Mulan (Live-Action)

[Disney's Divinity]

I guess that's why "I'll Make a Man Out of You" or a similar scene won't happen, because Mulan shows "sexual" excitement towards Shang (to be replaced by whatever character will fill that void here) in that scene while he's strutting around shirtless. I'm surprised so many films haven't been sanitized or censored in China then. I mean, I'm thinking of something like Jasmine and Aladdin's french kiss on the balcony at the end of "A Whole New World" or in TLM when Ariel is breathing hard and her tail is fluttering as she's looking at Eric on the beach before she sings. Those would be "too sexual" there, I guess.

[Farerb]

I don't know how to come to this thread... Yeah I'm expecting the film to be bad, there wasn't a Disney remake that wasn't. However, can we put the blame on Disney themselves and not on China/Chinese?

The original Mulan was fine, but not that spectacular or sacred like the big four, so IDK what the big deal is about changing stuff from the original, it's not like the other remakes didn't do it. I get this general sense that whenever a remake comes out, that people's expectation is that it would be an exact copy as if the original isn't there anymore, right in front of them, available at any moment to watch, so who cares what they do or don't do with the remake? What they keep or what they change? Let them do whatever. General audience will go to see it and will love it just like they did with Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin despite their major changes.

[Disney's Divinity]

I don't know how to come to this thread... Yeah I'm expecting the film to be bad, there wasn't a Disney remake that wasn't. However, can we put the blame on Disney themselves and not on China/Chinese?

Aren't we blaming Disney...? I mean, they're the ones making these decisions. I feel like I am blaming Disney? *shrug* I don't really understand your meaning. Of course, I wouldn't feel bad lambasting the Chinese dictatorship at all, but mostly for me it's about Disney choosing to dance to their tune out of greed's sake. Disney's kowtowing to the Chinese regime is as big a controversy for them as for other studios, sports companies/organizations, etc.

General audience will go to see it and will love it just like they did with Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin despite their major changes.

I agree, that's what I expect, too. As for the rest, my general feeling is mostly surprise that there was so much constant negativity in all the other re-make threads (and still is)* over the slightest change and yet here it's...wrong? It's just a shame, because I could actually enjoy all the negativity in this case for once. Different strokes, it just feels odd for this to be the film people have suddenly decided we shouldn't criticize the changes for... Everyone has a right to their opinion. *shrug* Nobody's going to attack you for or stop you from posting your positive reactions if that's how you feel?

* And let's be honest, there's mostly negativity in the newest released animated films' threads, too. I'm sure we all have the feeling of having to sort through the negative opinions in the threads for the films we like here.

Online speculation and fan activity can have real consequences sometimes. Elsa briefly holding Honeymaren's hand in Frozen 2 was censored in some countries because the internet insisted they were girlfriends.

I just saw your added response on the last page, Sotiris. That's so absurd! And I don't feel like I'm attacking the people of those countries by calling their governments' decisions to do that immoral and homophobic and, yes, censorship.

[Sotiris]

Christina Aguilera has recorded a new arrangement of "Reflection" for the film! I wonder if they turned it into a duet and she's performing it with Liu Yifei.

Oh, and this year the live-action Mulan is coming out, by the way. You have to go see it. I recorded a new "Reflection" and new material for the movie. So, I've been working on that.

Source: https://www.twitter.com/stitchkingdom/s ... 7274405888

[Sotiris]

New TV spot:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yr0sZHrxn4

Advance tickets promo:
https://www.facebook.com/atomtickets/vi ... 287893895/

[Farerb]

I don't know how to come to this thread... Yeah I'm expecting the film to be bad, there wasn't a Disney remake that wasn't. However, can we put the blame on Disney themselves and not on China/Chinese?

Aren't we blaming Disney...? I mean, they're the ones making these decisions. I feel like I am blaming Disney? *shrug* I don't really understand your meaning. Of course, I wouldn't feel bad lambasting the Chinese dictatorship at all, but mostly for me it's about Disney choosing to dance to their tune out of greed's sake. Disney's kowtowing to the Chinese regime is as big a controversy for them as for other studios, sports companies/organizations, etc.

General audience will go to see it and will love it just like they did with Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin despite their major changes.

