Mulan

I gave myself Disney Plus for the new year. So it's time to catch up on some more movies. The first film I'll review from the service is Mulan, the live-action take on Disney's animated take on the beloved Chinese folktale. Say that ten times fast.

Hua Mulan (Yifei Liu) aspires to be a great warrior. Her parents aspire her to make her a "good wife." Meanwhile, China is invaded by Bori Khan (Jason Scott Lee) and his warriors. The Emperor (Jet Li) calls for one man from every family to serve in the Imperial Army. Unfortunately for Mulan, the only man of her family is her injured father Hua Zhou (Tzi Ma). So she takes his armor and sword and enlists as "Hua Jun." Mulan proves herself a capable recruit. The army has to hurry to prevent Khan and his sorceress ally Xian Lang (Gong Li) from reaching the Emperor.

Unlike The Lion King, director Niki Caro (Whale Rider) and the four screenwriters don't re-enact the earlier animated film in live-action. For starters, there are no animal sidekicks or musical numbers. Harry Gregson-Williams incorporates some of Matthew Wilder and David Zippel's iconic tunes in his rousing score, but that's it. The story set to that score is a decent one. On one hand, Mulan's plight is understandable. On the other, her relationship with fellow soldier Chen Honghui (Yoson An) is less compelling than the one with her sister, Xiu (Xana Tang). Both should be equal.

Liu is still a strong Mulan. She's a strong warrior and devoted family member. Her interactions with the town Matchmaker (Cheng Pei-Pei) are humorous. The final battle with Khan is an exciting one. Jet Li as the Emperor shows some awesomeness when he takes on Khan. Jason Scott Lee and Gong Li are formidable villains, but Gong Li's Xian Lang leaves the most impact. Mulan's Commander Tung (Donnie Yen) was an OK character; a bit too routine, though.

In addition to Williams, Caro's technical crew is pretty good too. Production Designer Grant Major visualizes grand locales from the Imperial City to Mulan's Tulou. Cinematographer Mandy Walker adds to the grandeur with her work. Would've been nice to see it on the big screen, but oh well. The wall-running and wall-jumping during the fighting is spectacular. Xian Ling's magic makes for nifty visual effects, though some questions (what happens to the folks she possesses?) aren't answered. Meanwhile, costume designer Bina Daigeler and the makeup team create memorable looks for all.

I definitely would've seen Mulan back in March. But 2020 had other plans. But I've seen it now. It's a decent action film with a strong lead and memorable villainess. At least it's not a flat retread of its animated counterpart. It's got some surprises. It's a good reason to get Disney Plus. I got the yearly plan.