Here's a report on MULAN! I've had several glowing, praising reviews of MULAN come in over the last several months, from long term spies and first timers, and everyone seems to be loving it. So here's another... this time from Stansfield, so pay attention...
Stansfield here with a report on Disney's 35th full-length animated masterpiece, Mulan. It truly is a masterpiece. I got to see it at a Buena Vista presentation for exhibitors in Nothern California at Century 16 Mountain View. The bad news is I missed an opportunity to see an even-more anticipated summer film from Disney, but more on that later. On with Mulan:
The marketing:
At first, the marketing coordinator introduced Horse Whisperer and 6 Days, 7 Nights. Then she moved on to Mulan following the typical marketing strategy of chronological display. She admitted that Mulan was definately catering to the adult demographic early on in its marketing campaign. This is obvious if you have seen the teaser trailer and one-sheet(poster for all you non-informed theatre goers). Then, the coordinator said that closer to the film's release is when Disney will begin to show the humor of the film and target children a bit more. She announced a suprise for us, then showed us an unmarried print of Mulan, due out June 19th(Look out X-Files).
The plot:
Mulan follows the tale of a Chinese woman who impersonates her ill father and enters the Chinese emporer's army to save the country from the Huns in an attempt to bring honor to herself and her family name.
The characters:
Mulan herself breaks the normal Disney female lead rules. They even make fun of themselves in one scene by showing her with an exagerated slim waist and how this is how a woman is suppose to look, like the Belles and Jasmines of Disney past.
Mushu, voiced by Eddie Murphy, is a midget dragon who aides Mulan on her way through the training and into battle. He steals the show. He is the best Disney character to date. He has the timing and wit of ten Disney "sidekick" characters all in one. Funnier than Robin Williams in Aladdin. The film is set up like a Full Metal Jacket for kids. Half concentrates on training, the other on the war. Mushu helps Mulan train with the rest of the misfit boot campers and the laughs are almost non-stop. They make fun of everyone from Disney themselves to manly hormone-filled men.
The token 5-years-in-the-making-trademark CGI sequence: Also the best I have seen. The trailer shows some of it as the Hun army marching in the snow. Then an impressive avalanche ensues. This is awe-inspiring. The scene was not even completed with music or shadows when I saw it today. I cannot wait to see this again. Truly a jaw-dropper. The horses look better than the wildebeasts in Lion King and the snow is more increadible than the lava in Aladdin.
The Music:
Really good as well. Lyrics and music not from Alan"The Oscar is my wife" Menkin, but the new team does well and captures the essence of Chinese folklore. There might have been a few sequences missing. I only counted three musical numbers compared to the Disney norm of five.
The ending:
Also done well. Climactic enough yet not overblown. The Hun leader who is the villan, which I forgot to mention earlier, looks like a werewolf with those yellow evil eyes and black beady pupils. By far the scariest-looking villan in Disney animated history. Scarier looking than Jafar, although not as evil-practicing than Frollo(who tried to kill a baby). Anyway, he gets an "explosive" and deserving death.
This is the best Disney film since The Lion King and the animation, along with the technology, is the best I have seen in a Disney animated.
Now, the bad news:
The film I missed was the first three reels of Armageddon because I had to help a friend move. Disney had it all set to go for us after lunch. Oh the price of a true friend can be unmeasurable. The agony I feel from missing Bruce, Billy Bob, and Ben is the pain of sacrifice for a friend in need. This one hurts.
Till later,
Stansfield
