Out of all of DisneyB次元官网网址檚 animated films, B次元官网网址� Mulan B次元官网网址� was the one that made the most sense as a live-action remake. Not that there havenB次元官网网址檛 been good and charming live-action remakes over the past decade B次元官网网址� Kenneth BranaghB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淐inderellaB次元官网网址� being at the top of the pack B次元官网网址� but with most of them no matter how expensive or carefully executed or reverent to the source material, I usually walk out wishing IB次元官网网址檇 just watched the animated version instead.

Part of that might be age. I was in the generation who got to experience DisneyB次元官网网址檚 animated renaissance in real time in the theatres B次元官网网址� unaware of course that it was a renaissance, but simply that the films I got to see in the theatre and then on home video were something special. Perhaps it didnB次元官网网址檛 crystalize just how special they were and are until the live-action remakes became a regular part of the release calendar. Many just werenB次元官网网址檛 as enchanting or effective as their predecessors. That is mostly a compliment to the gold standard that is the animation. It would be shocking for a live-action version to somehow be better or even equal. Just look at the animated Hakuna Matata next to the B次元官网网址渞ealB次元官网网址� one. There is a reason most of these stories were animated in the first place.

B次元官网网址淢ulanB次元官网网址� was different, though. The animated tale is wonderful and full of fantastic songs, but itB次元官网网址檚 a war epic. The story, about a young Chinese woman who steps in to serve the army in her aging and ailing fatherB次元官网网址檚 place, is naturally and fundamentally suited for the format.

And make no mistake, director Niki CaroB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淢ulanB次元官网网址� is without a doubt one of the best of the remakes. It is stunning to look at from beginning to end. The crisp landscapes (shot by cinematographer Mandy Walker), the brightly colored and divinely intricate costumes (from Bina Daigeler), the elaborate fight sequences and the actors faces B次元官网网址� especially Liu Yifei, who plays Mulan B次元官网网址� are so beautiful that it will take your breath away. ItB次元官网网址檚 abundantly evident that Caro (B次元官网网址淲hale RiderB次元官网网址�) had a grand and sweeping vision for B次元官网网址淢ulanB次元官网网址� and for the most part she pulls it off.

B次元官网网址淢ulanB次元官网网址� falters on the story level, however, feeling both rushed, overlong and oddly light on character development. We barely even get to know Mulan. SheB次元官网网址檚 introduced as a child, wild and carefree running through her village. But sheB次元官网网址檚 not just free-spirited in this version: She actually has magical powers that make her a natural acrobat and, later, warrior. The film cuts abruptly from this revelation to our heroine, who is now older and messing up in front of the matchmaker. ItB次元官网网址檚 still a charming scene, even without Eddie MurphyB次元官网网址檚 Mushu.

But thereB次元官网网址檚 the problem: Why am I even thinking about Eddie Murphy? Because B次元官网网址淢ulanB次元官网网址� doesnB次元官网网址檛 ever let you forget that it is in conversation with the animated film, devoted to hitting the familiar beats of its predecessor instead of telling its own story. Every time you hear the notes from B次元官网网址淩eflection,B次元官网网址� which is only sung in the credits, you are torn out of CaroB次元官网网址檚 sumptuous spectacle and once again thinking about the 1998 version and its songs.

B次元官网网址淢ulanB次元官网网址� has so much going for it, including a roster of amazing Chinese and Chinese-American actors including Jet Li, as the Emperor, Tzi Ma, as MulanB次元官网网址檚 father, Rosalind Chao as Li, Donnie Yen as Commander Tung and Jason Scott Lee as the big bad villain Bori Khan. It also decides to introduce a female witch villain played by Li Gong, which doesnB次元官网网址檛 quite work and distracts from MulanB次元官网网址檚 own journey.

There is more good than bad in B次元官网网址淢ulan,B次元官网网址� and we should be so lucky to get a gorgeous and inspiring war epic that is suitable for children to watch. B次元官网网址淢ulanB次元官网网址� might even inspire some kids to dip their toes into all that Asian cinema has to offer, which would be the best possible outcome. But something has to give in this blind fealty to the animated films, because itB次元官网网址檚 getting in the way of greatness.

B次元官网网址淢ulan,B次元官网网址� a Disney+ release, is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America for B次元官网网址渟equences of violence.B次元官网网址� Running time: 115 minutes. Two and a half stars out of four.

Lindsey Bahr, The Associated Press

Like us on and follow us on .

Want to support local journalism? Make a donation