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Mulan/Mulan II: Special Edition
[Blu-ray]
Blu-ray ALL - America - Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Review written by and copyright: Anthony Arrigo (7th September 2014). |
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The Film
 Disney’s Second Renaissance – from 1989-1999, the period during which their animated films were once again (mostly) commercial and critical successes – is often credited as getting the Mouse House back on top of the animated world. This was before Pixar entered the fray and definitively sucked nearly all the air out of the room, thus cementing Disney’s continued powerhouse status. But back before this series of successes, things were looking dire. Well, as dire as they can for such a global multimedia empire. Looking back now, although most of the films were a success in one regard or another it’s hard to call all of them outright classics. Nobody remembers, say, “Pocahontas” (1995) as fondly as “The Lion King” (1994). Still, “The Rescuers Down Under” (1990) aside every single film released during that ten-year span managed to earn over $100 million (“Hercules” (1997) barely missed that mark by under $1 million), with a few earning well above that figure. “Mulan” (1998) is a middle-of-the-pack Disney effort. By no means a poor production, certain elements of the picture just don’t click like you’d expect from Disney since they’ve got this sort of thing down to a science. The voice acting is average, with only Eddie Murphy being a household name most folks will recognize. Ironically, the songs – usually the greatest strength of any Disney picture - are a big part of the film’s downfall; mildly catchy but ultimately forgettable in every way, they simply lack the strong compositions and lyrics of other Disney films. The usual life lessons and emotional gauntlets are part of the story, which is rich with real-world authenticity, but it lacks in memorable supporting characters and an overall engaging story. Personally, I have a funny history with the film. During its release, I was working at a local movie theater. This was back in the days before ushers had to look like they were really working. My job was almost exclusively walking into theaters to watch movies, with minimal effort put in elsewhere. Sometimes another employee and I would duck into a theater just to get away and talk for a bit. Anyway, long story short I had seen “Mulan” probably a dozen times or more, in small chunks, during its entire run. Watching this review title, I was amazed at how much of the story and songs I knew despite never actively sitting down to watch it. Kinda funny. Mulan (Ming-Na Wen) is a young girl with no romantic life of which to speak. Her parents try to set her up with a matchmaker, but the meeting ends poorly. Right now, she just isn’t ready to settle down. One day, an emissary of the emperor arrives in town to conscript one male from each family into service. The Huns have been attacking towns and villages in the country, and more men are needed to secure the emperor’s lands. Fa Zhou (Soon-Tek Oh) accepts that it is his duty to go, despite walking with a limp due to an injury he sustained in service many years ago. Mulan is upset; she knows her father is old and unable to survive a war. Without much of a second thought, she puts up her hair, dresses like a male and absconds with his conscription notice to take his place. So that she is protected, Fa Zhou prays to the family’s ancestors to watch over her. In response, they send Mushu (Eddie Murphy), a diminutive dragon with a big mouth. On the front lines, Mulan – masquerading as Ping - learns to fight just as well as the men in her camp, earning respect and making friends with an eclectic trio: Yao (Harvey Fierstein), Ling (Gedde Watanabe) and Chien-Po (Jerry Tondo). She also begins to harbor feelings for Li Shang (BD Wong), the hunky son of the general. Mushu wants to see Mulan show off her skills in battle, so he drafts up a fake order to get her unit sent to the front lines. There, they find General Li and his men wiped out. They also find the Huns, who are itching to slaughter another army of soldiers. Thinking fast, Mulan steps in with an ingenious idea and saves the day, but she is wounded in the process. A doctor stitches her up but it’s too late; her secret is out. She is forced out of the army, but the Huns, led by the ruthless Shan Yu (Miguel Ferrer) are still out there. Out of a sense of duty and obligation, Mulan and Mushu head to the capital to warn the Emperor (Pat Morita) and, naturally, save the day. It’s amazing the script is presented so coherently, considering there are five credited writers and one person credited for the story. This is a case where many cooks in the kitchen managed to deliver something mostly well-written, even if it is underwhelming. The biggest fault with “Mulan” is that it never quite finds the right balance between grave seriousness and childish humor. The tale of “Mulan” is an ages-old Chinese legend, something greatly respected in their culture. Disney had the unenviable task of making an animated film that draws from a well of honor and bravery while also ensuring it was easily digestible to their target audience: kids. As a result there’s an incongruous blend of warfare and wacky antics. Make no mistake this is a watershed film for Disney for a number of reasons, chief among them the subject war and featuring an Asian female as the lead. There’s also very little in the way of stereotyping, something earlier Disney cartoons have been lambasted for. One thing is for certain, “Mulan” is light years ahead of “Mulan II” (2004). Coming six years after the first film – and going direct to video – this follow-up nobody but your whiny kids asked for is lesser in nearly every aspect, save for the voice