Talk:Mulan (2020 film)/@comment-4889892-20190713011404

New approach to the matchmaker scene, replacing Mushu with another creature, using the instrumentals of the original songs, changing up the palace, and avoiding the haircutting scene. These sound like fair changes. I assume they'll take out the Great Wall too.

I like the idea of Mulan being "quiet, composed, and disciplined" because, despite popular belief, she showed those traits in the animation. She was usually quiet but knew when she needed to talk (not guided by societal standard though). Outspoken is not necessarily the opposite of quiet. She was awkward and clumsy, but she also kept her composure during the war. She was also more disciplined in war, doing what she enjoyed, although at home she was as disciplined as she could be (I mean, she went to the matchmaker out of discipline, not because she wanted to). Her composure and discipline show on the battlefield, more than anyone else and more than she did in a mundane setting. The battlefield is where she shines (and on an intellectual, strategic level, not just physically) and I hope this is explored in the new film. That's where the idea of "graceful" kind of had me, but I guess she could be graceful in swordsmanship, riding, and archery because it seems she's been practicing it much before going to war. It would be nice to see a little backstory of the days she was clumsy and mocked by village boys and girls for being too tomboyish. But who knows, maybe they sadly will move her away from all awkwardness and clumsiness. At least she'd still be relatively expressionless, I guess. Anyways, one thing I like about her using these "wife material" traits in another way is that it goes along with some concept I've thought of before (and is kind of reminiscent of the hare metaphor at the end of the ballad). If a woman's role is said to be "supportive" to a man's "leadership" role, then if she can outperform him, it would be supportive of her to take on that role (including leadership roles) and he wouldn't be a very good leader if he didn't allow that. There are many ways to perform a specific role and merit is important.

What I don't get is the absence of Shang, and I'm still iffy about the witch. Shapeshifting seems out of place. I mean, there does seem to be some acknowledgment of shapeshifting in shamanism, although most sites are saying it has more to do with taking on characteristics and energies of other animals. Maybe some believe in actual shapeshifting, but if they have this kind of stuff in the movie, the phoenix better be there. It's pretty much fantasy now (I hope this means we can have some comedy. Similar to something you'd see in Marvel rather than an animation, or even QSD). Wish we saw more of her in the trailer (unless she's the falcon). All in all, it was actually closer to the original than I expected though (of course this is without seeing many characters. But I like how there's still a matchmaker scene, avalanche, roof attack...).

I've heard some complaints about the tulou and how anachronistic it is. Apparently, there's this tulou that existed in the Tang dynasty (which the movie claimed to be from on the casting call, although it might have been changed since the summary didn't mention "gokturks" specifically) and though I can't find a clear picture of it online, I think it might have been shaped differently than the circular ones in the trailer. Disney has a lot of time and is said to be doing some reshoots. If anything, I think they should change the shape, but not necessarily get rid of it (although I think it was weird of them to use that kind of structure in the first place. I'm guessing it has something to do with the plot).