MovieChat Forums > Mulan (2020) Discussion > WHY Mulan is a bad movie

WHY Mulan is a bad movie

posted 4 years ago by kukuxu (5409)
18 replies | jump to latest

Quite a good analysis about why Mulan is a bad movie

Mulan: The Ultimate Mary Sue
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CJuFasu6Ao

In a nutshell: they have told the story of Mulan as it was a Marvel superhero movie... which screws the whole story. Mulan is not self-sacrificing herself for her father anymore, she happens to be a fucking superhero that wanted to be a superhero-warrior and can fulfill her dream using her father's place. She's not struggling anymore since she's the fucking superhero from the very beginning, screw the character's arc. There's no team story anymore, since the whole army squad become powerless spectators in Mulan's superhero battles whose only function is to clap and praise at the end.

The story of Mulan just doesn't work as a superhero story. But it seems that nobody was able to realize that in Disney before spending $300 millions. Or perhaps they realized it, but nobody dared to point it out, since that would be heresy against the holy female empowerment commandments and pointing out the problems in the movie could have meant being fired.

[–] AmeriGirl26 (15100) 4 years ago

I'll stick with the cartoon, thanks.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

It is hard to capture the right blend to make a truly memorable movie. (Look at how many attempts fail). The original Mulan had the perfect balance. It would be hard for the live action to capture that again.

[–] AmeriGirl26 (15100) 4 years ago

No it wouldn't. The trouble is, Disney and Hollywood in general have shitty writers. They did it right a few times, and then threw out the formula in favor of a quick cash grab.

[–] Wint3rFir3 (7370) 4 years ago

I wouldn't classify her as a Mary Sue, though she is problematic in many ways. But even if she is, that's not where she failed for me. My main problem with Mulan is that she has no personality, no strong motivation, no goals (none she expresses anyway), no desires, no inner turmoil. She's barely a character. Is her dream to be a superhero-warrior? How can you tell what her dream is? It's not by watching this movie, that's for sure.

Superman could be called a Mary Sue, but at least I know something about who Superman is and why he does what he does. I can't say that about Mulan, which is why I can't give a damn whenever she's on screen - so pretty much the whole time.

[–] kukuxu (5409) 4 years ago

Superman is definitely a Mary Sue. But that's not a big problem since you have Clark Kent, who is shy and clumsy. Actually, the best parts of Superman are the Clark Kent ones.

It's hard for Mulan 2020 to have any motivation. The motivation in the original story was clear: she wanted to keep her father safe. But in this movie the father wouldn't be really forced to go to war, since useless soldiers are expelled. So he's not at risk. Perhaps she wants to be Captain Marv... Mulan. Does she? They still followed the old story, so what the hell is she doing? Why is she doing it?

It's like they wanted everything, and they mixed ingredients that don't blend together. Hey, we like pasta, and desserts, and snacks, so let's make spaghetti with tiramisu and crackers!

[–] Wint3rFir3 (7370) 4 years ago

At least Captain Marvel had purpose and drive. In fact, rebelling against authority in order to uncover the truth about her past makes Carol the opposite of Mulan, who has every reason to rebel but doesn't because...um...duty...honour...or something. But there's really no basis for or reason behind anything Mulan does.

I wish this movie was like everything - because then it might have been interesting. Instead, it actually feels more like they cooked pasta and then served the water the pasta was cooked in as a meal and threw the pasta away. It's just bland and confusing.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

Superman is the protagonist of his story, so not a Mary Sue.
A Mary Sue is a character who is shoehorned into an existing media franchise and upstages the established characters in really implausible ways, usually acting as a wish-fulfillment proxy for the the writer.

[–] Wint3rFir3 (7370) 4 years ago

How is she shoehorned into a film called Mulan? Also, I don't think she fits completely into the Mary Sue mould. She isn't perfect at everything. She's exceptional at one thing, which she trained to do since childhood. Otherwise, she would have been matched early on in the film because she would be a perfect bride. Also, she doesn't fight alone - she is only able to reach the emperor because of help from other characters and is spared from death because of help. Superman is much more of a Mary Sue than Mulan.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

Mulan isn't a Mary Sue either. Everybody is using the term incorrectly these days.

[–] Wint3rFir3 (7370) 4 years ago

From your response, I assumed you were saying Superman is not a Mary Sue, but Mulan is. I apologize. I think Superman could be considered a Mary Sue given the multiple definitions of the word, but if you don't agree, I respect that.

[–] Moonglum9 (11336) 4 years ago

The reason it is such a bad movie is because of how unrealistic it is portraying China at the time. No black people? No transgenders or non-binaries? No gay couples? You couldn't walk 10 feet in China in those days without bumping into one of those. Jerks!

[–] actionkamen (23176) 4 years ago

Um... Mulan was a transgender, I guess.

[–] kukuxu (5409) 4 years ago

Mulan was a cross-dresser. It's different.

[–] PaladinNJ (21771) 4 years ago

[deleted]

[–] movienchill31 (225) 4 years ago

They lost me when they decided to get rid of the Mushu and Shang characters! I had no desire to watch this especially after the atrocious job they did with the live action Lion King. The only live action Disney movie I liked so far is Aladdin!

Yeah I'll stick to the cartoon!!!

[–] pioneergrrrl (2412) 4 years ago

....uh yeah bc China is full of talking dragons and crickets??

I thought Beauty and the Beast was a horrible transfer myself.

[–] movienchill31 (225) 4 years ago

No because the original was just a better movie to me. I don’t want to see Mulan without Crickee or Mushu or Shang

[–] kukuxu (5409) 4 years ago

One chick made a very popular analysis about everything culturally wrong with Mulan 2020 (from the point of view of historical and cultural accuracy).

She felt obligated to make a similar video about Mulan 1998. Here it is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SHC7CnmErM

In a nutshell: the 1998 movie was a cartoon and never pretended to be accurate. Unless Mulan 2020, that movie had a heart. But what's more surprising: all those things considered, the 1998 movie ended up being more accurate than the modern one. Not very accurate, of course (there's talking dragons), but actually more accurate than the 2020's one. Go figure.