cast. Everybody from the first film returns, aside from Murphy, and the film does benefit greatly from using the same voices. Mark Moseley takes over for Murphy as Mushu, though only adults who know Murphy’s voice all-too-well will notice. Moseley sounds nearly identical. Cast aside, the story is weaker, the humor isn’t as funny, the animation isn’t as strong and the songs are forgettable. Set some months after the first film, Shang and Mulan are living together, intent on getting married. When Mushu learns that their union will mean his rule as a family guardian comes to an end, he does whatever possible to keep them from shacking up just yet. Meanwhile, the Emperor has asked Mulan and Shang to escort his three daughters across China, where they will be married in a joining of two kingdoms. Their marriages will mean peace and safety from the Huns. They set off with Yao, Ling and Chien-Po in tow, but not long after the three princesses decide they’re in love with the three friends. Mulan, not one for arranged marriages, agrees with their decision. Still, they must continue their journey to the Qui Gong kingdom, and the trip won’t be easy with Huns on their path. “Mulan II” came during a period of lacking focus, when Disney was churning out DTV sequels to some of their most popular properties. This only served to dilute their brand and the films they were drawing from, rather than enhancing their robust catalog. An end was put to the needless sequel practice not long after this film, thankfully. All of the prestige and theatricality of “Mulan” was gone with this sequel. This exists as an empty vessel so that our characters can be seen by kids again; that’s it. There was a certain dignity that came with the first film, a sense of gravitas. “Mulan II” exists for no other reason than to help Disney bolster its home video division. Kids will no doubt be entertained enough to watch it impunity, but adults will find little to latch onto here. “Mulan” film rating: B- “Mulan II” film rating: C-
Video
Disney has never been one to slouch in the home video department – when it comes to their top titles, at least – “Mulan” being no exception. The 1.66:1 1080p 24/fps AVC MPEG-4 encode is pristine, nearly flawless in every regard. Colors are vivid and accurate, leaping off the screen with vibrancy. Contrast is superb, easily handling both light and dark sequences. Black levels in particular look very rich and deep. Line work is crisp and steady, too. There is a very fine layer of grain laid over the picture, giving it a cinematic appearance. “Mulan II” isn’t quite as impressive, though this is mostly because of the source. The film wasn’t created for theatrical exhibition, so the quality is lesser for the DTV market. There isn’t as much detail in the image, the animation looks “cheaper” (read: done faster); it’s not unlike a TV cartoon only with a bit more polish. Contrast is still very good, with dark black levels and a dazzling color palette. It’s a very fine image. “Mulan” video rating: A- “Mulan II” video rating: B+
Audio
Audio quality here is equally impressive for the first film, boasting an English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround sound track (48kHz/24-bit) that is delivered with astounding fidelity. The wide dynamic range allows for a wonderful assortment of sounds to populate all speakers at any given time. Many discreet effects come through during the film’s battles, placing viewers within the skirmishes. Cannon fire is bold and resonant as it thunders out across the battlefield. Composer Jerry Goldsmith’s score is flat-out fantastic; easily one of the film’s shining spots. His ability to compose themes that so perfectly suit a scene and evoke true emotion are what made him a master of his craft. There are also French, Spanish and Portuguese Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound tracks included. Subtitles have been provided in English for the hearing impaired, French, Spanish and Portuguese. “Mulan II” also includes an English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround sound track (48kHz/24-bit), and it’s only less impressive than the first film’s because, again, this was made with home video in mind. It doesn’t have to sound powerful in a theater full of a few hundred people; it just needs to sound great in the comfort of your home, likely coming through the TV’s speakers direct. Still, there is a good separation of sound effects and music. Dialogue is clean and nicely balanced, too. The musical numbers are even less catchy than those from the first film, though kids will still probably sing them a hundred times after the credits have rolled. A French and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound track is also included. Subtitles are available in English for the hearing impaired, French and Spanish. “Mulan” audio rating: A “Mulan II” audio rating: B+
Extras
Whatever you do, do not ever accuse Disney of not packing their special edition sets to the brim. “Mulan” is overflowing with more extra material than almost anyone could ever want to see, featuring an audio commentary, deleted scenes, dozens of featurettes, music videos and more. “Mulan II” is no bare bones disc, featuring some deleted scenes and featurettes of its own. DISC ONE: BLU-RAY “Mulan” bonus features: An audio commentary with producer Pam Coats and directors Tony Bancroft & Barry Cook kicks off the cornucopia of extras. The three participants cover just about every aspect of the film’s production, including the lengthy development period and numerous ideas that were bandied about for the opening. It can be a little dry at times, however, with some gaps of silence. A number of deleted scenes (480p), with filmmaker introduction, are presented as rough sketches, are included: - “Keep ‘Em Guessing” runs for 3 minutes and 48 seconds, this would have