I've been a fan of Disney animation for as long as I can remember, and one curious detail amongst my absolute favorites is that, with two or three exceptions ... the lead title character usually isn't where my fondness comes from. Movies like "Aladdin", "Peter Pan", "Robin Hood" and "Hercules" are absolutely some of my most favorite to come from the studio, but my feelings for those films come from all the side-characters, love interests, villains, songs, and individual settings as opposed to the character the movie is named after. However, Disney’s 1998 animated
picture “Mulan” is one exception, in which my fondness absolutely comes from the lead character first. “Mulan” was Disney’s 36th
animated feature, and of all the ladder pictures to come from Disney’s
Renaissance era, this one seems to have aged the best with the general public. I will admit, much like my personal feelings for “The Lion King”, I certainly have
fondness for the picture, I enjoy watching it every once in a while, but it's never quiet ranked as high on my personal Disney movie totem pole ... although the main character absolutely dose.
The movie begins with a beautiful title
card sequence, done in the style of a Chines ink-wash painting, and it
perfectly sets the mood of the film. Now, I’m usually not one to go into the details of
behind the scenes content … but I have to quickly mention the original opening
for this movie. Initially, this film was going to begin with the Emperor of
China having a nightmare, in which his beautiful country is overwhelmed by a
malevolent force on the horizon. Instead of taking a physical form, the
invading danger take on the appearance of these haunting dream-like entities,
including a giant Raven, who’s face morphs into a skull, and there’s a sinister
looking dragon that swallows the sun, and proceeds to rain fire on the valley
below. Both the visuals and the accompanying song were truly epic and haunting
spectacles. Had this original opening been kept, it could have potentially surpassed both “The
Lion King” and “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” as my favorite opening
of any animated Disney picture. Still, the actual opening is good enough, as we
see the invading Hun army breach the Great Wall, and begin their invasion of
China. On a side note, it was through watching this movie as a kid that I was
introduced to the Great Wall of China, so whenever I think of it, this opening
always comes to mind.
Next, we’re introduced to our leading
lady Mulan, who’s preparing to be a Bride for a potential mate, and … in a
mature turn of events, Mulan is quite content with herself and her position …
she’s just not very good at it, and needs a boost in the confidence department. Once news of the invading Hun army reaches home, she decides to sneak out in her fathers place to aid in protecting China, knowing that her father wouldn't survive another battle in his condition.
In general, just about every other female lead is anything but content with their place in
life, and are against tradition, so they set-off to make some kind of point. By
contrast, when Mulan is called to action, it’s purely out of love for her
father that she sets off to fight against the invading army, as she fears he’s
too old, and a cripple. When she tries her best to fit in with the army, it’s no
different then in the opening when she was trying her best to be a bride, and
she never once is trying to enforce a gender message … instead, we
have a genuinely good person who’s just trying to do their best to accomplish
what’s right. As such, Mulan is an excellent role model for both boys and girls
in equal measure, and it’s something that feel Hollywood has all but forgotten.
There’s a huge assortment of strong females in the movies right now, and while many are great, more
then half of them are simply there to prove an obvious point … that woman can
be just as strong or stronger than men.
Instead, what they should be focusing
on are strong “characters” in-of themselves that just happen to be females.
Mulan proves that you don’t need to preach about being a strong female lead,
you can just be an excellent character, and a great role model to get the point
across. I also love that she’s far from perfect, as it makes her feel more
relatable. She’ll wake-up in bed a mess, and even go so far as to wright cheat
notes on her arm. In my view, the best characters are the ones that still have their faults, but have more then enough good virtues to balance out. Without question, this is a title character who stands as the
best character of the whole film, and remains one of the best and most
respectful of Disney leads. Also, as something of a side note, I never felt
that Mulan belonged in the same group of the marketable Disney Princesses …
that always felt degrading of her status. In my view, she belongs on a higher
pedestal then just another “Princess”. She’s the protector of an entire nation,
and besides, it’s not like she marries someone of royal heritage. More to the
point, while this movie has never really surpassed “good” for me, the lead
character herself absolutely ranks among Disney’s best. Now, if I was to get
picky, I will say that her personality doesn’t leap off the screen like with
some of the other girls. That’s not to say she’s devoid of personality … far
from it, as the scenes when she pretends to be a boy are great … and voice actress Ming-Na Wen is terrific in the role. It’s just that by
comparison, she isn’t quiet as entertaining a presence. Still, those are small
potatoes, as she still remains one of the greats.
One of the film’s most important
ingredients to get right was Mulan’s relationship with her father Fa Zhou, and
I’m happy to say it was handled perfectly. The two can strike an emotional
chord without getting overly emotional, and while their scenes together are
brief, the two never the less convey this incredibly warm chemistry. It’s also
great that Mulan actually has both her parents … like holly cow, how many other
Disney girls have both their parents alive and together?
