Mulan 2020

Mulan 2020: Review
By. Justin Azevedo

Synopsis: Northern Invader Lead by Bori Khan (Played by. Jason Lee Scott) have come to conquer China. The Emperor (Played by. Jet Li) has issued a decree that one man from each family member must join the Imperial Army to help combat this enemy. Due to the ailing father, Hua Mulan (Played by. Liu Yifei) has chosen to take her father's place, to disguise as a man and join the Army to fight and protect both her Home and Family! Mulan will face many challenge's in both fighting the Invaders, but to also keep her secret from her allies! Among her allies is her trainer and commander, Commander Tung (Played by. Donnie Yen) and fellow Warrior, Chen Honghui (Played by. Yosan An). Little do they now the Khan has a powerful witch called Xian Lang (Played by. Gong Li) to help him in his Conquest!

     The Film contained many elements to it Animated Original! While also adding some new themes, location's and Characters. Another thing they did in this version is adding a Narrator Voiced like Mulan's Father, Hua Zhou (Played by. Tzi Ma). We've seen this in the Live Action Remake, with Genie (Played by. Will Smith). While they don't use musical scene's in the film, they did incorporate many of the music in the film, like "Help Bring Honor to us All" in the Matchmaker scene and also "Loyal Brave, True" and "Reflection" through crucial moments in the film! The Film also incorporate, important scene's from the Animated Version into this one. Training in the Army, Fallen soldiers and Avalanche of the Mountain!

     

     The Live Action Remake, has many changes from the Animated Original. Not just changes in characters, but also, changes in location, events and battles! Among the changes was Mulan's Home, in the animated version were home was a village of homes, in the live action version, her village was more like once circle type building community! Another types of location's we saw were dessert area, another change also was the training grounds, where Mulan trained to become a warrior. However they kept location's that are well common in the animated version, the Empire's Palace and the Snowy Mountain!

     A new focus on the film, was "Chi" the energy within everyone. How it can be harnessed to do incredible things, wield great power. We see how Chi becomes a great influence in the Film and how it is wielded, through Mulan, Xian Lang and even the Empire! Chi was a tremendous add to the live action remake, as it has always been a great source to the people of China, giving them strength and will!

     Mulan (Played by Yifei Liu) had some similarities and differences to the Animated counterpart (Played by Ming-Na Wen). We see that as a child, she was a free spirit, ready for action. We can see that she wanted to bring honor to the family, but not in the way that a Woman of China must! As in the animated version, we see her try to do just that in meeting with the Matchmaker, but when an unexpected circumstances, in which could damage her sister, Mulan acted to protect her, by any means! Protecting her family is definite drive for her, that is why she took her father's place in joining the Empire's Army. Like in the animated version, Mulan struggled to act like "one of the guys", among the challenges, was having to sleep in the same tent, with a bunch of men, and an obstacle, she avoided was having to bathe with men as well. through her training she met her rival and first ally Chen Honghui, the two first became at odds with each other, upon their first meaning. However Mulan began to value his friendship, that he offer (as well as see him in another way!).Throughout her life she has had strong Chi, she at first try to disconnect herself, from it as women cannot use Chi, only men who wish to become warriors can use it. But when she joined the Army, and began to show skills and the ability to use chi, in front of her comrades and trainer.  As her journey continues, she starts to feel conflict with herself, in her first battle and she began to realize it when she faced Xian Lang. After accepting what she was denying, this lead and with the help of the Phoenix that was guiding her, she continue to fight but not as a Hua Jun (as she called herself when she joined the army), as Mulan this lead to the victory against the enemy(in the exact same way, as the animated version, but with Mulan getting a different idea on how to execute it!). Of course her identity became known to her comrades, but in this version it was her who revealed herself to them. As she knew what the penalty was she was ready to except it, when she was sparred, she felt great pain, as what will become of her family! But when she learned of what the enemy leader had planned, she muster her courage, to continue the fight! When she faced the Khan, her final challenge began and when she lost her confidence, she regained it (with the encouragement of the Empire). She defeated the Khan, proved herself to her comrades and gained the Emperor's respect and more importantly the respect of her Father! Her entire life was filled with challenge, to except what she was suppose to be, but she fought through and showed who she is meant to be!

Chen Honghui (Played by. Yoson An) is the ally to Mulan, as well as the love interest. His character derives from Li Shang (the love interest in the animated version). Chen was a confident warrior, when he first met Mulan(calling herself Hua Jun) the two came at odds with each other. Chen seemed to have his suspicion that Hua Jun (Mulan), wasn't you he was. Especially when Ling, Yao, Chien-Po, Cricket, and Hua Jun(Mulan), were talking about what kind of girl they were into. Over time through they're training Chen, saw Hua Jun(Mulan) as his equal and earned his respect. This was proven when Chen stood up for Mulan, when she warned of the Emperor's Danger, despite being banished from the Army and penalty of death! He truly saw Mulan's potential and would follow her to battle. Even at the end when they parted, they had they're moment, but he told her that they will see each other again!

