From The Lion King to The Jungle Book , most of Disney’s recent live-action reworkings of its classic animations have required lashings of digital trickery. So Niki Caro’s Mulan is something of a treat, with the emphasis on “live” – real actors, real locations. Bringing the legendary Chinese folklore tale The Ballad of Mulan to life, 22 years after Disney’s song-filled animation of the same name, Caro’s take is one of the most beautiful films you’ll see all year.
That some viewers will only get to see Mulan on their television screens is a crying shame. The coronavirus pandemic has led Disney to place the film on its new streaming channel Disney+ in territories where it’s available. Audiences in Hong Kong and mainland China, however, will get to see the film on the big screen – which is exactly where it belongs.
The film was shot in China and New Zealand, with Caro and her cinematographer Mandy Walker clearly relishing the stunning vistas. Painted in bright primary colours, mountains, clifftops and bamboo forests are all exquisitely framed; likewise, aerial shots of battles will leave you breathless. Despite some inevitable CGI, the film avoids being too cartoonlike, apart from one scene where Mulan (Liu Yifei) acrobatically catches some flying tea cups.
Scripted by four writers – including Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver (who both wrote for Jurassic World ) – the plot begins as “northern invaders” storm China. The Emperor (Jet Li Lianjie) decrees that one man from every family must fight, but Mulan’s ailing father (Tzi Ma) is too weak. With barely a thought, Mulan disguises herself as a male, amusingly deepens her voice, and leaves home to join the fifth battalion.
Here she will meet Commander Tung (Donnie Yen Ji-dan) and fellow recruit Chen Honghui (Yoson An), two characters based on Li Shang from the 1998 cartoon. “We’re going to make a man out of every single one of you,” promises the commander, though Mulan knows she’s destined to bring shame on her family (and worse) if she’s exposed for her gender deception.
Jet Li in a scene from Mulan. Photo: AP
Jason Scott Lee (left) plays the villainous Bori Khan in Mulan. Photo: TNS
A fabulous Gong Li also features as a witchlike character of “no country, no village, no family”, who comes into Mulan’s orbit.
Caro constructs some splendid action – not least Mulan somersaulting on a moving horse to deflect a spear. While the dialogue is in English, the prominent Chinese cast feels apt in this respectfully told version of the story. True, it’s glossy in that Disney way, but this Mulan is a thing of beauty.
Liu Yifei in a scene from Mulan. Photo: AP
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