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"mulan" (1998) retro film review

the classic 1998 animated film of "mulan" was a surprising success.>live-action film "mulan" (2020) is joyless and heavy handed in comparison.

the film>hua mulan. mulan was a female warrior during the northern wei dynasty (386–534 ad) that reigned in northern china. mulan's elderly father was conscripted into the army to fight invading rouran nomad tribes on the northern border. mulan, a skilled warrior, disguised herself as a man and took her elderly father's place in the northern wei army. mulan served a long and meritorious military campaign the rouran tribes. she was honored and offered high office, but she declined. she returned to her village, where she rejoined her family and revealed herself as a woman to the astonishment of her fellow warriors. her story is recorded during the northern wei dynasty in the folk song "ballad of mulan." directors barry cook and tony bancroft successfully added standard disney flavor.

the film is based on the well-known chinese legend of hua mulan. mulan was a female warrior during the northern wei dynasty (386–534 ad) that reigned in northern china. mulan's elderly father was conscripted into the army to fight invading rouran nomad tribes on the northern border. mulan, a skilled warrior, disguised herself as a man and took her elderly father's place in the northern wei army. mulan served a long and meritorious military campaign the rouran tribes. she was honored and offered high office, but she declined. she returned to her village, where she rejoined her family and revealed herself as a woman to the astonishment of her fellow warriors. her story is recorded during the northern wei dynasty in the folk song "ballad of mulan." directors barry cook and tony bancroft successfully added standard disney flavor.

the story begins when the huns (the name given to unknown nomad horse warriors who terrorized europe in the 4th and 5th centuries a.d.) have attacked the great wall. they're led by their chieftain shan-yu (miguel ferrer), who wants to plunder china. the huns all look nefarious and feature fu manchu-style mustaches. the emperor (pat morita) puts out a decree for men from every household to join the army and stop the invaders.

meantime mulan is preparing to appear before her village's matchmaker and be approved as a bride. the first of 4 songs in the film sets the tone and helps viewers understand mulan's situation.

the matchmaking ceremony ends in comedic disaster and mulan is devastated by her failure.

seeking a sense of belonging, mulan (singing voice lea salonga) sings the song "reflections," which was one of the best 90's disney ballads.

voiced by chinese-american actress ming-na wen, mulan shows viewers how well-rounded and interesting she is. she isn't just willful and disobedient. she tries to do as she's told but it doesn't work. the same occurs when she joins the army. she never has to be rescued. her lowest point is following the debacle with the matchmaker, not after battle.

the catalyst for the movie occurs when mulan's crippled father, fa zhou (soon-tek oh) receives a conscript notice to fight the huns. mulan attempts to speak on his behalf, but she shames him by doing so. since her father is unwilling to dishonor himself by avoiding service, mulan takes matters into her own hands by sneaking off with his armor and joining the army as a man.

mulan's ancestors learn about her departure. they order mushu, a fast talking lizard voiced by eddie murphy who failed as a family guardian, to send the family's stone dragon to mulan's support. the stone dragon crumbles to pieces when mushu tries to awaken him, so mushu sets off to help mulan instead.

at the training camp, mulan assumes the name of ping and muddles her way along, pretending to be a man and learning to be a solider. her fellow soldiers are fun without meaning to be and her commanding officer li shang (speaking voice bd wong, singing voice donny osmond) is tough without being too mean for children viewers.

training camp high jinks include a funny scene where mulan's squad mates surprise her while she's bathing.

the training concludes when mulan and her fellow recruits are ordered to march out to help li shang's father, general li (james shigeta).

general li's army and a village have been destroyed by shan-yu's warriors, though. mulan and her fellow recruits are then ambushed by the huns.

mulan saves the day by setting off an avalanche with a rocket, but she's wounded during the process. her secret of being a woman comes out as she's treated. li shang is angry, but doesn't kill mulan as the law decrees because she saved his life.

mulan rides from the army in disgrace, but she soon sees that shan-yu and some of his warriors survived the avalanche and are heading towards the imperial city. mulan warns li shang and her fellow soldiers. the huns attempt to take over the palace and kidnap the emperor, but mulan rallies her comrades and they defeat the huns.

mulan is honored by emperor for her bravery and actions.

by the end, li shang comes to visit mulan.

the animated film splendidly blends traditional chinese watercolors into the animation. the backdrops are beautifully drawn with small touches that make them feel rich and textured. many scenes like those at the emperor's palace were studied by the film artists and drawn authentically. the animated film is rich and deep with its characters as well. from mulan's funny squad mates to grandmother fa (june foray), to her cute cricket helper, and chi fu (james hong) the crotchety assistant to the emperor. the animated film successfully touches on family love and duty, personal honor and group commitment, obedience and loyalty.

the figure of hua mulan is a part of china's tradition of female martial artists. men and women can learn the practical techniques and culture of the shaolin monks and nuns in martial arts classes offered by the michigan shaolin wugong temple.