Mulan Synopsis

Rating: 9/10 (21 February 2014)

Disney's animated and musical film Mulan (Mulan, Bancroft and Cook, 1998) was released into theaters on June 5, 1998. The movie was directed by Tony Bancroft and Barry Cook and used the voices of Miguel Ferrer, Eddie Murphy, and Lea Salonga for some of the main characters (International Movie Database.) During opening weekend, Mulan grossed almost 23 million dollars. The movie went on to make 121 million in the United States and about 304 million in world wide gross revenue (Box Office Mojo.) The movie was nominated for both an Oscar and a Golden Globe for its original music and received and received an American Society of Composers and Publishers Award for top box office films in 1999. The film was also nominated for and received multiple Annie Awards (International Movie Database.)
This 88 minute animated musical begins with a scene of peaceful China being invaded at night by a group of Mongolian nomads referred to throughout the movie as "Huns." (The Xionnu Culture.) The Huns are clearly a major threat to China's society. The audience is then introduced to the main character in the movie named Mulan. Mulan is a young woman who is struggling to come of age the way that her Chinese culture wants her to. She is expected to have the poise and grace of a Chinese lady and is scheduled that afternoon to meet with a matchmaker. Her mother and grandmother help her prepare to meet the matchmaker and give her a small cricket in a cage to carry with her for luck. When Mulan gets to the matchmakers house, things do not go as planned and Mulan ends up spilling hot tea on the woman, making her look clumsy and ill prepared to be a bride. The matchmaker shames Mulan, stating that she will never bring honor to the family as Mulan runs out of the house. Later in the day, the general from the imperial army arrives in their town, stating that one man from each family must go to war to fight against the Huns. Since Mulan's father, an honored veteran himself, is the only male in their family, it is obvious that he must go again to war. It is very dangerous for her father to do this because he is old and could very easily be killed in battle. After watching her father and mother have a quiet conversation, Mulan decides to take matters into her own hands. She cuts her hair and takes her father's armor and horse, leaving for war in the middle of a stormy night. Alarmed by Mulan's actions, her ancestors' spirits awaken and discuss what they should do about the situation. Eager to prove himself, Mushu, a small red dragon, decides that he is going to find Mulan and assist her in becoming a war hero. Mushu appears to Mulan just as she is about to enter the army's camp. He gives her tips on how to walk and talk like a man but it is clear as soon as she walks into the camp that she is extremely out of place. She accidentally starts a fight between the warriors and when the newly appointed captain Shang-Yu walks out, he is obviously disappointed in the group and specifically Mulan. Mulan introduces herself awkwardly as Ping and the group begins training. Things are hard for Mulan at first because she has to adjust to acting like a man and keeping up physically with the rest of the troop. Slowly but surely, however, she begins to prove herself as a valuable asset to the army. When Mulan's troop is called into battle early because of a letter that Mushu writes from the general, Mulan is determined to prove herself further as a warrior. As they travel, the troop comes across an abandoned town, one that had obviously fallen victim to the Huns. The troop is then ambushed by the Huns from the top of a snowy mountain and is eventually forced to confront a group of them head on. Clearly outnumbered, it is obvious that Mulan's troop will not win this battle. However, Mulan thinks quickly and comes up with a fast solution to beat the Huns. She seizes the last cannon and runs toward the enormous group of approaching Huns. Once she gets to a close enough spot, she lights the cannon and shoots it directly towards a snowy mountain. This causes a huge avalanche that wipes out most of the Hun's troop, ending the war and making Mulan's troop the heroes of China. Despite her valiant efforts to keep her womanhood a secret, she is discovered the next night after Shang had heard many rumors that she was female. Instead of killing her as the law demanded, Shang decides to spare her life, claiming that she saved his life the day before and now the two are even. Ashamed that she had yet again disgraced her family, Mulan sets out to leave for home. While she is leaving, Mulan notices that there are Huns still alive and races to the ceremony where the rest of the army is being honored for her accomplishments to warn them. The troops do not believe her until the Huns themselves appear at the ceremony and kidnap the emperor, locking him inside the palace. Mulan runs to the scene and comes up with an elaborate plan to break into the castle to save the emperor. Her plan works and Mulan is recognized by the emperor himself as a great hero of China and offered a position on his council. However, instead of accepting this great honor, Mulan states that she would like to return to her home, hugs her new friends, and turns to walk away. As she is leaving, Shang realizes that he is in love with Mulan and goes with her. The two return home as great heroes of China.