I agree, that's what I expect, too. As for the rest, my general feeling is mostly surprise that there was so much constant negativity in all the other re-make threads (and still is)* over the slightest change and yet here it's...wrong? It's just a shame, because I could actually enjoy all the negativity in this case for once. Different strokes, it just feels odd for this to be the film people have suddenly decided we shouldn't criticize the changes for... Everyone has a right to their opinion. *shrug* Nobody's going to attack you for or stop you from posting your positive reactions if that's how you feel?

* And let's be honest, there's mostly negativity in the newest released animated films' threads, too. I'm sure we all have the feeling of having to sort through the negative opinions in the threads for the films we like here.

Online speculation and fan activity can have real consequences sometimes. Elsa briefly holding Honeymaren's hand in Frozen 2 was censored in some countries because the internet insisted they were girlfriends.

I just saw your added response on the last page, Sotiris. That's so absurd! And I don't feel like I'm attacking the people of those countries by calling their governments' decisions to do that immoral and homophobic and, yes, censorship.

Thing is Disney is just using China as an excuse to hide the fact that they are homophobic themselves.

I guess I've just sort of become apathetic towards the remakes so I just don't get what's the fuss about? They'll be bad regardless.

Regarding recent animated films, I haven't been here before 2018, going through some old posts it seems that things have been intense, especially in the Tangled vs Frozen debate or some who really despised CGI to the point of not giving it a chance. I don't think that's the situation right now, I only think Moana is despised and a general tiresome of the Pixar formula. Yes, compared to other places I've been There's a less enthusiastic environment here about newer animated films than others, but I prefer that than constant bashing of Walt's films with the lack of understanding of how films used to be made back then and the Renaissance films with this sort of "ruining your childhood" smug attitude.

[Disney's Divinity]

Christina Aguilera has recorded a new arrangement of "Reflection" for the film! I wonder if they turned it into a duet and she's performing it with Liu Yifei.

Oh, and this year the live-action Mulan is coming out, by the way. You have to go see it. I recorded a new "Reflection" and new material for the movie. So, I've been working on that.

Source: https://www.twitter.com/stitchkingdom/s ... 7274405888

That makes it sounds almost as if she did something else besides "Reflection"? I'll admit, I would like a duet just for something slightly different or a new song the way Celine had "HDaMLF" in B&tB.

I guess I've just sort of become apathetic towards the remakes so I just don't get what's the fuss about? They'll be bad regardless.

Maybe the anger is because I've got passing enjoyment out of several of the re-makes instead of hating them all outright like so many people here do--B&tB, Aladdin, and TJB in particular. Even Maleficent and Alice, I could enjoy some things about even if they were overall pretty bad. I was really looking forward to Mulan until they screwed it all up; I thought Mulan was one of those films, like Aladdin, where there are so many action scenes that it likely could fit well in live-action to some degree. And I'm still trying to look forward to The Little Mermaid, too, despite all the warning signs telling me it's probably going to be really bad.

I don't think that's the situation right now, I only think Moana is despised and a general tiresome of the Pixar formula.

That definitely isn't my impression of the way this forum perceives the revival films. TP&TF, Wreck-It Ralph, Ralph Breaks the Internet, Big Hero 6, Frozen, and Frozen II all receive(d) mostly hate here, imo. I see hatred launched at all of them constantly and at Moana, Tangled, and Zootopia pretty seldom. If anything, I think Frozen gets it the worst simply because it reached TLK status and people want to tear it down even more than the others to overcompensate for its popularity. I didn't even bother posting my thoughts on Frozen II in the Frozen II thread because there's barely anybody to talk with there that doesn't seem to viscerally hate the franchise.

[Sotiris]

Exhibitor-exclusive posters.


Source: https://twitter.com/DolbyCinema/status/ ... 5562030080


Source: https://twitter.com/RealD3D/status/1233033081809862662


Source: https://twitter.com/IMAX/status/1233029019240546314

[JeanGreyForever]

That first poster is gorgeous!

Can you explain what guidelines China has towards kissing in their films that caused them to remove the kiss? I was never aware of any such official or unofficial rules.

