Finally the Mulan live action teaser trailer is here! I’m excited for the story but also concerned about some other scenes from this film.
As always with Disney’s recent live action remakes, I’m hearing some mixed responses. Including myself, I have mixed feelings about this teaser trailer.
First the good things I noticed.
I did get chills. I love that this feels culturally accurate and the scenery and location looks authentic. The set design and costumes feel like this will be a cool realistic story telling narrative.
Now the questionable.
Where is Mushu? He was such a huge part of Mulan’s story. Mushu represented the ancestor’s assistance. He gave a bumbling and fumbling Mulan courage and advice when she almost backed out of joining the army. And he’s the reason she had enough fire to light the last canon at the Huns!
I get it if Disney wants to make this more serious and less hokey with fictional animals aiding Mulan’s journey. I can accept that. But Mulan is supposed to be awkward and young and clearly inexperienced in battle. From what I’ve gleaned, she looks like she’s fresh from Wonder Woman’s island of Amazonian warriors ready for battle. Not cool. Where’s the growth? The whole point is that she becomes this stellar fighter through hard work. And it feels so sweet because we see how badly she struggles to fit in socially and physically among the men in the army camp.
And an even BIGGER problem…WHY THE HELL DOES SHE HAVE LONG HAIR! The moment Mulan chops off her hair with a sword in the animation is the moment all girls watching go, “Oh snap. There’s no turning back now. She’s committed.” For as much as we might bash our hair type, chopping it all off to look like a boy is no joke. Females can resonate with the amount of courage it takes to lop off your hair. So when I see Mulan doing backflips and fighting men with a long head of gorgeous hair, I’m pissed! It should be short and choppy and messy! It adds to the “I don’t know what I’m doing, but I’m here because I want my father to have a chance to live.”
I dearly hope that this scene is was not cut from the live action. I can handle if she’s been in battle for so long that it grows out. But honestly Disney, she needs to chop off her beautiful locks.
For more Disney trailers, let me know your thoughts on the Maleficent: Mistress of Evil trailer.
