Post by ironhammer on Jul 7, 2019 23:10:49 GMT -5
I thought about putting this in the movie thread, but maybe I will give it a thread of it's own. Disney's live adaptation has a mixed track record critically. Personally, I prefer the live adaptation be a little different so that it can stand on it's own apart from it's animated original, otherwise, why bother just seeing the same movie with real actors? That is why I like Cinderella (2015) by Kenneth Brangh, it stuck to the original story but was different enough (no songs, later time period) that allowed it to be enjoyed on it's own. Whereas Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin, while those are enjoyable too, I didn't felt they were on par with the animated original.
With all that said, Disney has just released a trailer for the live adaptation of Mulan starring Crystal Liu Yifei. My wife and niece are big fans of the original and this live version looks...interesting, seems different to the original. Do you think it can stand on it's own?
Being someone familar with Asian history and culture, Mulan is an interesting character (her full name is actually "Hua Mulan"). Disney did not invent her, but it originated as a ballad traced to the Northern Wei period of 386 to 534 AD. The Disney film was true in keeping to the essential basic frame of the story, that of a filial daughter taking her frail father's place to join the army and battle against an invading horde. (The wise-cracking sidekick Mushu, I am afraid, was not in the original). She is simultaneously adhering to established Chinese Confucian traditions (being filial to one's own parent by saving her father's life and taking his place in the army) and revolutionary (doing so as a female in a highly patriarchal society). But seen in the context of Chinese wuxia literature (martial art novels), then it is not as radical, there is often a parallel universe, the "jianghu" where traditional restrictions on female's place in society are loosen and relaxed, where female characters are strong and powerful.
The actress playing Mulan here is Liu Yifei. Western audience may have seen her in the Jackie Chan and Jet Li movie "Forbidden Kingdom". But she is familiar with Chinese audience where she has starred in many TV series and movies. She has a reputation in China as a "女神" (nushen), translated literally as "goddess". In this case, this is not a reference to an actual deity, but as a way to describe a female as posessing ethereal beauty. Not slutty or sexualized, but refined and educated, giving an air of elegance and great intelligence. Liu is known for being a nushen in her roles, particularly in period pieces:
She shot to fame in China in the role of "Xiao Long Nu" (Little Dragon Girl) in the wuxia series "Return of the Condor Hero":
She has been criticized in China as being rather one-noted in only playing these roles and some Chinese have questioned her acting ability. Now...can she pull off the role of Mulan?
With all that said, Disney has just released a trailer for the live adaptation of Mulan starring Crystal Liu Yifei. My wife and niece are big fans of the original and this live version looks...interesting, seems different to the original. Do you think it can stand on it's own?
Being someone familar with Asian history and culture, Mulan is an interesting character (her full name is actually "Hua Mulan"). Disney did not invent her, but it originated as a ballad traced to the Northern Wei period of 386 to 534 AD. The Disney film was true in keeping to the essential basic frame of the story, that of a filial daughter taking her frail father's place to join the army and battle against an invading horde. (The wise-cracking sidekick Mushu, I am afraid, was not in the original). She is simultaneously adhering to established Chinese Confucian traditions (being filial to one's own parent by saving her father's life and taking his place in the army) and revolutionary (doing so as a female in a highly patriarchal society). But seen in the context of Chinese wuxia literature (martial art novels), then it is not as radical, there is often a parallel universe, the "jianghu" where traditional restrictions on female's place in society are loosen and relaxed, where female characters are strong and powerful.
The actress playing Mulan here is Liu Yifei. Western audience may have seen her in the Jackie Chan and Jet Li movie "Forbidden Kingdom". But she is familiar with Chinese audience where she has starred in many TV series and movies. She has a reputation in China as a "女神" (nushen), translated literally as "goddess". In this case, this is not a reference to an actual deity, but as a way to describe a female as posessing ethereal beauty. Not slutty or sexualized, but refined and educated, giving an air of elegance and great intelligence. Liu is known for being a nushen in her roles, particularly in period pieces:
She shot to fame in China in the role of "Xiao Long Nu" (Little Dragon Girl) in the wuxia series "Return of the Condor Hero":
She has been criticized in China as being rather one-noted in only playing these roles and some Chinese have questioned her acting ability. Now...can she pull off the role of Mulan?