     

     

     Commander Tung (Played by. Donnie Yen) is a new character in this Version, but he is also based in Li Shang. While Chen Honghui was design to be the an Ally and Love interest to Mulan, Tung was to be Mulan trainer and Military Commander. When he first met Mulan(As Hua Jun) he had to discipline him along with Chen. Commander Tung taught what it means to be part of the Empire's Army and what lye's ahead if on brings dishonor. Tung knew Mulan's Father as they fought together in past battle. Upon first glance Tung, saw the Chi with Mulan and spoke and gave her advice into not denying it. This helped Mulan in drawing her Chi and accomplishing in her training. When the truth was revealed, he banished her from the Army, but when she returned of the Warning and heard as the rest of his men stood by Mulan, he saw the potential he always saw in her when she was Hua Jun. This lead him to follow Mulan to save the Emperor and even proud to present a gift from the Empower to Mulan, and proclaiming to her Village of her Bravery with pride, especially to her Family!

    

     The Emperor (Played by. Jet Li) was quite different in the Live Action Version, from the Animated Version. He was still humble and cared for the safety of his people, but had a far more fiercer tone (in my opinion). He also knew had history with the enemy that they face, as Bori Khan was the son of the previous Bori Khan that the Emperor killed. When he learned, that the Khan's forces had invaded, he was prepared to battle himself. It's then we saw his own Mastery of Chi and even after he was captured he showed no fear. When he learned of a Women warrior leading his Army and saw her as she faced the Khan, he gave her the encouragement to keep fighting, when she fell, to rise up like the Phoenix! This lead to them finishing the Khan together! As with the Same ending in the Animated, The Emperor was Grateful for Mulan's Heroism and offer her a place among his Elite and as well respected her decision to return home and make amends with her Family. 

Bori Khan (Played by. Jason Scott Lee) is the Son of the first Bori Khan, who was killed by the Emperor, thus driving him in invading China and take The Emperor's life! Bori Khan was based on Shang Yu from the animated version. We got to see more of him in action then with Shang Yu. We saw him leading his forces to battle, gaining victory, promising his men riches and blood and installing his will upon the Witch he brought into his Army! Like Shang Yu, Bori Khan use underhanded tricks to achieve victory, use the witches power to gain a footing and sacrifice his own men to achieve his goal. When he learned about Mulan, he showed no fear and was prepared to fight. He show no mercy when he faced her, but did not comprehend Mulan's Chi and because he did not understand the true power of it, it did not save him!

     Xian Lang (Played by. Gong Li) is a new character added to the Live Action Remake. She is known as a witch, because of her Mastery of Chi and using it in Dark Ways! In the Beginning of her Life she was like Mulan, she wanted to be more, then what she was suppose to be and when she displayed her talents she was shunned and banished from her home. This lead her to be discover by Bori Khan, who offer her a place in his Army, but to use her power at his command! Though she detested serving Bori Khan and proclaim how she can take his life away, he continue to remind her, that only with him, she can show what she is capable of! Her abilities are to turned her Hands into claw, Transform into a Hawk, and slip into another's body and consume it (in my opinion). Upon see Mulan(as Hua Jun), she was able to tell that Mulan was hiding herself as a man, but also sense the Chi flowing within her! When she spoke to Mulan, told her of her past, she offer her a place at her side, warning her of the consequences that awaited if she was discover and that she will never be accepted! However near the end of the Film, when she saw Mulan leading a Army that only a Man has ever lead, this sparked a Change in Xian. This lead her to betray Bori Khan and sacrificing her own life to give Mulan!

      The Film also included Mulan's three closest Allies Ling, Yao and Chien-Po (Played by. Jimmy Wong, Chen Tang and Dousa Moua) who were portrayed well, though their role in the Movie was minimal, they still showed that they will have Mulan's back and follow her anywhere! Another character that was added to Mulan's group was Cricket who was adapted from the Cricket (Cri-Kee) from the animated version. Cricket was shown to be a clumsy one, but showed to have a lot of heart as well as tremendous luck as he was born with! He proved to be a great warrior in battle and showed that he too will follow Mulan! In the final battle he showed great skill in his bow and proved that he was lucky, when he came close to death!

      The Live Action may have bean leading towards being a Action, Adventure Drama movie, but it also added it's comedy moments in the Film. The issue of No Mushu being part of the Movie, still though, he was reference in some ways including near the end! Also the Phoenix, was actually a comfortable change. As it was a guide, to Mulan leading her to where she is meant to be and embrace who she is! The Film really did Justice to it's Animated version in my opinion, keeping things only to it's animated version and using a new style  to become it's own film!

      The Biggest surprise of the Movie was when Mulan was being presented to The Emperor by Ming-Na Wen herself, the original Mulan! I hoped that she was have some kind of Role in the Live Action Version, but after reading and seeing nothing of her being involved, it looked like they weren't going to have her be a apart of the movie! But when I saw her, I was ecstatic, and I think it was a good role for her, it was like she was passing the torch to Liu Yifei. 

     The Film really capture the essence of Chinese, Culture, as well as it's landscapes, traditions and beliefs, but also showed that true strength comes from within us all, no matter what Gender!

My Rating of Mulan 2020 is... (Epic and Inspiring)