Recently, Disney has been lacking in terms of cinematic production. With each movie they release, it becomes more and more obvious that they just want money. Each movie has been a cash grab since the live-action “The Lion King,” and this article is about possibly the worst Disney remake, “Mulan.”
First of all, Disney removed nearly all of the comedy from the movie. They removed the music, and worst of all, they removed Mushu. Part of the reason people loved this movie so much is because of its quick-witted humor, specifically Mushu’s ability to hit back with a funny response on any occasion. This subsequently removed some of the movie’s charm. Furthermore, they removed all of the songs, save for a lousy score in the background, but more on that later.
Next, Disney added a villain for seemingly no reason. This villain, Xianniang, is a witch who can shape-shift into a falcon and into people she possesses. She helps Böri Khan in his attempt to overtake China. This character appears nowhere in the original movie. She is not even mentioned in the sequel. Disney probably added this new character in an attempt to create a fresh feel, but it is too much. Having a new villain takes too much away from the original plot; however, a new sidekick figure probably would have done the job of giving a fresh feel without taking away from the rest of the movie.
Lastly, Disney’s attempt at bringing back the old music is disappointing. The original movie was a musical, but because Disney wanted a more serious take on “Mulan,” they removed all of the music. However, they did add a score of the classics in the background, including “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” during dinner with the other soldiers, which felt out of place as, in the original movie, this is an action-packed song about fighting through trouble in order to strengthen and better themselves. Furthermore, “Reflection” was played during the credits, even though this song is supposed to represent a pivotal moment. In addition to the fact that they are played at incorrect times, none of the new viewers will understand the references, making them meaningless for any who choose to watch the new version and not the old one.
All in all, this movie missed so many important points that the original movie hit perfectly, and it can be disappointing to see a movie so close to one’s childhood get disgraced and completely flipped around.
