Very good, but not perfect

Rating: 9/10 (18 March 2003)

Mulan is a very good movie. Simple, yet moving. It is certainly not traditional Disney film.
Mulan is a film where the tragedy and comedy is wisely mixed. It balances itself wittily, except one last minor thing. In the end they should not have used nowadays music style to express happy end. Otherwise the score was great. I give 10 out of 10 for music. Osmond and Salonga are first rate musical singers and do their part superbly. I have also heard mandarin version of "Man out of You" with Jackie Chan and to tell the truth I found it even better than English version. Although I do not understand the language, I felt the poise in the singing, and it was superb. So for Chan I add one extra point 11 out of 10.
The Huns were presented as evil as could get, yet wise, which gave depth to their characters. The battle scene in the middle of the film has very interesting and good angles in cinematography. Very well thought out.
The supporting characters were good. Mushu was very well created character and had some very funny lines. Usually many sidekicks are too overwritten, but Mushu, even when talking too much, had something to say as well. Murphy did great job. There were some lines even that were spine chilling (Emperor's).
Although the movie was very well paced and intelligently created, it was not perfect. And simply because it tried to be too commercial. If some cheap jokes were omitted, it could have been great.
Overall I give 9 out of 10 and highly recommend for everybody. One of the triumphs of Disney indeed, and worthy partner to The Lion King.