Shang is the
commanding General of the Chines army, and serves as our male lead. He’s easily
one of Disney’s best male companions, and can stand outside of Mulan’s shadow
as a credible character on his own … something that rarely happens in Disney
animation. It’s interesting to note that Shang is voiced by BD Wong (a talent
who I’ve always associated with “Jurassic Park”), while in the Chines
version he’s voiced by Jackie Chan. Now, Chan was already an international
super star, so it begs the question ... why not just have him in the American
version to begin with? Another talent I have to mention is James Hong as the
obnoxious pencil-pusher named Chi-Fu. I’ve loved this guy ever sense I was
introduced to him as the villain Lopan from “Big Trouble in Little China”,
and he’s always a great talent to have in a picture. He’s also done a lot of
voice acting in a number of Western animation programs, and he’s distinctly
recognizable every time I hear his voice. Also, The Emperor is voiced by the
late Pat Morita … also known as Mr. Miyagi from “The Karate Kid” ...
talk about ideal casting there. At last, being a long time “Star Trek”
fan, I have to highlight George Takei as First spiritual Ancestor … with him,
you can’t go wrong.
There’s also a cute little bug named
Cri-Kee, who’s fine, but if I’m being honest, I would have preferred Mulan’s
pet dog as the cute animal side-kick. At last, we come to the most marketable
character of all ... Mulan’s wise cracking guardian Dragon named Mushu, who’s
voiced by Eddie Murphy. Oh boy … I’ve got some mixed feelings about this
character. Positives … I find Mushu one of the most quotable of the comedic
Disney characters. In fact, I’ve referenced his lines in my daily life without
realizing who I was quoting. Some of my favorite Mushu quotes include … after
Mulan fails at making an angry face, Mushu sarcastically follows with “oh, I
think my bunny slippers just ran for cover”. Also, after some soldiers follow
Mulan in the lake for a swim, Mushu states “There’s a couple things there bound
to notice”. Negatives … while Eddie Murphy dose a fine job bringing energy and wit to the character, I was personally never on board with him raising his voice. It's something of a personal taste for me, but I just prefer my comedic characters to be a little more quiet and subdued, as opposed to loud, and shouting their lines. Still, I remember enjoying him fine back when I was a kid, and I can see why he still has a fan base all these years later.
Another character I have mixed feelings
about is the Hun leader named Shan Yu, who I’ve never been able to decide if
he’s a cool Disney villain or an average forgettable one. When I think of the
really great animated Disney villains, this guy never once comes to mind … yet,
with that said, I find him a consistently exciting presence whenever he’s on
screen. Contrasting his monstrous appearance, Shan Yu is a rather calm, and
soft-spoken individual, which I love. Quds to the Late Miguel Ferrer in his
portrayal of Shan Yu, as he stays collected, while giving the character a
wicked personality. His best scene by a mile is when he releases two troops to
deliver a message to the Emperor, to which he chillingly follows up with ... “How
many men does it take to deliver a message?” … that was quiet effective. The villain’s
music score likewise is riveting, and it adds a level of excitement whenever he
appears on screen. Still, he’s unfortunately not in the movie for very long,
and I just can’t say the character leaves as big an impression as other
memorable Disney foes. I think the big reason for that is because Shaun Yu
doesn’t meet either Mulan or Shang until the very end of the movie, and part of
what makes a villain so great is their relationship with the heroes.
One thing this movie absolutely has over
its peers of the time is a balanced tone. For as much as I love “Hercules”,
“Pocahontas” and “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”, their tones were
very jarring, as they’d jump from overly kid-friendly, to heavy adult drama and
never really felt balanced. “Mulan” by contrast has its mature moments,
and dramatic scenes, but they never exceed their grasp. Likewise, the comedy on
display is very charming, and can appeal to more then the little kids.
At times there's deliberate tonal shifts, like jumping from a cheerful song to a burned-down village, and yet, the film maintains a steady balance in tone. It’s a case of …
never going outside the box, but making that box feel very cozy and appealing
while inside. The only time the comedy felt off-putting is during the
appearances of the Chines Ghosts, who are all ancestors. What should have been
very mystical, and enchanting comes off like a family sit-come, and it just feels
like a waist. With that said, I do enjoy the simplicity of how the Chines
Culture is portrayed. This was the first time Disney dived into Chines folklore
… but it also mixes pieces of history, and if not handled with a mature presentation,
you could end up with another controversial picture like “Pocahontas”. As
such, while I would have loved to explore more culture and Chines mythology,
I’m glad the film played it simple and didn’t distract from what’s really
important. The animation likewise is very subtle, as it looks beautiful without
ever feeling like it’s showing off. Again, even though I adore the animation in
“Pocahontas”, it did feel like is was showing off its artistry, while “Mulan”
is content to just let the simple colors and layouts speak for themselves. The
only time it really tried to be epic was the battle on the mountain side, and
it’s a cool scene, with lots of energy, and it even incorporated some innovative POV shots.
Now, for all the talents involved in this
picture, the most important to me is the late composer Jerry Goldsmith, who is personally my biggest hero when it comes to movie music
scores. “Mulan” was the only animated Disney movie he ever composed a
score for, but it’s another great one, and it remains one of the films biggest
strengths. This score was even nominated at the Oscars for best original music.
