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As one can gather from the title, I didn’t enjoy the 2020 live-action remake of Mulan. Although an overdue attempt to bring honor to China through a more culturally authentic story, the film strips itself of just about all of the facets that we cherish from the original. The witty dragon and cute cricket? Gone. The super-awesome-yet-totally-dramatic musical performances? Just background noise. But the badass woman who saves the entire imperial realm? Back, doubled, and stronger than ever before.
Nonetheless, with dialogue that made me want to cringe behind my pillow every five seconds and a plot that felt even wilder than the idea of ancestral ghosts and panda-horses, the film truly did flop in my eyes. The people are ready to see cultural movies succeed, perhaps even to appreciate the film in the actors’ native tongues. It should have truly celebrated China’s beautiful traditions and lifestyles instead of the awkward Westernized version we were given. I love the original, crushing every word to “I’ll Make A Man Out Of You” with my father a million times. It didn’t need to be the same story, but at least one that brought honor to Mulan and her whole family–and her cow.
Mulan: 1998 V. 2020
Some redeeming qualities about the film–which currently rates 5.4/10 on IMDb and 2.5/5 on Rotten Tomatoes–were the changes made to give Mulan more autonomy over her life and decisions. The first example is that she chooses to “come out” as a woman by removing her helmet and releasing her hair while killing the enemy in battle–not by being examined by a man for her injuries like in the original version. This is incredibly impactful because she is emboldened to tell the truth, empowered by the reality that she is the best fighter who also happens to be a woman.
Furthermore, possibly the only complaint I have about the original is how Mulan responds to the emperor’s request to join him at the ruling table. In the remake, instead of completely shutting down the emperor’s offer in exchange for her “normal” life, Mulan ultimately claims her rightful position of power. This is perhaps one of the most inspiring parts of the movie because it illustrates how she didn’t just join the army to save her father, fulfilling a sense of familial duty.
No, she joins the army because she is tired of the domesticated life thrust upon Chinese women and the shame of hiding her talents–the whole father bit is just the perfect escape. Thus it only makes sense that she wants to continue her career and ambitions after making things right with her loved ones. Mulan belongs near the heart and mind of the empire, not back at home, feeding her chickens.
“Yet here I stand, proof that there is a place for people like us!”
Mulan
The Most Powerful Enemy of All
The decision to include an equally powerful female nemesis, Xianniang, is what truly lifts this very mediocre film into a low “B” grade. Through Xianniang, the audience is given an insight into not only a possible future for Mulan but also allows for empathy toward all those who are cast out because of who they are. Or really, how women are forced into submission because their abilities and intellect scare the men in charge.
Although a seemingly tried and true “villain” at the beginning of the film, Xianniang is gradually revealed to be an incredibly complex character–she embraces herself as a “witch” because that’s what comforts the men enough to give her a position of power. Yet she takes her anger out on Mulan, a bitterness instilled from being a show pony for the “bad guys.” Throughout the film, however, the push and pull between these two main characters build a bond that thrusts even the most unlikely of female relationships into being a positive model much-needed in Hollywood.
A Win For Women… Mostly
Although a dynamic and layered film for female representation, the remake is certainly not without its missteps in feminism. The creative choice to have Mulan harness the “chi,” and even for Xianniang to be a masterful shapeshifter, makes it seem that these strong female leads are only special because they have magical powers. This may help change the story from a carbon copy of the original, but it eliminates most of the genuine self-discovery that, honestly, is what the story is all about.
With such power, Mulan’s choice to join the Imperial Army in place of her father is easy and without sacrificing the original. If you knew you were all but immortal, you, too, would allow your father to stay home and kick it. The addition almost spits in the face of feminism due to the nearly flawless and all-mighty aura of the female characters, which consequently makes the idea of women in power (both on the battlefield and in government) seem like a fantasy, too.
So, sure, Mulan didn’t find a warm place in my heart, but it serves as a win for women–and everyone–due to its more nuanced feminism as a part of the storyline and character development. It’s not perfect, even within this sliver of redemption I’m giving it, but it’s a push in the right direction 22 years after it first graced our screens. But, for crying out loud, was it too much to ask for a talking dragon and a shirtless Li Shang?