My daughters' introduction to feminism
 Mar 2nd, 2003
Advantages:
Strong, thinking characters - - a spectacular role model for my daughters
Disadvantages:
In the end, they hint at romance . Doh !
Recommendable:
Yes
Detailed rating:
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  wivabef
About me:
I'm a mom/wife/writer living in suburbia.
Member since:26.02.2003
Reviews:7
Members who trust:5
Review rated by 27 Ciao members on average: very helpful 
When I first watched this movie with my eldest daughter I thought it was cute and all, but I was influenced by the media. At the time they were reporting how chinese women were mad, chinese historians were mad, chinese restaurants were mad ... oh, heck, everybody was mad because Mulan was not the Mulan they all knew and loved -- an honest to goodness, accepted military figure in chinese history and not someone who had to sneak into the army. But, after the third or fourth viewing I said, "Get over it! So what if Eddie Murphy is an ebonics-talking dragon in ancient china! It's funny!" I like Ming-Na's "Mulan" as a role model for my daughter, who always says, "Mulan saved the day again!" And she does it not with angelic soprano melodies and big blinking eyelashes, but rather with strategy and quick thinking. Or, as the new millenium business cliche goes -- she thinks "outside
the box" Her love for family, her strong sense of duty, her sticktuitiveness -- these are all admirable qualities. Regardless if its historically accurate, I would think any culture would be proud to have Mulan there to save the day.
Having seen this many times, there is no longer any part I don't like. I love the guys in the camp, spitting and scratching and slapping each other on the backside. Harvey Fierstien as the tough, black-eyed Yao is a major coup -- talk about irony considering his current role on Broadway as Tracy's Mom in "Hairspray". George Takei, Pat Morita, a singing Donny Osmond makes it kind of like a cheesy seventies TV family reunion for parents. The Hun "Shan Yu" is the best villain Disney has ever created -- quiet, cunning and powerful with a commanding form and voice. I don't get the yellow eyes, but as this character is so impressive to me, who am I to doubt? The music is outstanding with some real showstoppers like "Be a Man" (as sung by Donny Osmond) which is not only a strong anthem, but supported by well choreographed animation as it shows Mulan growing to become accepted as one of the guys. And with regards to the animation in Mulan, this was one of the first by Disney to employ some digital animation. The result is a stunning scene showing the Hun calvary decending into a mountain pass. You feel the hopelessness Mulan and her fellow soldiers feel as thousands of thundering hooves descend like an avalanche on their small army. It is in this scene where Mulan first shows how her keen mind makes up for any lack of brawn she brings to the Chinese Army. Over and over again, Mulan thinks up the unthinkable, "saving the day" over and over again. My daughter shouts in glee as Mulan outsmarts the villain again and again. I am so glad she doesn't feel this way about wimpy, helpless Cinderella.
My only bone of contention with this film is that there is a hint that "Mulan wins over the Guy". She's not riding off in a carriage or walking down the aisle or anything like that. She merely invites the Captain, a good friend, to stay for dinner. I still think the movie would be able to stand well without that little cave in to "woman needs man" movie mentality. But at least it didn't feature an all out chorus singing eight part "Ooos" and "Ahhs" while they get lifted up to the heavens on a magic heart shaped cloud.
Eddie Murphy's dragon "Moo Shu" is what makes the movie for my husband. He's better than Robin William's genie from Disney's Alladin, really, because it's not a dog and pony show that makes him fun. Instead, Murphy is armed with a well-written array of witty dialogue and one liners. Finally, someone has come up with two words to describe that funky "man" smell -- "corn chips". So what if Murphy's anachronistic? So what if it's historically inaccurate. This isn't a Ken Burn's movie -- it's Disney! The people who brought us Thumper and Dumbo and Tramp -- animals that talk -- and one very large flying pachyderm. This is an excellent movie that celebrates the thinking woman ... and dragons from the 'hood.
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10.04.2006 16:27
Great review of a great film! :D
26.12.2003 18:57
Good op. There's romance in like 95% of Disney animated movies. At least it wasn't much in this one. =P
28.03.2003 14:48
I really want to see this.. all the butt slapping and spitting... right up my street. Great op