Disney has been churning out a whole lot of live action remakes of its beloved classics these past few years and on the heels of the commercially successful release of Aladdin, the company drops yet a new teaser in the middle of the FIFA Women’s Finals yesterday of its 1999 animated classic, Mulan.
The short teaser (gah 1:29 minutes is just toooo short IMHO) has elements that are familiar for everyone who’s grown up with this beloved story – the Hua family consults a match maker for Hua Mulan, the family’s eldest daughter who, instead of marrying disguises herself as a man to serve in the Imperial Army in place of her sick father. Mulan must then overcome various hurdles in a journey that sees her transform into an honoured warrior and a hero for China. Sounds familiar so far, right?
While the elements of the story are there, don’t expect a sing along with the characters like other live action Disney remakes of Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast or Aladdin because the biggest change in Mulan lies in the overall feel of the entire film. The teaser shows a more serious and solemn undertone for the movie than that of the humorous animated version thanks in part to the antics of Mushu, Lucky Cricket and the Hua ancestors. And yes, come to think of it, there was no sign of Mushu at all in the teaser, I’m still keeping my fingers crossed that he’ll be there in the next trailer installment.
Yes, I will bring honour to us all.
Also, looks like Mulan was already a trained martial artist even before the army training camp, very unlike her klutzy self in the animated version. So yeah, definitely a few discrepancies in there. I’m always wary of remakes of beloved childhood classics since remakes could totally spoil what fans loved in the originals in the first place. That said though, I’m really looking forward to how this film with pan out, especially looking at how strongly bad arse, and yet regal Crystal Liu Yifei’s Mulan manages to be. And yeah, excited how they’re gonna CGI Mushu and lucky Cricket in – they were MIA in the teaser but I sure hope Disney realizes we’re all fans of these two!
Are you guys excited to watch the live action version?
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Nadine
As far as I know, there won't be any Mushu or singing. It appears to be a more serious take on the legend, but I do wonder whether there will be any of the classic disney elements included or if it will be pretty much a replication of the Mulan movie in 2009 with Zhao Wei as the titular protagonist.
TrueBlue
I just really do not like the jarring imagery of seeing characters dressed in traditional Chinese garbs but speaking English.
Anonymous
Me too, I'm so use to seeing people in historical setting speaking Chinese. That I got put off while watching the trailer.
Anonymous
The hair is going to be the talk of the entire thing…it can be a little messy and wavy but this… really look like she just woke up. Not asking for straight modern glossy hair but really…?
The feel is quite boring…quite a disappointment. It doesn't have that beat to it.They should really make this musicy and instrumentally. Everybody is asking for that reflection scene the most, or intense scene where Mulan cuts off her hair. I want that way more than Mushu and the cricket. It was so touching.
One of the best things ever from the Mulan animation was introducing lots of great Chinese soundtracks. This trailer only look like another boringly made Chinese drama, not very disney… so I agree it's no different from Zhao Wei's 2009.
The Forbidden Kingdom is a very very nice movie I liked it very much though, I'm not feeling the same vibe that this one will be at least as good as that one. This still only a short teaser so can't judge it all yet, hopefully it will be amazing.
Anonymous
I can't wait. I really liked the trailer. Pretty sure they will add some songs. I for one would be okay if they have no Mushu, as unlike other Disney animation, this was based on a real historical story and beloved by China. A girl can grow up and get strong herself without a smart Alec talking dragon.
Liu Yifei is perfect. I now see why they chose her to be Mulan.
Anonymous
I’m leaning more on to the disappointed train rn. It doesnt feel like a disney movie, it feels like watching your regular c-period drama. I hope it wont be too serious. Visual wise I think LYF is gorgeous, but I’m still wary of her acting.
Melodysweetmusic177
I thought this teaser was pretty underwhelming like some points the others have commented already like the absolutely messy hair that obviously doesn't make sense or having them speak english while wearing historical outfits
also i have a thing for the setting or feeling overall? I love chinese historicals and also their aesthetic feel and beauty to make everything so pleasing to the eyes but this teaser showed me the opposite, everything was too… underwhelming? I mean with disney's budget they could obviously made it much better!
Even that scene with the huge golden building in the background and women at a pond didn't seem beautiful to me at all since i've seen sooo much better in Chinese drama :/
Anonymous
Speaking English in a Hollywood movie? Immediately…That is the whole point, since it is a Disney. You did not expect Beauty and The Beast to be in the French Language nor did you expect The Lion King to be in a African Language..Why would you expect that for Mulan?
Pretty sure, fighting in a war, no one has time to ensure their hair is pretty.
Sunny
I'm very excited! I like that this is trying to be a twist on the animated version (even though I will miss Mushu and Shang *sob*). I am disgusted by the laziness of the recent live action remakes which are basically a shot by shot remake of the animation