The live-action trailer for Mulan is out and Disney is getting inclusive.
The trailer seems to be following the same flow as the animated original, minus the culturally offensive details (good going Disney!).
First, the trailer:
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A New “Mulan” For a New Generation
In the animated movie, it’s Mulan’s mother who eggs on her to get married while her father lets her be the free bird she is. This time around her father just wants her to ‘bring honor to the family‘ the traditional way. Plus, she’s also getting a sister in the live action version.
The action sequences are just smashing, with the Asian princess (that was never a princess) kicking butt. In fact, the live-action reboot might as well be an action film.
DisInsider reported that new Mulan will feature instrumentals of the music from the animated classic, rather than have the cast sing the songs.
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Staying True to Chinese Version
Mulan is based on tales from Chinese folklore. Where the animated version deviated from its source material, this time Disney is keeping the plot pretty close to the original ‘Ballad of Mulan‘ from Chinese folklore.
Hua Mulan’s story dates to as early as 386 AD frm a folk song & later a transcription in the 6th century. Disney’s live action film is attempting to honor the OG version for Western & Eastern (China) audiences. There is no Mushu or Li Shang in the original so please, shut up! https://t.co/IA4D0uudpJ
— Cindy PikaChu Swing ✨朱良蒨 (she/her) 🌸✨ (@iamcindychu) July 7, 2019
The original movie was panned in China for how inappropriate it was to the people and their culture. Disney is doing something right. If you want to watch the version with mushu etc you can still watch the animated version, it's not like they have discontinued/destroyed it.
— Aditya⁷ (@monojinjo) July 8, 2019
To add to that, they might be replacing Mushu with a phoenix.
Disney might be doing the right thing (for once) as the Chinese audience gave the trailer the green light, unlike the original.
https://twitter.com/halleluyang/status/1148165748268814336
https://twitter.com/halleluyang/status/1148174637420802049
The Right Angle
In a post-feminist age, there is a huge problem with women bashing other women for not being ‘the right kind of woman.’ Take for instance an example where working women bash women who chose to focus on family or spirituality. Then there are the traditional folks who bash women for having a career.
In the end, we need to accept that an empowered woman is one that’s comfortable being herself and make her own choices.
These themes are also present in Mulan. In the trailer, we see that even our heroine has a match-maker (rishtay wali Khala) pointing out all the qualities that would make her a ‘good wife’.
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Those same qualities that are present in a stereotypical submissive damsel are what make Mulan a bad-ass warrior. And here’s why.
She’s quiet and that’s why she’s stealthy. She picks up information (by listening) and she’s got her zen mode going.
The matchmaker then states Mulan is composed. We get scenes which prove that’s why the Chinese girl has killer combat skills (because shes as composed as a boxer).
Composed is one thing. Graceful is another. She seems to have both qualities in lock.
Mulan is disciplined, which is why she’s a top performer when it comes to military training.
Mulan Cast
Niki Caro is directing. This New Zealand film-maker and screenwriter is famed for her 2002 indie film Whale Rider and The Zookeeper’s Wife (2017).
The movie will include Yifei Liu in the titular role with Jet Li as the Emperor, Donnie Yen as Commander Tung; Jason Scott Lee as Böri Khan; Yoson An as Cheng Honghui; with Gong Li as Xianniang. As well as Utkarsh Ambudkar, Ron Yuan, Tzi Ma, Rosalind Chao, Cheng Pei-Pei, Nelson Lee, Chum Ehelepola, and Donnie Yen.
Mulan is scheduled to hit theaters on March 27th, 2020.
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