Huabin Situ

When watching this film, throw away all your previous knowledge about Mulan if the only thing you knew about Mulan was the cartoon. This is a wuxia fantasy film first and for most. So don't be like, "Woah why are the flying?" They explain the concept of "chi" which is energy/breathing air/chakara, etc pretty well. Costume Design was beautiful but historically incorrect but because it is a fantasy film, it gets a pass. The themes of the movie is actually very faithful to the original one even if the director have to add in the plot elements from the cartoon. In fact, the movie is held back by the cartoon plot wise. They should have tossed the cartoon out entirely and based it off the original ballad. However, the theme of xiao or filial piety was really good as that is what the original ballad was about. Being loyal to her parents and the father of the nation. The original ballad was about a daughter going to war to protect the patriarch of the family and the patriarch of the country. Mushu (the funny but ridiculously dumb dragon, doesn't fit in to the theme at all. Also, dragons in east asian cultures are revered beast. To be treated as a butt of jokes by everything in the movie is pretty racist since the original mulan is really bad at depicting chinese culture due to the lack of effort. Even the name Fa (Cantonese) Mulan (mandarin). The movie isn't perfect at all its way too constricted to constricted by its source material. However, the improvements of the villians, themes, and character development for Mulan from someone who is unsure of herself but tries to do the right thing is pretty good. Don't look for your cartoon Mulan or your politically correct Mulan. This is a wuxia fantasy movie with the traditional Mulan who is the icon of respecting authority.