Mulan (2020) - Worth the Watch? Special Father's Day Edition

Introduction

I thoroughly enjoy writing reviews of martial arts films. I have watched these films since I was a child and have no plan to stop. I watch martial arts films by myself and, when I can convince them, with my family. I particularly love the over the top drama and action sequences of wuxia, which is probably related to my childhood exposure of wuxia on Saturday morning TV. My children are teenagers, and as you can imagine, do not always share my tastes.

This film review is special to me because it blends wuxia and my children. This is a special Father’s Day film review, co-authored by children. I hope you, the reader, enjoy our review of Disney’s live action Mulan (2020).

Summary

Disney’s Mulan (2020) reimagines the legendary Chinese heroine through a grounded, wuxia-inspired lens. When the Emperor of China conscripts one man from each household to join the army, Hua Mulan secretly takes her ailing father’s place, disguising herself as a man. Trained in martial arts from childhood, Mulan uses her discipline, agility, and inner strength to rise through the ranks and ultimately confront a powerful sorceress and an invading army. The film departs from its animated predecessor by omitting musical numbers and comedic sidekicks, instead emphasizing honor, family, and identity. Martial arts play a central role, blending traditional Chinese swordplay with high-flying action choreographed in the wuxia tradition. Liu Yifei delivers a physically demanding performance, supported by a cast of martial arts veterans including Donnie Yen, Jet Li, and Ron Yuan. Mulan aims to honor both Chinese folklore and modern cinematic spectacle through sweeping visuals and intricately staged combat.

Analysis

Pros

The pros of this film are written by me, Gary, the father. For me, the best part of this film are the martial arts. When I saw Mulan swing the sword and form sword fingers with her other hand, I was hooked! The martial arts in Mulan (2020) are not, however, merely decorative. They are essential to the film’s narrative and emotional core. Director Niki Caro draws from the wuxia tradition, infusing the fight choreography with stylized grace, vertical motion, and symbolic power. Liu Yifei, who stars as Mulan, trained extensively in martial arts and performed many of her own stunts. She displays a blend of Tai Chi, swordplay, and acrobatic wirework. The battle scenes, especially Mulan’s duel with Böri Khan and her earlier training montage, highlight the internal transformation that parallels her physical mastery. Veteran martial artists Donnie Yen, Jet Li, and Ron Yuan lend authenticity and gravitas to their roles. A movie with any one of these actors would be worth watching – a film with all three is required watching! Rather than relying on brute force, the film emphasizes agility, spirit, and chi—positioning martial arts as an extension of personal truth and ancestral duty.

Cons

The critiques of this film are written by my children, Tomás and Miranda. While they have martial artist training and are familiar with the actors in this film, they are of younger generation more familiar with Disney than Chinese cinema. Their critiques also reflect many of the reviews I have read online regarding the this live action version.

The greatest issue with Disney’s live-action Mulan (2020) is that it’s incapable of escaping the shadow of the animated Mulan (1998). The movie on its own isn’t bad; the plot occasionally wanders, but that’s okay. Its biggest flaw is that it attempted to follow one of the most beloved animated Disney films. And it attempted to do so while essentially gutting everything memorable about the first movie. The songs, Captain Li Shang, Mushu, and even most of the core plot are removed from the live-action. It’s difficult to call it a remake when the movies share so few similarities. People went in expecting a fun, if commercialized, remake of one of their favorite movies, and instead received a mediocre action film set in China with a character named Mulan. I would argue that disappointment is the worst aspect of it all.

Disney ruined one of the beloved movies about Mulan by making it into a live action film. Many things ruined the movies from removing one of the best soundtracks to removing scenes that made the cartoon amazing. The main issue with the live action Mulan is the fact they didn’t include the scene where Mulan grabbed the arrow from the top of the mast. This scene was very important because it shows that even though she was a woman, she could still be with everyone else. This scene also shows the discipline and hard work, which is how everyone views this character, so it makes no sense to remove it. In conclusion, Disney should have left the loved movie of Mulan alone and not have made the live action.

Conclusion

As I write this review with my children, I reflect on the film’s portrayal of wude and Mulan’s father’s love for his daughter. He loves his daughter unconditionally, and yet he almost loses her to war. I am grateful that I am not in that position and have the opportunity to spend time with my children, even if we do disagree on this film’s merits. Perhaps someone watching the live-action Mulan (2020) needs to approach the film with an open mind. The martial arts are solid, and the actors are superb. Is Mulan (2020) worth the watch? Despite what my children say, I say yes.