a sleeper

Rating: Null/10 (11 May 2009)

I groaned when my daughter picked this out: another saccharine love story. NOT !
It seems like the intent of the long "establish the setting" scenes of medieval china and its social limits, is to lull the (older) audience into thinking this is another princess story. There are light-hearted slapstick antics that will make the kids laugh and a foolish song. Then it turns dark and I became slack-jaw, at the scenes of a village massacre aftermath and a fierce battle, with surprises. The eye-popping battle never gets old.
Mulan is a tough, quick-thinking fighter, a genuine hero. Her heroism is something every parent wants from their daughter.
This movie is the answer to and atonement for the many second-tier Cinderella movies from Disney. (BTW, there should be no feminist apologies for the original Cinderella. She was also resourceful and tough.)