Film Review – Mulan (2020)

As Disney continues to mine their animation catalog for live-action remakes, “Mulan” emerges as the rare offering trying to keep some distance from its inspiration. In 1998, the material offered a broader take on the original Hua Mulan legend, turning the tale into a musical and hiring Eddie Murphy to voice Mushu, a talking dragon. Mushu is gone from the update, along with most lightheartedness, with director Niki Caro committed to a more serious take on the source material, playing up scenes of war and sacrifice, aiming to give the story a richer sense of purpose and influence for a different generation of viewers. The experiment largely works, with the new “Mulan” a different beast in all the right ways, with Caro delivering a sumptuous event film with an excellent cast and newfound fierceness, giving the remake some additional heft as it details an unusual quest for identity and honor. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com