Disney’s live-action remake of Mulan has been met with an overwhelmingly positive reaction following its first screening.
A number of specially-invited critics and guests were among the first to see the film at its worldwide premiere in
Hollywood on Monday night, with many subsequently sharing their thoughts on social media.
The reimagining of the 1998 animated film sees Chinese-American actress Liu Yifei as the eponymous warrior who defies authority to take her father’s place in the emperor’s army.
It also features an all-Asian cast and strikes a more mature tone than the original film.
Controversially, the live-action version will also not feature any musical numbers, including those first heard in the original film.Mulan was hailed as “incredible”, “exciting, emotional and vibrant” and “absolutely fantastic” but those who’d seen it, with one fan saying it was Disney’s best live-action remake since Cinderella in 2015...#Mulan is one of the best live-action adaptation of a
Disney animated classic. It honors the 1998 film and the ballad by modernizing themes of female empowerment and iconic scenes, while also standing out w/ great cinematography & battle sequences are reminiscent of Wuxia epics. pic.twitter.com/2DUjzX1M1h— Michael Lee (@IamMichaelJLee) March 10, 2020Wow! @DisneysMulan was everything I hoped it would be and more! They were able to bring new elements to life while maintaining the classic nostalgia we all know & love. Wow. Just incredible! 😭 Thanks @DolbyCinema for inviting me. #Mulanpic.twitter.com/BwPVV1m1LP— Katie Wilson (@thekatiewilson) March 10, 2020#Mulan is exciting, vibrant, emotional, and different from the animated version. It's definitely its own thing, which I dug - a more mature Disney film, featuring stunning production design & fight choreography. Director Niki Caro & star Liu Yifei are the big stand-outs, imo pic.twitter.com/p6IEQUDNBu— Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) March 10, 2020#Mulan is about a warrior. And that warrior is a legend. Thank you, from all the female warriors that needed this kick-A movie. It’s different from the animated version, and I’ll be proud to show my daughters this film!— Tania Lamb (@LolaLambchops) March 10, 2020I’m very surprised at how much I liked the live action #Mulan movie. It’s so majestic, the action is thrilling, it aims for a level of sophistication and beauty you don’t expect. (I was never a huge fan of the animated film, I think I’ve only seen it once. So no attachments)— Peter Sciretta (@PeterSciretta) March 10, 2020Disney’s Mulan remake leaves a lot behind, but offers much more in its absence. Plenty of 1998 throwbacks pepper a story full of incredible action, humor, and heart. Oh, and the romantic chemistry gets STEAMY. Like chanting “kiss” in a silent theater steamy.#Mulan2020#mulanpic.twitter.com/soILc7OdTm— Alison Foreman (@alfaforeman) March 10, 2020#Mulan is the best of the Disney live-action remakes since Cinderella — I didn’t even miss the songs. Finds new notes in a story we already know while delivering gorgeous action, heart, and humor. Liu Yifei is 🌟💥🔥— Angie J. Han (@ajhan) March 10, 2020Is #Mulan the first great superhero movie of 2020? It sure feels like it. She soars over rooftops, flies across walls, shoots arrows, and is just a general badass. The film serves as a reminder to be true to yourself. Little girls are going to look up to @yifei_ccpic.twitter.com/cVVFMb07UP— Kirsten (@KirstenAcuna) March 10, 2020#Mulan is absolutely fantastic. Different enough with great action scenes, but with the heart of the original film. It doesn't even matter that it's not a musical. If you're a fan of the animated, there are subtle nods to many of the songs. Can’t wait to see this again.— Kirsten (@KirstenAcuna) March 10, 2020However, it is worth noting that these are just initial reactions to the film, with full reviews due out over the course of the coming weeks.
The budget for Mulan reportedly ran into the hundreds of millions of dollars, putting it among the most expensive films directed by a woman, with New Zealand-born filmmaker Niki Caro at the helm.READ MORE: The Complete List Of Absolutely Everything You'll Be Able To Watch When Disney+ Launches Onward Will Feature Disney's First Ever Openly LGBTQ Character In An Animated Film As Onward Hits Cinemas, Here's Every Pixar Film Ranked Cast member Xana Tang – who plays Mulan’s younger sister, Hua Xiu – compared the impact the film’s all-Asian cast could have to 2018
comedy Crazy Rich Asians, which was widely seen as unprecedented in terms of its representation.
“It’s a step in the right direction and when people watch it, it’s going to make sense and it’s not going to be something like, ‘Oh, that’s odd, that they’re all Asian’,” she said.
Mulan is the latest in a long line of Disney remakes, which have so far seen
The Lion King, Aladdin, Dumbo, Beauty And The Beast and The Jungle Book so far reimagined for new audiences.
Others currently in the works include a new version of The Little Mermaid, with Grammy-nominated singer Halle Bailey in the lead role, as well as an origin story for 101 Dalmatians’ Cruella De Ville, in which Emma Stone will play the iconic villain.
Mulan will be released in the
UK on 27 March.