'Mulan' 2nd trailer introduces Gong Li’s shapeshifting witch Xian Lang alongside Bori Khan but Mushu missing
In the second trailer of Disney's upcoming live-action film 'Mulan', Hua Mulan (Liu Yifei) is ready to bring "honor to us all". It is a portrayal rich with vibrant colors as it hopes to portray the tapestry of rich traditions that influenced Mulan's initial years with her family.
The 2-minute video which dropped on Thursday further goes on to showcase some iconic moments from the 1988 animated version of the tale and with this, the film has also wooed fans of the classic as well.
Mulan is inspired by the Chinese tale 'Ballad of Mulan' and it is much different than the other Disney movies as it essentially sets up the female lead as the savior. Yes, by now we know Mulan takes the place of her father to fight the Northern invaders by pretending to be a man.
Mulan's fate is locked in place, and so what would really interest audiences is the treatment of Mulan's character, fleshing out her emotions, and in essence portraying a woman who sacrificed everything to keep her father safe. To this effect, the trailer is a brilliant sneak peek into what audiences can expect in the film.
At the beginning of the trailer, she is told about the phoenix that is placed on the right side of the emperor and why. She is compared to this symbol of protection and honor and is told that she should, in a similar manner, bring honor to her family.
Mulan does bring honor to her family, just not the way her father expected her to. Instead of painting her face pretty, she picks the sword to take her father's place.
The other thing to look forward to in the film is actor Gong Li. Her character is described in the trailer as a shapeshifting witch, Xian Lang, who stays by the side of the main villain Bori Khan (Jason Scott Lee).
However, the scene of confrontation between Xian Lang and Mulan promises us more. Xian Lang tells Mulan, "When they find out who you are, they will show you no mercy."
A personal favorite scene from the trailer is Mulan letting her hair down. In the tale, it was apparently said that Mulan cut her hair as a part of becoming a man. In the process of adapting it, however, this nuanced moment is significant of how Mulan keeps her identity intact while putting on a facade.
Will the film really rise above gender bias and cultural stereotypes? That is a call we have to take after watching the film. The response for the trailer has been great so far, however, fans have noticed that the film has no Mushu.
The original film featured a sidekick for Mulan, a dragon called Mushu who was voiced by Eddie Murphy. The upcoming live-action film, however, doesn't see Mushu at all. Also, as of now, we haven't seen Cri-Kee, the cricket either.
Directed by Niki Caro, 'Mulan' is set to release on March 27. The film stars Donnie Yen (Commander Tung), Jet Li (The Emperor), Yoson An (Chen Honghui), Tzi Ma (Hua Zhou), Rosalind Chao (Hua Li).