I remember when I watched the 1998 “Mulan” movie for the first time. It was easy to be charmed by its simple yet playful animation style combined with an iconic soundtrack and unforgettable characters. The references to Chinese culture in the film were a bonus, as I am Chinese myself. So, naturally, when I heard that Disney was releasing a live-action version of the movie this year, I was ecstatic.
And I wasn’t alone. Many of my friends and family have been anticipating its release ever since it was announced as early as 2015. However, the hype surrounding the upcoming movie quickly turned sour. The movie’s Google profile boasts an alarming 2.7-star review and $43.8 million box office, contrary to the expectations of a popular Disney remake. What happened?
“The credits also revealed another skeleton in the closet, an overwhelmingly white crew, the lack of diversity behind the camera is a serious and recurring issue”
There was skepticism about the film from the beginning. Disney has a history of making culturally inaccurate movies, and many speculated that “Mulan” was going to fall under the same pattern. Once the movie premiered, those doubts became a reality. Critics have been quick to point out details about scenes that were confusing and cringeworthy for Chinese audiences. After having watched quite a few Chinese historical dramas, I was taken aback when a soldier cut off the chancellor and the emperor during a discussion, as no one ever interrupts the emperor.
In addition to its cultural flaws, an incident in August 2019 sparked outrage across the Internet. Liu Yifei, the actress who played Mulan, was posted on a Chinese newspaper influenced by the Chinese Communist Party. The words were translated into: “I support the Hong Kong police. You guys can beat me up now.” People immediately criticized Yifei for supporting the Hong Kong police brutality. Soon enough, #BoycottMulan rose as an internationally trending hashtag on Twitter.
Media outlets have called out “Mulan” for its controversial filming location in Xinjiang, China, where the government is accused of holding over a million Uyghur Muslims in prison camps. To add fuel to the fire, the ending credits include a message that thanks the Xinjiang government agency involved in the camps for helping with the filming process. Watching would be equivalent to turning a blind eye to human rights abuse.
The credits also revealed another skeleton in the closet: an overwhelmingly white crew. The lack of diversity behind the camera is a serious and recurring issue. The movie is supposed to celebrate culture, yet Asian actors have no control over how they are told or depicted. For example, while a white costume designer travelled to China to educate herself on the culture before working on pieces, Disney could have hired a Chinese costume designer who already identified with the culture.
Nonetheless, even with all of these arguments, some say that the controversies surrounding a movie should not affect the quality of the movie itself. After all, “Mulan” has been a costly Disney project with a budget of $200 million. With all of its special effects, battle sequences and renowned actors like Donnie Yen and Jet Li, the film must be thrilling to watch. Unfortunately, that is not the case.
Although the cinematography is impressive, there were many alterations to the original plot that made the film lose its shine. One example would be the new villain, Xian Lang, who is an ostracized “witch,” a Western term that does not fit Chinese beliefs. Instead, those with magical powers would be highly respected.
The message behind “Mulan” has become nonexistent. In this version of the story, Mulan has been gifted with a lot of Qi, a powerful and vital life force in Chinese philosophy. This new addition sounds a lot like any other superhero story, where the main character must find themselves and have the courage to unleash their full power they have kept hidden inside themselves. Meanwhile, in the original movie, she had to train hard for her skills in order to prove herself. The movie is essentially telling young boys and girls that the only way to be successful is to be born with special privileges and gifts.
“Mulan” is the definition of a box office bomb. After the closure of its theme parks as a result of COVID-19 regulations, Disney had high hopes for the film to make up for the loss of income. Yet, poor choices only perpetuated its downfall. From its controversies to its pitiful attempts to recapture the spirit of the beloved legend, the movie’s neglect by the public is unsurprising.
