Publisher: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
Ages: five and up
Parental
Advisory:
Mild violence
Editor's Choice
Would Disney really create
an animated feature about the coming of age of a
cross-dressing heroine? Oh, yes, they would–and in the hands of the masters,
Disney's Mulan: Special Edition is pure bliss for everyone (and
this means everyone). With compelling characters, extraordinary animation,
and lots of laughs, the movie, like its spunky heroine, triumphs. It's one
of Disney's best animated features ever.
Based on a Chinese legend, the story is about Mulan, a young woman who tries to be shy, obedient and demure as her society expects, but can't fit the mold. When war breaks out, Mulan's sickly father, a one-time war hero, is called to serve in the army. To prevent his death in battle, Mulan disguises herself as a male soldier, and takes his place. As a new recruit, learning the manly art of war, Mulan begins to distinguish herself.
Mulan (voice by Ming-Na, singing by Lea Salonga) is much like other popular Disney heroines. She's young, gorgeous and, most important, misunderstood, but has inner strength and an indomitable spirit. But finding and marrying a prince isn't job one for this heroine, although the handsome Captain Shang (voice by B.D. Wong, singing by Donny Osmond) is no bad shakes. She's more interested in finding herself.
Comic relief is supplied by several subsidiary characters. Eddie Murphy is hilarious as the voice of Mushu, Mulan's hip, jive-talking dragon sidekick, and the legendary June Foray lends her voice to the wise-cracking, scene-stealing grandmother. Also notable among the excellent voice talents are Pat Morita, as the emperor, and George Takei as the leader of the ancestral spirits. Although Mulan is a musical, it only has four songs, each of which is nicely used to convey important story and character points.
The stunning animation features human and animal characters that move with weight and solidity. The horses, especially Mulan's steed Khan, deserve special mention for their stylized, distinctively Chinese look and believable action.
Mulan is a movie of memorable scenes, including an army on horseback charging down a snow-covered mountain; a completely convincing crowd scene at the emperor's palace; and the dramatic sequence in which Mulan, during a rainstorm in the dead of night, makes a daring decision and carries out her plan, entirely without dialogue. Thoughtful visual touches, such as the brush strokes at the beginning of the movie and subtle backgrounds throughout, help convey the film's exotic theme.
To tell a classic Chinese story in a way that will appeal to Americans and still be politically correct, the Disney Studios walked a very fine line, with astonishing success. The Asian characters in Mulan come in all types–handsome and heroic, evil, comical, and downright goofy--but without derogatory or overly stereotyped elements. The characters speak in plain English, not with thick accents, and it all works.
The DVD extras that will appeal to film and animation fans include commentary by producer Pam Coats and directors Tony Bancroft and Barry Cook; an intriguing six part look at the making of the film that talks about story elements, early presentation reels, and a look at the production, design, and art of the film and progression reels that show the animation at its various stages.
There are deleted scenes as well as an omitted song, Mushu's "Keep ‘em Guessing, that didn't make the final cut. It's always fun to see the items that didn't make the film and understand why. A fun sequence talks about translating the film into various languages and features the "Be a Man" sequence in different languages. There are entertaining Fun Facts about the movie that's presented in a musical video, and several music videos that star Jackie Chan, Stevie Wonder, a young Christina Aguilera and Raven.
Without question, Mulan: Special Edition is outstanding family fare that is mesmerizing for children and adults. Mulan is a rare blossom, among the best of a breed.
11/15/04 Wayne N. Kawamoto, Managing Editor, Daytrum
