Disney's live-action "Mulan"

[DarkKnight88]

I think many are failing to grasp that this is ultimately a barometer test for them to gauge if they can release big budget titles if/when theatergoing is back in full swing. Will they make enough through D+PA that they can leverage this release model simultaneously with a theatrical release? You don't need to leave the house, but still get to participate in the discussion. They won't continue making big scale productions for streaming service pricing. So you'll either get more Noelle's or Lady and the Tramp's, or get to see Black Widow at home if you prefer.

100% correct.

Which is why I hope this fails for Disney and Tenet succeeds.

And I know for many in here, present company included, hope the opposite.

Let the games begin

 

[BeserkerHilf]

100% correct.

Which is why I hope this fails for Disney and Tenet succeeds.

And I know for many in here, present company included, hope the opposite.

Let the games begin

Game on. I think it should be up to the consumer to decide. Maybe it would actually entice theater chains to do something to gain the goodwill back of people who don't confuse a movie theater with their living room and act accordingly.

 

[Silver Surfer]

So watched it today, and I liked it and would recommend. The movie is shot beautifully, the landscapes, the fights, costumes are top notch. However, it doesn't quite have the magic of the original. I think the biggest thing it lacks is the emotional resonance that the first one mastered, both in terms of story beats and especially in terms of the character of Mulan.

In the original, Mulan was brave, smart, funny, but was also shown to be vulnerable. In this she lacks the emotional anchor that makes the audience fall in love with the character. They show her as strong, but don't give her an emotional core worthy of the first. The supporting cast is also drastically inferior to the first, as is the villain.

All in all, I did like it and would recommend, but I believe the original to be categorically better.

 

[Shinobi Shaw]

I loved it.

Granted it's worlds different from the OG version, but they share the same spirit. The action sequences were very well produced, the fights were amazing (like a Disneyfied Kill Bill/Xena) and if you watched the original movie as many times as I have you'll appreciate the fun callbacks and homages to it. And I love the fact that this was a movie about girl power, but didn’t beat you over the head with it; they just let the story flow. Gong Li is still a very beautiful woman and the actress who played Mulan did really well too. And with all the beautiful colors they used in the cinematography, it really makes me wonder how a live action Pocahontas would be produced. It would probably be lovely, but that story is way too problematic to ever get a live action movie from Disney, but I digress.

So far for me, it's 101 Dalmatians, Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, The Lion King and now Mulan as my top five Disney live action remakes.

 

[psylockolussus]

I am so jealous that you are all finally seeing this.

 

[Primal Slayer]

I watched it. A friend was kind of enough to share it with me. It was...ok. Not downright awful basically just mediocre. CGI was iffy in the beginning, adding the witch was....useless, a lot editing/camera choices that were questionable, and overall lacked any real charisma. But it was pretty to watch.

Spoiler

there is a scene where the bad guys are throwing fire bombs at the good guys who are all huddled up defending themselves from the witch/birds, Mulan is not far from them. Both are general eye sight of the bad guys...Mulan gets on her horse and next shot she is behind the bad guys shooting arrows at them. They are so dumb that they try to attack her with a fire ball but it comes no where near her...but straight into the snowy mountain causing an avalanche to the bad guys surprise. She runs away and jumps on her horse at the perfect time who comes out of no where. Felt like there was an entire scene that was cut.

Not worth $30. If you havent seen it yet, I dont think you're really missing out on much.

 

[TheVileOne]

I think many are failing to grasp that this is ultimately a barometer test for them to gauge if they can release big budget titles if/when theatergoing is back in full swing. Will they make enough through D+PA that they can leverage this release model simultaneously with a theatrical release? You don't need to leave the house, but still get to participate in the discussion. They won't continue making big scale productions for streaming service pricing. So you'll either get more Noelle's or Lady and the Tramp's, or get to see Black Widow at home if you prefer.

At that rate, it's not Disney denying your choice of venue, it's NATO as a collective. AMC/Regal/Cinemark can't continue ignoring theaters are unsafe venues filled to the brim with inconsiderate audience members and from my experience, an AV presentation less-immersive than my home.

I'm never going to pay $30 for a movie like this on Disney+ especially if they release it on Disney+ for free three months later. It's never going to happen. Ever.

 

[Mysteryman]

100% correct.

Which is why I hope this fails for Disney and Tenet succeeds.

And I know for many in here, present company included, hope the opposite.

Let the games begin

Actually, I want BOTH films to succeed.

 

[TheVileOne]

I don't want Mulan to fail, I'm just not on board with this $30 for STREAMING and then free on Disney+ three months later.

We aren't talking about a live PPV special here.

 

[Prison Mike]

In a perfect world, they would release the film both theatrically and PVOD simultaneously and let the people choose. But that’s just a pipe dream sadly

 

[Marvolo]

I don't want Mulan to fail, I'm just not on board with this $30 for STREAMING and then free on Disney+ three months later.

We aren't talking about a live PPV special here.

I dont see much difference. Both are entertainment broadcast into your home for a price.

