Those films are usually hailed as the pinnacle of Disney, nostalgia or not. What country/region is this?

[NeverLand]

Even in the Middle East, Mulan is one of Disney's most popular films here.

[JeanGreyForever]

Even in the Middle East, Mulan is one of Disney's most popular films here.

Is it more popular with younger viewers than adults and older generations or does it have broad appeal across the ages?