Emily Lawrence

First of all, if you compare this movie to the original "Mulan", you will be disappointed. It doesn't have the humor and sass of the 1998 version, which has its own star in the Disney crown. The beauty of the 2020 movie is as much in the quiet moments when nothing is said, as in the nimble fight scenes. Indeed, the 2020 version follows another path of storytelling. It's grown up and a movie that stands alone in its plot, characters, and execution. There are lovely nods to the original in the soundtrack (an orchestral version of "Reflection" pops up frequently), the script ("we are going to make men out of you"), and cinematography (Mulan's self-awareness blossoming next to a cherry tree). There are new characters to flesh out the story, and some loved characters from 1998 that are not included this time. For purists, this may be a game-changer, but these changes help with the newer version, keeping it from being a copycat, predictable remake. One note: the absence of silliness and some of the fight scenes may make the movie tedious for young, wiggly movie-goers. Our family loved 2020's "Mulan", and think it will appeal to a wide range of movie-goers.