 

[Marvolo]

I didn't realize that Disney+ allowed you to keep the film and watch it as many times as you want to. That makes the price more reasonable, because $30 is what they charge for all their new 4K releases.

 

[thangaran]

We all really enjoyed the film. Uplifting, fantastic production values, great action. Liked the lead, the sets and costumes. It was great to see a big budget new film. Without sounding overly cheesy but I am so thankful we have these amazing entertainment options during these tough times. Even all the e-books available. But we really enjoyed the movie. Nice good clean fun!

Then after I went to the brutally amazing nature of the Boys. So far fantastic start to the weekend!

 

[thangaran]

That $30 is cheap from what a FAMILY would pay at the movies. This is the perspective Disney is thinking of. A FAMILY would have NO PROBLEM paying this price

Agree with this. And you can see it again as well. Will probably watch it again this weekend

 

[psylockolussus]

I'm a wreck after watching this movie....

Spoiler

This is movie is sooo good. I cried so many times. The visuals, the scenery, the fierceness of Mulan and the bird woman, the loyalty, the bravery, the honor, the virtue to family... this movie has so many feels. My favorite movie of 2020. Thank you Disney and those three songs during the credits are beautiful.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

I dont see much difference. Both are entertainment broadcast into your home for a price.

The difference is that something like a Boxing Match or UFC fight loses a ton of value once you know the result. The appeal of films is different. It isn't about the live aspect and the thrill of not knowing the outcome. Mulan is the same movie now as it will be three months from now.

 

[Legendver2]

Disclaimer, I'm a massive Liu Yifei fan

Now that that's out of the way, I actually enjoyed this way more than I thought. I was never too keen on these remakes, because so far they're all shot for shot almost, and live action can't really capture the more exaggerated emotions displayed by the exaggerated lines and drawings of a cartoon. But they managed to change just enough stuff in this to be quite refreshing. I'm also not really a stickler for musicals as well, so the removal of the songs was welcomed by me. This thing was really well shot though, and while there were changes, the story beats and message of the original was kept. Now for some spoilery thoughts:

Spoiler

The Phoenix was pretty useless throughout imo. I thought it would've been better if she took her dad's phoenix medallion instead, and the medallion is the thing that gives her hope and motivation when she sees it. It'll pretty much play the same plot device as the phoenix, but with the emotional connection to her dad.

I also really liked the addition of the chi aspect. Really made this more a Marvelized version of a Disney story, in that Mulan is pretty much a superhero, and the witch is her darkside/foil. I liked that the witch tried to bring her to the dark side and failed, but Mulan succeeds in bringing the witch to the light side.

As an Asian myself who watches a ton of Asian films, it took some getting used to early on seeing what looks like an Asian film, but in English. But once that got out of the way, it was really enjoyable. Probably, imo, one of the better Disney adaptions in that they tried something new and you can tell they actually gave a **** about making something different but carries the same spirit, instead of the lazy shot for shot remakes before. With how bright and uplifting the message is, and the badass female lead, and all the stuff about family, I have no doubt this would hit AT LEAST $800m if not $1b under normal circumstances.

8/10

 

[jmc]

This forum is surprisingly giving the most positive reviews.

 

[Shinobi Shaw]

My only little gripe about the film is that when Mulan joins the army, you so could tell that she’s a woman. But whatever.

 

[Arachnerd]

This forum is surprisingly giving the most positive reviews.

Well, it helps that most people on here have enjoyed the Disney remakes over the years lol

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

This forum is surprisingly giving the most positive reviews.

I haven't seen it, but I can say from previews that I certainly think it at least looks better than the typical Disney live-action remake. So I'm not that surprised that the final film is getting better reviews than them. While they aren't always right, I do mostly trust my instincts.

 

[jmc]

My only little gripe about the film is that when Mulan joins the army, you so could tell that she’s a woman. But whatever.

Clark Kent rules apply.

 

[TheVileOne]

I dont see much difference. Both are entertainment broadcast into your home for a price.

The difference is that a pay-per-view special, such as boxing or WWE or UFC, are LIVE sporting events. And you are usually seeing some major matchups that you normally wouldn't get on TV.

Mulan isn't a LIVE performance. It's not going on as it happens. That's why LIVE sporting events can get such big TV deals these days. A live sporting event where you don't know what's going to happen until you watch it live has value in a 2020 TV viewing audience.

Once a UFC or boxing event is over, you know everything that happens. It's no longer live and it doesn't have as much value. I'm just saying, this is why live sporting events or PPV events catch such a high price or cost more than even a PPV movie purchase or rental.

 

[psylockolussus]

Mulan, Cinderella and The Jungle Book are the Disney-remake trinity. though this one really reminds me of Cinderella. In which I love the animated movie and despite the removal of musical numbers and talking animals, I loved every second of the remake/live action version. I want the other 10 Disney Princess to get this quality treatment in their respective reimagining.

Btw, if you read my post above, I meant devotion not virtue.

 

[Dave McFly]

I wanna see it but not enough to pay that 30 bucks on top of my subscription. Heck I would have rather waited and had them out in theaters at a later date instead of rushing it straight to streaming this is one I would have rather seen on the big screen than a TV.