There are a ton of rules imposed by government regulators for film, TV, and web content which includes restrictions on tattoos, earrings, and yes, even kissing. Depictions of kissing must be modest and not provocative in any way. Anything that suggests sexual pleasure is off limits. That's why in every Chinese film or TV show you see, people rarely kiss and when they do, it's with a closed mouth. I'm assuming that the kiss between Mulan and Chen was too steamy for their standards and that's why it was deemed inappropriate.

Personally I'm glad that someone is finally bashing the original Mulan film. It's been the trend in the Disney fandom to elevate Mulan as the most progressive, the most woke film, while bashing every other Disney film that came before it and even the ones afterwards.

I don't like that trend in the fandom either, but he's not criticizing it in terms of its gender politics or its progressiveness. He mostly criticized the use of humor and the songs. He's just another producer who feels the need to put down the original to justify the remake's existence.

All that talk about Shang unintentionally appearing somewhat bisexual in the original film might've raised its head again here.

Online speculation and fan activity can have real consequences sometimes. Elsa briefly holding Honeymaren's hand in Frozen 2 was censored in some countries because the internet insisted they were girlfriends.

Thank you for the explanation. I wasn't aware China had such stringent standards when it comes to kissing. Personally I can't see that as something to criticize then if that's a part of their cultural standards. In India, for example, kisses weren't permitted in films either including all the big romantic films. That's loosened in the past decade or so and now you can easily find kisses but even then, there was a huge uproar over that by audiences who felt it was loosening values and some actors or directors still aren't comfortable with that. I'm not going to impose my values on another culture so I don't have an issue with China doing this because the values of the east are very different from the values of the west.

And frankly, shouldn't all you Mulan purists be happy with this decision since there wasn't exactly a romantic kiss in the original film?

To be fair, I've had issues with both the humor and the songs in this film so his critcism doesn't really bother me. It's not as misplaced as the criticism that Jasmine or Belle weren't feminist enough.

I had no idea that some countries even censored the hand-holding in Frozen 2. Do you know which countries those were?

[blackcauldron85]

The answer for why Shang isn't in it, because it'd be uncomfortable having the commanding officer be the love interest:

http://www.fandom.com/curated/fandom-on ... e-in-mulan

[Disney's Divinity]

That sounds like as decent explanation as any, bc85. I don't really get it though since it's not like anything overly romantic happens while she's still pretending to be a soldier.

[Sotiris]

That makes it sounds almost as if she did something else besides "Reflection"? I'll admit, I would like a duet just for something slightly different or a new song the way Celine had "HDaMLF" in B&tB.

It does. Hopefully, she'll get a new, original song too for the end credits or the soundtrack.

That first poster is gorgeous!

I like that one the most as well. My least favorite is the third one. They really need to stop re-using the same two photos over and over for their publicity materials. It's boring and lazy.

Personally I can't see that as something to criticize then if that's a part of their cultural standards. I'm not going to impose my values on another culture so I don't have an issue with China doing this because the values of the east are very different from the values of the west.

The difference is this is something unilaterally imposed by the government and not something that comes out of their culture organically. They're not letting the producers, filmmakers, actors, the public decide for themselves. And it's not like we can know what the majority of the people truly believe in regards to this matter as there's no freedom of speech and criticizing the government can get you imprisoned. Personally, I believe it's beneficial to criticize and condemn harmful and unjust practices regardless of where they come from. Restrictions on personal and civil liberties as well as policies that stem from social evils such as xenophobia, nationalism, racism, misogyny, homophobia, etc. are not OK in any culture or society, in my book.

And frankly, shouldn't all you Mulan purists be happy with this decision since there wasn't exactly a romantic kiss in the original film?

A kiss was something I wanted from the original film too mostly for consistency's sake as all of the other Disney couples kiss in their films aside from Mulan and Shang. I was hoping there would be one in the remake, but I'm not too heartbroken about it. I was more upset they tried to spin their decision to cut it as them being culturally accurate.

I had no idea that some countries even censored the hand-holding in Frozen 2. Do you know which countries those were?

It was mainly in Southeast Asian and Middle eastern countries. I heard it was censored in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, but there could be more.

