My Expectations For The Disney Live Action Mulan - 花木蘭

Mulan (花木蘭) is set to be released on September 4th on Disney+. I do not know how it will be released in the rest of the world. The movie is based on an folklore character from Zhong Guo.

The movie was originally set for release in March, but the Covid-19 pandemic set it back to July. But US recovery has been slower than the rest of the world and it was push back to August. Eventually, it was taken off the release cycle completely. About a week or so ago, Disney decided to release it through its Disney+ platform for a fee.

If you've had any time to go through my blog post through the years, I watch a lot of stuff from Taiwan and Zhong Guo. Recently, the stuff out of Zhong Guo has had some stand outs. In any given year, I am watching 10-20 movies and/or dramas out of Taiwan or Zhong Guo. I particularly love watching all the Jin Yong (Louis Cha) remakes through the years. I get to keep in touch with my heritage along with trying to keep my Mandarin language skills sharper.

When I watch the Mulan trailers, I am particularly disappointed. Because it feels like it did not come out of Zhong Guo. Just goto your Netflix and bring up trailers for God of War (movie), Eternal Love (drama), or Double World (movie). All three "ancient" series have a distinct feel. Mulan does not have that feel. If anything, it makes me feel like it is an offshoot of The Forbidden Kingdom (功夫之王). A movie made with an Asian cast, but does not feel like it would have come out of Asia.

I will be watching this movie to support it, because it does have an Asian cast. I do not think it helps with diversity much in Hollywood because the setting is not in the US. And it uses all the "Asian" stereotypes in the trailer. I don't know about you, I haven't seen "honor" show up in any of the stuff I watch from Taiwan and Zhong Guo recently. And I spend 75% or more of time watching Mandarin language stuff since quarantine started.

I will support Mulan, but I don't expect it to be very good. Maybe it will surprise me. I hope so because I watch movies to to entertain me, not to depress me.

Mulan - 花木蘭

Mulan (花木蘭) is a 2009 film out of China. The movie stars Vicky Zhao, Aloys Chen, and Jaychee Chan.

The story follows Mulan, who's spent her childhood learning martial arts from her fathers' soldier friends. Also from Mulan's village is Shiao Hu or Xiao Hu (translated to "little tiger"). When Rouran starts their descent into the middle kingdom, Mulan's villages' men are called to service, including her father, who's in bad health. Mulan instead goes in his place. Once there, Mulan befriends a high ranking offical, Wentai. Wentai eventually becomes Mulan's most trusted ally in both battle and out of battle. Both Wentai and Mulan rise through the ranks and become generals. However, Mulan quickly grows tired of the violence and starts to withdrawl and abandon her responsibilities. Wentai and Mulan have now developed feelings for each other, but it has caused tragedy to befall the rest of the army. Wentai fakes his death to get Mulan out of this situation. Eventually Mulan wakes up and starts being a strong General again. During their twelfth year of service, Mulan gets to go home. But there's a twist with Wentai. Of course.

The movie was extremely boring and I had a tough time watching it. Mulan in a nervous breakdown? Wentai and Mulan, a forbidden love? Man, I got through it though I am not better for it.

Heralded as a blockbuster, it was a major disappointment to me. Vicki Zhao continues to get work. It's about time to let some new blood into the mix and I don't mean Zhou Xun either. Wentai and Mulan was just the same couple from Painted Skin.

I picked up a rather crappy copy from my local renter. I should have asked him if the quality was any good. It wasn't and the subtitles were not removable. You know what that means...:)

One of the major differences between this installment and the Disney one is time. Rouran are from the 6th century. Mogols in the Disney film are from the 14th century. Also, there's no talking dragon. I was waiting and waiting, but none appeared.

End of 2009 - Movies to look out for

2009 has been a very good year for movies. If you look at the 2009 Golden Horse movies, it tends to be on the artsy side of things.

However, for most people with little time and a selective attention span (ahem...ADD), we like the "blockbuster" type films during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.

Here are movies that are being release in Asia during the last weeks of 2009. I won't be catching these films until 2010 myself.

Wheat (麥田/長平大戰之麥田)


Vengeance (復仇)


The Treasure Hunter (刺陵)


The Storm Warriors (風雲2)


Mulan (花木蘭)



Jump (跳出去)


Bodyguards and Assassins (十月圍城)