In this series, Lauren will rewatch Disney movies from her childhood to see what sort of trauma she can drudge up.
TODAY’S FILM: Mulan – 1998 – Rated G
WHAT I REMEMBER: I loved this movie. I STILL love this movie. To be honest, I’ve definitely watched it a few times in the last few years. The story is phenomenal. And of course, Mushu is hilarious.
As far as memories from watching it as a child, I don’t have many. Or any, I guess I should say. I remember loving it, and I remember watching it a lot and wishing that I could do any of the athletic feats that they did in the film. I also remember so many things in the movie seeming extremely satisfying: the way the lipstick and eyeliner went on, the amount of bubbles/later in the tub, the cutting of her hair with the sword… loved all of it.
THE PLOT, AS I REMEMBER IT: Mulan is a misfit in her culture; clumsy, has her head in the clouds, doesn’t care much for appearances, but wants to make her family proud. Sadly, she feels like she fails to do so. Mulan’s elderly father is drafted, which is certain death for him. Mulan goes in his place in disguise, taking with her a cricket for luck (he’s not lucky at all, in fact causes several problems for Mulan), a tiny dragon named Mushu that was delivered by her ancestors, and a loyal horse. Mulan is underestimated, eventually rising up, becoming a great soldier. She’s found to be a woman, then shunned, then ultimately comes back and saves the say, marrying the general who thought she was a dude.
AS I’M WATCHING: I forgot about the dog! The dog’s name is Little Brother. That is hilarious. I had also forgotten that Mushu had previously disgraced the family by failing to protect one of the ancestors from being beheaded, leading to his demotion to gong-ringer. The eyeliner, bubbles and hair cutting were all as satisfying as I remembered. Lea Solanga strikes again as the beautiful voice of Mulan, and I always laugh when I remember that Donny Osmond was the voice of the general. Certainly wouldn’t fly these days, but fun to picture him in the studio belting out this tune.
This movie also has one of my favorite stills of all time:
FINAL THOUGHTS: This is the first movie that made me feel like women could be badasses. No damsel in distress, no magic, no spells, just a lady kicking ass to protect her family. By initially disgracing them by not being feminine enough. And then nearly getting killed for being a woman.
Thank god nothing like that happens these days, amiright?
Ladies?
OVERALL RATING: 10/10