The answer for why Shang isn't in it, because it'd be uncomfortable having the commanding officer be the love interest.

In the end, it was pointless since they cut the kiss and severely underplayed the romance to the point the director called their relationship "a deep friendship". But even if that wasn't the case, they still could have kept Shang's name and personality and just made him a fellow conscript like Mulan. Why couldn't they have done that instead?

[Sotiris]

Articles

Mulan Rides Again
https://d23.com/mulan-set-behind-the-scenes/

Meet Mulan’s New Nemesis
https://d23.com/meet-mulans-new-nemesis/

The World Premiere of Mulan Celebrates a Timeless Tale
https://d23.com/the-world-premiere-of-m ... less-tale/

Meet the Characters of Disney’s Mulan
https://d23.com/meet-the-characters-of-disneys-mulan/

Reflecting on Mulan with Director Niki Caro and Star Yifei Liu
https://d23.com/reflecting-on-mulan-wit ... yifei-liu/

Inside Mulan’s Costume Design with Bina Daigeler
https://d23.com/mulan-costume-designer-interview/

Costumes in Disney’s ‘Mulan’ Reflect the Rich History of the Epic Tale
https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/costum ... epic-tale/

Stunning Settings, Compelling Characters, and Magnificent Moments: Inside the Making of Disney's Mulan
https://ohmy.disney.com/movies/2020/02/ ... eys-mulan/

Honoring a Global Story: A Guide to the Making of Disney's Mulan
https://ohmy.disney.com/movies/2020/03/ ... he-scenes/

‘Mulan’: The Biggest Changes from the Animated Version in Disney’s Live-Action Remake
https://collider.com/mulan-changes-live ... on-disney/

‘Mulan’: Why the Cast Won’t Be Breaking Out into Song in the Live-Action Remake
https://collider.com/mulan-live-action- ... eason-why/

‘Mulan’: Why Captain Li Shang Isn’t in the Live-Action Remake
https://collider.com/mulan-li-shang-not ... eason-why/

‘Mulan’ Producer Jason Reed on Making a Live-Action Version That Appeals to All Audiences
https://collider.com/mulan-interview-ja ... g-changes/

‘Mulan’ Producer Jason Reed Explains Why There Are No Songs and Talks That Disney+ Release
https://collider.com/mulan-producer-jas ... interview/

‘Mulan’ Cinematographer Mandy Walker on That Battle Sequence, the Film’s Colors, and More
https://collider.com/mulan-disney-plus- ... interview/

‘Mulan’s Star and Director Break Down the Remake’s Intensely Beautiful Martial Arts Physicality
https://collider.com/mulan-interview-yi ... sney-plus/

Jason Scott Lee on the “Bad-Ass” Journey of Playing ‘Mulan’s Villain
https://collider.com/mulan-disney-jason ... w-villain/

‘Mulan’ Brings Honor to Both the Animated Film and the Chinese Myth [Set Visit Report]
https://www.slashfilm.com/mulan-set-visit-report/

Why Mulan Doesn’t Cut Her Hair in the Live-Action Remake [Set Visit]
https://www.slashfilm.com/mulan-hair-long-set-visit/

How the Me Too Movement Changed Mulan’s Love Interest [Set Visit]
https://www.slashfilm.com/mulan-love-in ... set-visit/

How ‘Mulan’ Approaches Its LGBTQ Romance [Set Visit]
https://www.slashfilm.com/mulan-lgbtq-r ... set-visit/

‘Mulan’ Sidekicks and Music Will Show Up as Easter Eggs [Set Visit]
https://www.slashfilm.com/mulan-sidekic ... set-visit/

Disney’s Careful Approach to ‘Mulan’ Highlights the Difference Between China and the Asian Diaspora [Set Visit]
https://www.slashfilm.com/mulan-chinese ... -diaspora/

Why The Mulan Remake Radically Changed Li Shang
https://www.cinemablend.com/news/249073 ... d-li-shang

Why Mushu Won’t Be In The Mulan Remake
https://www.cinemablend.com/news/249063 ... lan-remake

Why Mulan Has A Sister In The Live-Action Remake
https://www.cinemablend.com/news/249102 ... ion-remake

