We have had Disney's Mulan on video tape ever since it came out. We have watched it over and over. We also bought another adaptation of the story, on DVD. It wasn't as deep or as well developed as the Disney movie.
This weekend, I finally got Mulan, the Special Edition, on DVD. I haven't watched it yet, but it is great to have it on DVD, because I can watch it on my computer whenever I want.
Mulan is a wonderful story about a young woman in medieval China. The Mongols are invading the Middle Kingdom, and all the military is being mobilized. Throughout the country, every family is expected to provide on male to join the army. Mulan's father is a retired military leader, but suffered an injury years ago. His health is not good.
So, the night before her father is to go to report for duty, Mulan cuts her hair, takes her father's armor and sword, and leaves to join the army. The movie is about her development into a great warrior, her fall from grace, and her redemption.
The brightest part of the whole movie is Eddie Murphy, playing Mushu. He provides incredible comic relief, along with lots of depth to the whole movie.
My opinion: 3
Mulan (Hover)
We bought Mulan on VHS for my daughter, and all of us really enjoyed it. Eddie Murphy as a voiceover is very entertaining, as we all can attest from the Shrek movies. The story is quite good, and I especially enjoyed her trying to act like a guy in the military. I won't go as far as saying it is the best animated movie for Disney. In my opinion, Jungle Book was the best as it had so many themes hidden behind the main story. I'll have to look into the Special Edition DVD for Mulan; are there any new features on it that I should know about?
You will notice that I said it is the best Disney has produced in decades!
I don't know what special features are in the Special Edition yet, because I haven't had a chance to watch it. I will let you know as soon as I know.
The story source is a Chinese fable about a young girl who disguises herself as a man to help her family and her country. When the Huns attack China, a call to arms goes out to every village, and Mulan's father, being the only man in the family, accepts the call. Mulan (voiced by Ming-Na Wen, sung by Lea Salonga) has just made a disastrous appearance at the Matchmaker and decides to challenge society's expectations (being a bride). She steals her father's conscription notice, cuts her hair, and impersonates a man to join the army. She goes to boot camp, learning to fit in with the other soldiers with some help from her sidekick, Mushu, a wise-cracking dragon (voiced by Eddie Murphy). She trains, and soon faces the Huns eye-to-eye to protect her Emperor.
Although I watch this in my local dub, Mushu are indeed funny, also "Ill make a man out of you" song are catchy whatever country dub you use, even till now still remember the tune, and whenever I seeing Mulan it just trigger this song to me.