Naturally, this score adds to the size and scope of the epic battle scenes, but
I find this score even more effective during the softer and quieter moments. I
love the subtle scenes in which there’s minimal dialogue, and everything is
conveyed through both the visuals and this score. My favorite scene of the
whole movie, and easily one of my top five favorite individual moments from any
Disney movie is the moment when Mulan makes her choice, and leaves home to join
the army. This is visual story telling at its most inspiring, as every shot,
visual and transition in this moment is a work of art, and conveys a hundred words.
I love that Mulan doesn’t even need to speak a single line of dialogue … we
just see her sitting there in the rain, she’s looking at the silhouettes of her
parents in the window, her damp hair has her face framed in a box, which illustrates
how boxed-in the character is, and then with one swipe of the hair … she’s maid
her choice, she’s going out there, and Jerry Goldsmith’s riveting music track
gives me chills all over. If individual scenes could win an Oscar, this would
be one of them.
With all my praise given to the music, I
probably should mention the individual songs themselves. Right off the bat, my
favorite song is “I’ll Make A Man Out of You”,
which has held up to this day as one of the all-time great training montage
songs ... right on the same pedestal as “Rocky’s” “”Gonna Fly Now”, or “The
Karate Kids” “You’re the Best”.
I distinctly remember being back in
Elementary school, and all the kids during P.E. would be singing this song.
Still to this day, the song leaves me feeling hyped, like I could just go off
and run a mile. I think that of all the animated Disney renaissance movies of
the 90’s, this one was trying the least to be a full-on musical, and was just
trying to be a mature film with an occasional song here and there. The first
song “Honor to Us All” is kind of
basic by the standards of opening song numbers, as it’s not very grand or
catchy. It just does its job setting-up both the character and the theme of the
film, and then it moves on.
I was also a little surprised that Mushu didn’t get
a song number, as it’s a Disney staple to give the marketable comedic mascot a
big, colorful show-stopper. Instead, it’s the army singing “A Girl Worth Fighting For” that provides the
film with some levity and charm. The finale song “True
to Your Heart” is performed by Steve Wonder, with 98 Degrees, and
while the song is a little catchy, it can’t help but feel like the product of a
by-gone era, in which boy bands were everywhere. Naturally, it’s tradition for
our female lead to have a solo number, and in my own personal opinion, every
solo Disney Princess song can ride the coat tails of Mulan’s “Reflection”. I don’t even know how to explain
it, but this song manages to convey the emotional struggles of our lead, while
also coming off as an inspiring peace. It’s a trait utilized with a number of
Disney Princesses ranging from “Cinereal”, to “The Little Mermaid”,
to “Frozen”, in which they make their emotional pleads come off as
something beautiful and awe inspiring. For whatever reason, “Reflection” is the
one that always got to me the most, and helped secure Mulan’s status as one
of my favorite leading Disney girls. It’s also the song that introduced me to Christina
Aguilera, and for all her success with “Come on Over Baby”, “What a Girl
Wants”, and so forth … “Reflection” remains my favorite cover of hers.
Once we get to the third act, Mulan’s
secret is revealed, and the army have to trust her for who she really is. The
villains soon invade the palace and take the Emperor captive, leaving Mulan and
friends to mount a daring rescue. While this climax isn’t nearly as epic as the
proceeding battle on the mountain slope, it’s still one of the best staged
action scenes of any animated Disney picture. The fight choreography is quick,
and also very creative as it utilized the surroundings with the fighting moves.
It’s also genuinely tense, as some of the characters take a beating, and
there’s a sense of urgency when the villain chases after our hero’s. This
climax also builds to one of my absolute favorite villain deaths of any Disney
picture, in which the bad guy is harpooned by a rocket and launched into a
building full of explosives, which all blow shy-high … it’s awesome. My one
problem is that at the very last second, the movie starts a romance between
Mulan and Shang, which never felt necessary to me. The two had perfect
chemistry as fellow comrades in arms, and I feel it should have just stayed
that way. Also, I never liked that the movie ended on a joke that felt like the
closing punch-line of a sit-com, when it really should have quietly faded to
black on the emotional reunion between Mulan and her father.
In the end, minor gripes aside, Disney’s “Mulan”
still holds up as … not one of my absolute favorits … but a great one all the
same. I think this one can appeal to a wider audience better then most of the
films of it’s time, as it’s got the simplicity and charm of a Disney classic,
and balances it with just enough mature themes and adult elements. It can also
be credited as one of the first to break from the familiar Disney formula, and
explore deeper themes of honor and family duty. Mulan herself again has earned
the right to be called one of Disney’s most dignified leading ladies, and
superior to most of the Princess brand. Throw in some gorgeous animation, a
unique setting and culture to explore, some memorable songs, and “Mulan”
can easily satisfy as just … a simple good time at the movies. It’s one of
those Disney films I don’t think about, but it sneaks up on me once and a
while, and leaves me feeling happy every time I watch it.
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