Mulan Why Disneys LiveAction Remake Is Not A Kids Film

Mulan: Why Disney’s Live-Action Remake Is Not A Kids’ Film

Disney+’s new live-action remake of Mulan may not be appropriate for young children to watch, but it has an important cultural and feminist message.

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Mulan Why Disneys LiveAction Remake Is Not A Kids Film

Disney+’s new live-action Mulan remake is not for kids in the same way the animated Disney original was. In fact, the expensive, glossy Disney+ exclusive is not really a remake of the 1998 cartoon take on the legend of Hua Mulan. The material is considerably darker, there are no songs, and the most child-friendly (and easily marketable) characters – Mushu the dragon, and Cri-Kee the cricket are nowhere to be seen. At least not in their original animated guises, anyway.

The live-action remake of Mulan is actually better considered a new film entirely and one more closely based on the ancient Chinese folk song, the Ballad Of Mulan. According to the original legend, Mulan takes the place of her father when the Imperial army demands a male from every family joins up to protect China from northern invaders. She disguises herself as a man, which is a key point to both the 1998 animated Mulan and the 2020 live-action redo, and helps save her home country, earning her family’s honor.

The live-action remake is best not considered a straight remake of the 1998 animated movie, even with musical Easter eggs and a cameo by original Mulan star Ming-Na Wen. And despite Disney+ marketing it as a direct remake – no doubt to help sell it to the audience in 2020 – it is not a children’s movie in the same way as its predecessor. It’s too dark and mature to be truly appropriate for the youngest viewers and going in expecting to be as comedic and whimsical as the 1998 version is a set-up for disappointment.

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While the animated version did have its dark moments, like the hard segue from “A Girl Worth Fighting For” into Mulan’s company discovering the slain Imperial army, the live-action Mulan goes further. Because Mulan’s legend is one defined by war, the closer adaptation of the original ballad feels far more like a war movie. There is significantly more violence and fewer punches pulled when it comes to showing death and in that respect, it’s a departure from most Disney movies. There’s not even the original Mulan songs (bar some instrumental nods) to lighten the tone and the addition of Xian Lang the witch adds further dark material that younger children would undoubtedly find disturbing.

There is very much a strong message in the live-action Mulan – not least in the huge value of its exclusively Chinese cast (something the original failed on) – that follows Frozen and Frozen 2’s exploration into self-discovery and female characters choosing their own fate. And slightly older children absolutely should be invited to watch, perhaps after their younger siblings are in bed. In that respect, Disney+’s Mulan is still a family film and does have some moments of levity, but the agenda was clearly to make a more respectful take on the Mulan legend that didn’t pander to merchandising needs or lose its edge to cater to young children. It’s just a shame it doesn’t quite come with the necessary warning label.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/mulan-why-disneys-live-action-remake-is-not-a-kids-film/

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