Mulan

Mulan is the ultimate heroine who saves the day. The film is based on the legend of Hua Mulan from an old Chinese poem known as the Ballad of Mulan. The artistic directors were sent to China to receive artistic and cultural inspiration and this really shows in the stunning visual effects in the film.

Audiences immediately took Mulan to their hearts, she is a beautiful but capable heroine and with the dramatic locations the film is one of the best. Mushu the dragon, voiced by Eddie Murphy is a particular highlight. The evil Hun leader had a mixed reception; he is simply portrayed as cruel and vicious. Some viewers felt this made him a little flat however. Some found that this made him more real as he was just a man doing some of the very bad things that men do.

Mulan as a heroine is on a whole new level for Disney, not only is she headstrong and independent but she is capable of using her mind when she repeatedly defeats the Huns with clever tricks instead of brute force which the Chinese army is lacking.

Mulan impersonates a man and takes her father's place during a general conscription to counter the Hun invasion. Along with her guardian dragon Mushu (Eddie Murphy) and a lucky cricket, Cri-kee, she battles the attacking Hun army.

Cinema release 1998

Certificate U

Available on DVD and Blue Ray