Mulan is LOVE and a fuckin' HERO
Out of all animated films I'd seen as a child, Mulan is the one which stick out the most in my mind, and I found I can easily enjoy it as an adult (well... "adult") as well. It's so cool! Based on an actual Chinese legend. It's a Disney movie and yet it defies any expectations we might have about a Disney story with a female lead character, who is usually a princess. Mulan is no princess but she has about the same future set for her: marry a good man and be a good wife to him. This is the only way to bring honor to her family and that's what Mulan wants the most.
At the beginning, she's just about to meet a matchmaker who would assign her an appropriate groom. She's, however, afraid that, given her clumsiness and other "disgraceful" qualities, she will fail the interview. She even writes crib notes in case she forgets something.
*song*
A girl can bring her family
Great honor in one way
By striking a good match
And this might be the day Men want girls with good taste
Calm
Obedient
Who work fast-paced
With good breeding
And a tiny waist
You'll bring honor to us all.
We all must serve our Emperor
Who guards us from the Huns
A man by bearing arms
A girl by bearing sons
*song*
It doesn't go well. Mulan hates that she is nothing but disappointment for her father, even though she feels like getting all dressed up and proper isn't her real self.
As if it isn't enough of a trouble, a war with the Huns is about to begin and every family has to send a man to fight. Because Mulan's father doesn't have a son who would have taken his place, Mulan helplessly watches how he's preparing to leave the next morning, even though he can't even stand without a crutch. She knows he gets himself killed, if he goes. She can't let that happen; she'll go in his stead. In order to do that she has pretend to be a boy. *fabulous music by Jerry Goldensmith playing* So she dress in her father's armor and without a second thought cuts her her.
Risky. Not only Mulan's not experienced but pretending to be a man = death penalty. Duh. She gets into a camp and her clumsiness once again makes her an outsider: fellow soldiers mock her (him, in their POV) and Captain Shang tells her to pack up, ironically while singing I'll Make a Man Out of You. She doesn't have the balls *adds a little more irony* to become a soldier. Mulan's bummed but doesn't give up... and becomes one. The best soldier of all recruits Captain Shang has.
I'm not going to review the whole movie but I can tell you this - it keeps being awesome. I mean, it has cross-dressing!
Double!
I really like that scene.
A few notes from me in the end:
1) However refreshing this "Disney story with a female lead character" is, it still has a romantic plot. But it's a secondary plot, so it's fine by me.
2) Captain Shang is such a dork. Seriously.
3) Have I mentioned how I love the music?
4) Sequel was pretty okay, I guess. Maybe little too obvious with its message and pairing up the characters. Overall, I'm not a big fan, but it did show some neat stuff. I have yet to see the 2009 film with actual actors (isn't there a term for that in English?).
5) Go watch this movie, if you haven't already! I have actually no idea how well-known or popular it is, so...
6) MULAN IS LOVE AND A FUCKIN' HERO.
At the beginning, she's just about to meet a matchmaker who would assign her an appropriate groom. She's, however, afraid that, given her clumsiness and other "disgraceful" qualities, she will fail the interview. She even writes crib notes in case she forgets something.
*song*
A girl can bring her family
Great honor in one way
By striking a good match
And this might be the day Men want girls with good taste
Calm
Obedient
Who work fast-paced
With good breeding
And a tiny waist
You'll bring honor to us all.
We all must serve our Emperor
Who guards us from the Huns
A man by bearing arms
A girl by bearing sons
*song*
It doesn't go well. Mulan hates that she is nothing but disappointment for her father, even though she feels like getting all dressed up and proper isn't her real self.
As if it isn't enough of a trouble, a war with the Huns is about to begin and every family has to send a man to fight. Because Mulan's father doesn't have a son who would have taken his place, Mulan helplessly watches how he's preparing to leave the next morning, even though he can't even stand without a crutch. She knows he gets himself killed, if he goes. She can't let that happen; she'll go in his stead. In order to do that she has pretend to be a boy. *fabulous music by Jerry Goldensmith playing* So she dress in her father's armor and without a second thought cuts her her.
Risky. Not only Mulan's not experienced but pretending to be a man = death penalty. Duh. She gets into a camp and her clumsiness once again makes her an outsider: fellow soldiers mock her (him, in their POV) and Captain Shang tells her to pack up, ironically while singing I'll Make a Man Out of You. She doesn't have the balls *adds a little more irony* to become a soldier. Mulan's bummed but doesn't give up... and becomes one. The best soldier of all recruits Captain Shang has.
I'm not going to review the whole movie but I can tell you this - it keeps being awesome. I mean, it has cross-dressing!
Double!
I really like that scene.
A few notes from me in the end:
1) However refreshing this "Disney story with a female lead character" is, it still has a romantic plot. But it's a secondary plot, so it's fine by me.
2) Captain Shang is such a dork. Seriously.
3) Have I mentioned how I love the music?
4) Sequel was pretty okay, I guess. Maybe little too obvious with its message and pairing up the characters. Overall, I'm not a big fan, but it did show some neat stuff. I have yet to see the 2009 film with actual actors (isn't there a term for that in English?).
5) Go watch this movie, if you haven't already! I have actually no idea how well-known or popular it is, so...
6) MULAN IS LOVE AND A FUCKIN' HERO.