been an alternate intro for Mushu. - “The Prologue Chronicle” runs for 3 minutes and 33 seconds, the film’s creative team discusses all the possible ideas for the opening scene. - “Shadow Puppets Prologue” runs for 57 seconds, this is one of many ideas that were ultimately cut. - “The Betrothal” runs for 5 minutes and 53 seconds, Mulan & her father have an extra scene together. - “Shan-Yu Destroys the Village” runs for 2 minutes and 29 seconds, he is one evil dude. - “Mulan’s Daydream” runs for 2 minutes and 23 seconds, this was an alternate introduction to Mulan. - “The Emperor’s Dream” runs for 3 minutes and 28 seconds, this was yet another possible opening for the film. “Classic Disney Backstage” (all 480p) contains a lot of information about various facets of the film’s production: “The Journey Begins” features the following featurettes: - “Discovering Mulan” runs for 6 minutes and 48 seconds, the team had a great deal of research to do before the project began. - “The Ballad of Hua Mulan” runs for 5 minutes and 18 seconds, learn the original tale that inspired the film. - “Early Presentation Reel 1995” runs for 2 minutes and 20 seconds, b&w rough animations shown as a proof of concept. - “Early Presentation Reel 1996” runs for 1 minute and 59 seconds, this is a bit more polished and done in color. “Story Artists’ Journey” features the following: - “Finding Mulan” featurette runs for 2 minutes and 17 seconds, looking at the approach taken to this story. - “Storyboard to Film Comparison: Mushu Breaks the Dragon” storyboard comparison breaks down the scene showing either “Storyboard Only”, “Final Film Only” or “Storyboard to Final Film Comparison” which shows both. It runs for 1 minute and 24 seconds. “Design” houses these features: - “Art Design” featurette runs for 5 minutes and 33 seconds, talking about finding the right style for the film and how progressive it all was. - “Character Design” featurette runs for 3 minute and 47 seconds, showing off early sketches & ideas for the picture. - “Ballad of Color” featurette runs for 4 minutes and 27 seconds, this talks about what certain colors symbolize in the film. “Production” contains the following looks at the film as it was being made: - “Mushu Awakens” features breakdowns of “Introduction Story Sketch”, “Story Sketch”, “Introduction Rough Animation” and “Rough Animation”, all running for just under a minute each. - “Matchmaker Mulan” features breakdowns of “Story Sketch”, “Rough Animation”, “Clean Up Animation & Effects” and “Final Color”, all running for 1 minute and 4 seconds. “Digital Production” features the following: - “The Hun Charge” featurette runs for 4 minutes and 50 seconds, the creators discuss why they chose to use computer animation for some scenes. - “Digital Dim Sum” featurette runs for 4 minutes and 1 second, this shows how large crowds are animated. “Classic Music & More” (all 480p) features a whole lot of music videos and a couple interesting featurettes: - “”I’ll Make a Man Out of You” music video performed in Mandarin by Jackie Chan (yes, that one) runs for 3 minutes and 18 seconds. If you watch only one bonus feature on this disc, make it this one. - “”Reflection” music video performed by Christina Aguilera runs for 3 minutes and 34 seconds. - “”Reflejo” music video performed in Spanish by Lucero runs for 3 minutes and 33 seconds. - “”True to Your Heart” music video performed by Raven runs for 3 minutes and 39 seconds. - “”True to Your Heart” music video performed by Stevie Wonder and 98 Degrees runs for 4 minutes and 23 seconds. - “Songs of Mulan” is a featurette that runs for 5 minutes and 13 seconds, the filmmakers discuss the use of songs and why they were chosen. - “Mulan’s International Journey” is a featurette that runs for 5 minutes and 44 seconds, this is a very interesting piece that looks at the Disney dubbing team and how they prepare a film for global rollout. - “Multi-language Presentation” is a featurette that runs for 3 minutes and 12 seconds, showing off various clips in foreign languages. “Mulan II” bonus features: “Classic Backstage Disney: Voices of Mulan” (480p) is a featurette that runs for 2 minutes and 54 seconds. Catch up with all of the returning voices, and a couple new ones, with this piece that shows the actors recording their dialogue in the booth and speaking about coming back for the sequel. A handful of deleted scenes (480p) are included, with introductions from the filmmakers: - “Battle Sequence” runs for 4 minutes and 30 seconds. - “Mei Flirts” runs for 1 minute and 44 seconds. - “The Escape part 1” runs for 1 minute and 56 seconds. - “The Escape Part 2” runs for 1 minute and 44 seconds. “Classic Music & More” (480p) features a single music video: - “”(I Wanna Be) Like Other Girls” music video performed by Atomic Kitten runs for 2 minutes and 41 seconds. DISC TWO: DVD This is a DVD copy of “Mulan” containing all of the same bonus features found on the Blu-ray. DISC THREE: DVD This is a DVD copy of “Mulan II” containing all of the same bonus features found on the Blu-ray.
Packaging
The three-disc set comes housed in a standard Blu-ray keep case, with the Blu-ray housed in a spindle on the right side while the two DVD's are stacked on a long spindle to the left. A slip-cover is included on initial pressings.
Overall
“Mulan” is an expertly made film, no question there, but the balance of Disney laughs with real-world issues doesn’t quite mesh like it should. The film is in no way a bore, or bad; it just isn’t in the same league as the real heavy hitters in Disney’s arsenal. “Mulan II” is a definite step down in terms of quality, though it will still appeal to the younger demographic these films are made for. This three-disc package is, unquestionably, comprehensive and loaded with all the features one could want.
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