How The Mulan Remake Will Use Music From The Animated Film
https://www.cinemablend.com/news/249073 ... mated-film

One Major Way The Mulan Remake Diverges From The Animated Version
https://www.cinemablend.com/news/249063 ... ed-version

Disney’s Mulan Remake Will Try To Combine Multiple, Conflicting, Themes
https://www.cinemablend.com/news/249137 ... ing-themes

One Mulan Star Was So Quick With A Sword They Had To Shoot Him In Slow Motion
https://www.cinemablend.com/news/249154 ... low-motion

Mulan Star Pumped She 'Can Do More Push-Ups' After Lengthy Training For Disney Live-Action Film
https://www.cinemablend.com/news/249122 ... ction-film

Why Disney's new 'Mulan' won't be a straightforward remake
https://mashable.com/article/mulan-set-visit/

'Mulan' baddie Bori Khan isn't your typical one-dimensional villain
https://mashable.com/article/mulan-vill ... interview/

Mulan’s New Love Interest Isn’t Li Shang, But He’ll Still Be An LGBTQ Icon
https://www.bustle.com/p/mulans-new-lov ... n-22417891

The Differences Between The New 'Mulan' & The Animated Classic, Explained
https://www.bustle.com/p/the-difference ... d-22592125

No Mushu: Why Mulan Isn't Just a Live Action Remake of the Disney Animated Film
https://www.ign.com/articles/mulan-set- ... hu-musical

Mulan: 5 Things Disney's Remake Is Keeping the Same, and 6 It's Changing
https://www.ign.com/articles/mulan-disn ... ifferences

Yifei Liu and Awkwafina Are Making Plans to Hang Out
https://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/ ... -awkwafina

Action star Donnie Yen wanted to sing in a musical Mulan
https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/m ... af73e05f33

Yoson An Gets Down To Business To Talk About Asian Representation And 'Mulan'
https://www.cosmo.ph/entertainment/yoso ... 0-20200923

'Mulan' director explains why fan favorite Mushu isn't in the new film
https://www.usatoday.com/videos/enterta ... 695470002/

How ‘Mulan’ turned coronavirus fears into a groundbreaking opportunity on Disney+
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-a ... oronavirus

Niki Caro and the cast of Mulan break down making Disney's first full-blown martial arts movie
https://ew.com/movies/mulan-niki-caro-m ... rts-movie/

One-Woman Army: Yifei Liu talks fighting her own battles in Mulan
https://ew.com/movies/yifei-liu-fightin ... les-mulan/

Everything you need to know about THAT Mulan cameo
https://ew.com/movies/mulan-cameo-ming-na-wen/

Yifei Liu, Donnie Yen and the Cast of ‘Mulan’ on What It Means to Be ‘Loyal, Brave, True’
https://variety.com/2020/film/news/mula ... 203530595/

‘Mulan’ Director and Cast Talk Preparing for Film: ‘We Were Warriors Because We Were Training Like Warriors’
https://variety.com/2020/film/news/mula ... 234760461/

How ‘Mulan’ Cinematographer Framed the Epic Battle Scenes
https://variety.com/2020/artisans/news/ ... 234758947/

‘Mulan’ and Other Costume Designers Prep for Action Sequences
https://variety.com/2021/film/awards/mu ... 234922211/

Production Design Contenders Spreads From Intimate to Space
https://variety.com/2021/artisans/award ... 234921734/

How Weta’s VFX Team Plotted the Scenes for ‘Mulan’
https://variety.com/2020/artisans/news/ ... 234846761/

Realism Key to Creating Magic for Live-Action ‘Mulan’
https://variety.com/2021/artisans/award ... 234905978/

From ‘MASH’ to ‘Mulan,’ Rosalind Chao Reflects on an Impressive Career
https://variety.com/2020/film/features/ ... 234767261/

How ‘Mulan’s’ Tzi Ma Became Hollywood’s Go-To Asian Dad
https://variety.com/2020/film/news/tzi- ... 234758692/

How Jason Scott Lee Became 'Mulan' Villain Despite a Terrible Skype Audition
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat- ... e-audition

VFX Team Talks 'Mulan' and How to Create Digital Extras
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/behin ... vid-19-era

