Mulan (1998)

Written by Rita Hsiao, et al.
Directed by Barry Cook & Tony Bancroft

So, let me say this first:

MULAN IS NOT A PRINCESS.

WHAAAAAAAAAAT

Okay. Now. That’s NOT to say that she isn’t a role model. She MOST CERTAINLY is. But her inclusion in the Disney Princess (tm) lineup is tangential, at best.

But anyway. The film.

Such a gorgeous film

Mulan comes near the tail end of the Disney Renaissance, the second to last film of the era. For me, it’s a film I’ve only seen a handful of times (and the first time was years after it had been released), but I’m always impressed when I watch it. It’s a beautiful film, with some great music, a compelling protagonist, and some interesting messages inside it.

GET IT, MULAN

Mulan, like Hunchback, takes the theme of inside nature versus outside appearance very literally, but does offer a fun spin on it. Mulan’s sense of duty is admirable, as is her tenacity. She’s also just fun to watch, especially during her fish-out-of-water moments as a man in the army.

The music has always been my favorite part of the film (I once sang “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” at an audition); the choice of using synthesizers during the “Mulan’s Choice” segment is...interesting, but overall the music is catchy and enjoyable.

I sometimes think Mulan doesn’t get the respect it deserves, which is a shame, because it has some really great values, and, if anything, teaches kids that you don’t have to be a princess to do what’s right.

FINAL GRADE: A-