Suzan C.

I watched the Mulan 2020 live action movie on Disney+ and was surprised at how good it actually was. I had a lot of hopes for this movie as I remember my own father telling me the history of Hua Mulan. Based on my memory of what my father said, this live action story was quite similar. And I'll tell you why: Let's for a moment forget about the animated version by Disney. I never liked to compare one remake to another because every director and producer has their own vision. That being said, this live action Mulan is quite similar to the historical story of the person herself. Legend has it that a young woman who is brave, kind, and a bit rambunctious, stole her way into the Chinese army in place of her father. She had fought for years alongside the Imperial Army as a "man". She revealed her true identity out of necessity and later on continued fighting in the Imperial Army and quickly rose to ranks as a general. In this live action Mulan, the story is similar to her actual life story. Of course us modern people can never truly know the exact events since we weren't there. Just like most other historical movies, you can only hope there are some truths in the storytelling. What I liked about the movie was that it was told from her father's POV. I read some of the reviews and people were judging or comparing this live action to the animated version. Disney never claimed that this movie was a remake, so I hate to think why people would need to compare the two. Yes, Disney wanted to delight and deliver a live action movie that will appeal to all ages, thus including some tidbits from the animated version. But it was clearly done as a nod to the animated version, and not purposely as a "remake". It's like, the animated version was giving you a taste of Disney's creative magic but this live action takes it deeper into the history and legend of Hua Mulan. The visual effects were absolutely stunning. Not as stunning as The Great Wall with Matt Damon, but the colors and the costumes were on point. My heart always flutter whenever I see real depictions of historical costumes. In Mulan, the colors of the Imperial Army, the villagers, and even the sorceress's outfit were eye-catching and creative. Now, if you're looking to watch a movie that tells a light version of the history of Mulan then enjoy this movie as it is. Don't compare it to the animated version. Yes, the animated version was a wonderful movie but if you go in comparing the two, then you're not giving yourself a fair chance to enjoy this live action version. The reason I gave it a 4-star is mainly due to the sorceress. It would have been nice if her story was explained more. I would've loved to see how she came into her powers and how she met Bori Khan. Overall, Mulan is a movie you should watch even once. The martial arts action was spectacular and very typical of a Chinese martial art movie. Lots of magical elements to this movie. Some touching parts, some comical areas, and just a fun movie overall. The addition of Jet Li and Donnie Yen were also delightful. I can never get enough of the martial arts mastery of Jet and Donnie. And there is a wonderful surprise at the end. I was so excited when I saw the surprise! I'd say, if you can't wait for the "free" version in December on Disney+, then purchasing this movie now is worth the extra $30. Just watch it at least a couple of times and you'll get your money's worth.