How 'Mulan,' 'Greyhound' and 'The Old Guard' VFX Supervisors Perfected Scenes
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists ... ted-scenes

Star Yifei Liu and Director Niki Caro Discuss Disney’s Live-Action Reimagining of “Mulan”
https://www.laughingplace.com/w/article ... -of-mulan/

“Mulan” Costar Yoson An Discusses His Role as Chen Honghui and Living with Donnie Yen
https://www.laughingplace.com/w/article ... onnie-yen/

“Mulan” Star Chen Tang Talks About His Take on the Character Yao
https://www.laughingplace.com/w/article ... acter-yao/

Chen Tang Reflects on ‘Mulan’ and Joining ‘Warrior’ Season 2
https://www.awardsdaily.com/2020/10/26/chen-tang/

Mulan’s Jun Yu Talks About The Training He Did for the Film, Including Crying...A Lot
https://www.awardsdaily.com/2020/09/04/ ... interview/

‘Mulan’ Producer Jason Reed On Bringing the Chinese Legend, Animated Classic to Disney Plus
https://www.awardsdaily.com/2020/09/04/ ... ason-reed/

Bina Daigeler On Giving Mulan the Armor She Needs to Fight for Herself
https://www.awardsdaily.com/2020/09/24/ ... interview/

Denise Kum on the Tradition and Technique Behind The Makeup of ‘Mulan’
https://www.awardsdaily.com/2020/09/25/ ... interview/

‘Mulan’ Cinematographer Mandy Walker On Creating Lean-Inspired Epic Visuals
https://www.awardsdaily.com/2020/09/16/ ... c-visuals/

Costume designer Bina Daigeler on blending cultural authenticity and breathtaking fantasy in ‘Mulan’
https://www.goldderby.com/feature/costu ... 204185296/

Sean Faden and Anders Langlands (‘Mulan’ visual effects supervisors) on the monumental task of creating a visually epic Disney spectacle
https://www.goldderby.com/feature/sean- ... 204144271/

Into Battle on Mulan
https://ascmag.com/articles/mandy-walker-mulan

How That Surprise ‘Mulan’ Cameo Happened
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/07/movi ... a-wen.html

[JeanGreyForever]

It does. Hopefully, she'll get a new, original song too for the end credits or the soundtrack.

That first poster is gorgeous!

I like that one the most as well. My least favorite is the third one. They really need to stop re-using the same two photos over and over for their publicity materials. It's boring and lazy.

Personally I can't see that as something to criticize then if that's a part of their cultural standards. I'm not going to impose my values on another culture so I don't have an issue with China doing this because the values of the east are very different from the values of the west.

The difference is this is something unilaterally imposed by the government and not something that comes out of their culture organically. They're not letting the producers, filmmakers, actors, the public decide for themselves. And it's not like we can know what the majority of the people truly believe in regards to this matter as there's no freedom of speech and criticizing the government can get you imprisoned. Personally, I believe it's beneficial to criticize and condemn harmful and unjust practices regardless of where they come from. Restrictions on personal and civil liberties as well as policies that stem from social evils such as xenophobia, nationalism, racism, misogyny, homophobia, etc. are not OK in any culture or society, in my book.

And frankly, shouldn't all you Mulan purists be happy with this decision since there wasn't exactly a romantic kiss in the original film?

A kiss was something I wanted from the original film too mostly for consistency's sake as all of the other Disney couples kiss in their films aside from Mulan and Shang. I was hoping there would be one in the remake, but I'm not too heartbroken about it. I was more upset they tried to spin their decision to cut it as them being culturally accurate.

I had no idea that some countries even censored the hand-holding in Frozen 2. Do you know which countries those were?

It was mainly in Southeast Asian and Middle eastern countries. I heard it was censored in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates, but there could be more.

What's interesting is that there isn't a poster that features all of the cast together yet, like the Marvel ones or the ones that Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin received. I guess they feel that Mulan herself is the biggest draw here and not the rest of the cast.

