Mulan (1998) [VHS]
by Barry Cook, Tony Bancroft
![Mulan (1998) [VHS]](/images/Mulan-1998-VHS-6305728437-L.jpg)
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VHS Tape Cover Information
Actor: B.D. Wong, Eddie Murphy, Harvey Fierstein, Miguel Ferrer, Ming-NaDirector: Barry Cook, Tony Bancroft
Writer: Alan Ormsby
Writer: Anonymous
Writer: Barry Johnson
Writer: Burny Mattinson
Writer: Chris Sanders
Writer: Chris Williams
Edition: VHS Tape
Audio: English (Original Language), Analog
Format: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC, Original recording reissued
Running Time: 88 minutes
Release Date: 2000-02-01
Audience Rating: G (General Audience)
Publisher: Walt Disney Video
Studio: Walt Disney Video
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VHS Movie Reviews of Mulan (1998) [VHS]
Movie Review: Who she is inside
Summary: 4 Stars
Based upon traditional Chinese folklore (try this take on it for a solid introduction by a noted reteller Fa Mulan: The Story of a Woman Warrior), these two movies tell the story of Fa Mulan (Ming-Na Wen), a young girl living in China in the 3rd Century BC. In the first of the two movies we learn that, as the only child of a considerable landowner, Fa Zhou (Soon-Tek Oh), who was lamed in war some years earlier, Mulan has, somewhat of necessity, grown up something of a tomboy, dressing in trousers, working in the fields, and riding her horse Khan astride; but she's found over the years that she enjoys this kind of life--the prospect of "meeting our Matchmaker (Miriam Margolyes)" terrifies her, and the process of getting "primped and polished" so that "boys will gladly go to war for [her]" seems rather stupid. But in her culture, women are at best second-class citizens, and "a girl can bring her family/Great honor...by striking a good match." Then the Huns break through the Great Wall, and the Emperor (Pat Morita) issues a conscription order across the length and breadth of his domain. To spare her father having to go to war, Mulan cuts off her hair, dresses in her father's old armor, and, accompanied by Khan, a lucky cricket given her by her mother, and a disgraced family guardian (a miniature dragon called Mushu (Eddie Murphy)), joins a company of recruits commanded by Captain Shan-Yu (Miguel Ferrer), the eager-to-prove-himself son of General Li (James Shigeta). At first she finds posing as a boy difficult, but before too long she proves her courage, dedication, patriotism, and ability to think quickly and use her body skilfully, and even earns the comradeship of three of the misfit recruits, diminutive squint-eyed Yao (Harvey Fierstein), jokey Ling (Gedde Watanabe), and gentle giant Chien-Po (Jerry Tondo). She saves Shan-Yu's life in the mountains, delays the Huns by causing an avalanche, is found out and disgraced, and then redeems herself when she discovers that the Huns have survived and infiltrated the Imperial City itself, and comes up with a plan to stop them.
In the second movie, Mulan, now recognized as the Hero of China, has agreed to marry Shan-Yu, but before the wedding can take place, the duo are summoned by the Emperor to carry out a mission for him. The ruler of the neighboring realm of Qi Gong has agreed to help the Chinese against the still-threatening Huns if the Emperor will send three of his daughters to marry three Qi Gong princes, and as the road goes through bandit country, a stout escort is needed. Calling up Mulan's three friends, Yao, Ling, and Chien-Po, to help out, Mulan and Shan-Yu set out to deliver the princesses, Mei (Lucy Liu), Ting Ting (Sandra Oh), and Su (Lauren Tom). But there are complications. Mushu has discovered that if Mulan marries Shan-Yu, his family's guardians will take over her protection and Mushu himself will be demoted, so he's resolved to set the two against each other. And the three misfit soldiers, who had hoped that their heroism would win them wives, have discovered that finding willing girls isn't so easy--until they meet the princesses and a triple mutual attraction blooms.
Mulan is a character many girls will identify with, even in today's more liberated climate, and her struggle to balance her society's expectations with who she feels she really is carries relevant messages for adults too. Though Murphy as Mushu is slightly over the top, the other voice talents are well done, and there's plenty of fast-paced high-octane action, peril, and people doing physical things gracefully and well. (And, yes, the Huns, though they were the ancestors of today's Hungarians and ultimately went west, did in fact imperil China during this time period.) Admittedly the second movie is vaguely disappointing (at least to me), but it has its good points, and on balance the set is well worth adding to your collection.
Summary of Mulan (1998) [VHS]
tm89 Ships Within 24 Hours - Satisfaction Guaranteed!Solid entertainment from a new group of Disney animators. The story source is a Chinese fable about a young girl who disguises herself as a man to help her family and her country. When the Huns attack China, a call to arms goes out to every village, and Mulan's father, being the only man in the family, accepts the call. Mulan (voiced by Ming-Na Wen, sung by Lea Salonga) has just made a disastrous appearance at the Matchmaker and decides to challenge society's expectations (being a bride). She steals her father's conscription notice, cuts her hair, and impersonates a man to join the army. She goes to boot camp, learning to fit in with the other soldiers with some help from her sidekick, Mushu, a wise-cracking dragon (voiced by Eddie Murphy). She trains, and soon faces the Huns eye-to-eye to protect her Emperor.
The film is gorgeous to look at, with a superior blend of classic and computer-generated animation. Directors Tony Bancroft and Barry Cook make the best of it: a battle in the snowy mountains is as thrilling as the best Hollywood action films. The menacing Huns are not cute but simple and bad. The wickedness is subtle, not disturbing. The film is not a full-fledged musical, as it has only five songs (the best, "Be a Man," is sung during boot camp). Eddie Murphy is an inspired choice for the comic-relief dragon, but his lines are not as clever as Robin Williams's in Aladdin. These are minor quibbles, though. The story is strong, and Mulan goes right to the top of Disney animated heroines; she has the right stuff. --Doug Thomas
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