Well if the government imposes these stipulations about kissing on all their films in Chinese cinema, I'm assuming that's directly because of cultural views, but I don't know enough about this to really comment if this is truly being coerced or if the government is just trying to align the films with their values. I agree with you on the rest and we know how restrictive the Chinese government is anyway on practically everything else. I just don't know if something like censoring a heterosexual kiss in a film is really them restraining civil and personal liberties. Especially in the case of a national icon like Mulan. In all the variations of her legend, romance has never been a factor. At most she's married off at the end in an arranged marriage conducted by her parents but even then, the point isn't that she's found a man she loves and gets to live happily ever after, it's that she resumes her role of dutiful daughter and goes along with her parents' wishes. So it's possible the Chinese government felt that shoehorning a romance would go against how they view Mulan and sully her status as a nationalistic icon if her motivations are suddenly tinged with a desire for romance. You have to keep in mind that she represents something completely different to them than she does to us in the western world, and frankly they have way more claim to her and likely deeper reverence. I can't imagine France would be happy if China or any other country made a film on Joan of Arc and tried to shoehorn in a pointless romance.

Well at least they get a kiss in the sequel. I'm not sure how culturally acceptable it would be either if Mulan and Shang had shared a kiss at her home in front of her parents, no matter what she had just done. Especially when the scene when Mulan hugged the Emperor already got a lot of flack and was told by Chinese audiences that she would have been put to death for that.

Thanks for the info. It's a pity so many countries censored a scene which frankly I don't even remember occurring. Surprised Russia isn't on there.

[Sotiris]

What's interesting is that there isn't a poster that features all of the cast together yet, like the Marvel ones or the ones that Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin received. I guess they feel that Mulan herself is the biggest draw here and not the rest of the cast.

Maybe she is, but an ensemble poster would have been nice regardless.

Well at least they get a kiss in the sequel. I'm not sure how culturally acceptable it would be either if Mulan and Shang had shared a kiss at her home in front of her parents, no matter what she had just done.

A kiss wasn't really possible in the original with the way the ending was structured. It would have been distasteful to kiss in front of her parents, I agree. That moment wasn't romantic at all so I get why they didn't go for it.

[Sotiris]

Visit at the set of Mulan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQjjYQnLx-g

[D82]

Visit at the set of Mulan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQjjYQnLx-g

Thanks for sharing that video! It was really interesting. And also for the articles and the posters! I really like the first poster too. And the second one it not bad either. I think I finally get why they don't show Mulan in more contrasting looks in the posters where she and her reflection appear; they probably want to emphasize the difference between her as a soldier in disguise and her not hiding who she is anymore.

[Sotiris]

“There’s been a number of movies that have failed in their attempts to tell Western versions of Chinese stories, or vice versa,” Reed says. “And so one of the things that was made clear to us from the very beginning was make a Disney movie. Don’t try to make the Chinese version of Mulan because they’ve already made it several times. And they’ve already seen it.”

Source: https://www.slashfilm.com/mulan-set-visit-report/

But they did just that. That was them holding back? How more "Chinese" could have they possibly made it?

Jason Scott Lee was allowed more dimension in his depiction of the film’s villain Bori Khan. “The way I’m approaching it is that much like [how] colonialism pushed out native or indigenous cultures, Bori Khan’s fight is to regain and recompose his culture of the Rouran Khaganate,” Lee says. “And I shared my take with it with director [Niki Caro] and I think she said, ‘Well, that’s a good perspective, that the culture of the Rourans have been overrun by the Chinese.'”

Source: https://www.slashfilm.com/mulan-set-visit-report/

That seems like a noble cause. So, how does that make him a villain? How can the audience root for the Chinese army when the Rourans are the ones being oppressed by the Chinese? This opens a whole can of worms that I doubt the film will adequately explore.

[Disney's Divinity]

I never underestimate Disney's ability to speak out of both sides of its mouth. I learned that from when they put hand-drawn animation out to pasture. If only they had been focused on making a *Disney* movie.

So, how does that make him a villain? How can the audience root for the Chinese army when the Rourans are the ones being oppressed by the Chinese? This opens a whole can of worms that I doubt the film will adequately explore.

There's still the problem of the witch being more free and open as a woman in the villain's army than Mulan in the Chinese army, too.

[Sotiris]

New TV spot:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijABkZkoffY