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Mulan (2002)

tomatometer

86

Average Rating: 7.5/10
Reviews Counted: 72
Fresh: 62 | Rotten: 10

Exploring themes of family duty and honor, Mulan breaks new ground as a Disney film, while still bringing vibrant animation and sprightly characters to the screen.

71

Average Rating: 7/10
Critic Reviews: 14
Fresh: 10 | Rotten: 4

Exploring themes of family duty and honor, Mulan breaks new ground as a Disney film, while still bringing vibrant animation and sprightly characters to the screen.

audience

78

liked it
Average Rating: 3.4/5
User Ratings: 535,394

My Rating

Movie Info

Disney's cross-cultural retelling of a popular Chinese folk tale about a peasant girl who disguises herself as a man and takes her ailing father's place in the emperor's army turns the traditional fairy tale ending on its head. This time, the princess rescues the prince.

Nov 9, 1999

Buena Vista

Cast

All Critics (72) | Top Critics (14) | Fresh (65) | Rotten (10) | DVD (32)

What's terrific about Mulan is its reaching for emotions that other movies run from: family love and duty, personal honor and group commitment, obedience and ingenuity.

September 1, 2008 Full Review Source: TIME Magazine | Comment
TIME Magazine
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Goes about halfway toward setting new boundaries for Disney's, and the industry's, animated features, but doesn't go far enough.

September 1, 2008 Full Review Source: Variety | Comment
Variety
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A disappointment for anyone hoping the studio would raise the standard of the animated feature to a new level.

April 12, 2002 Full Review Source: Globe and Mail | Comment
Globe and Mail
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The film shines at capturing the watercolor delicacy of China's past.

May 11, 2001 Comment
Rolling Stone
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Memo to the gang at Walt Disney animation: Your formula is showing.

February 14, 2001 Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | Comments (3)
Los Angeles Times
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The incredible special effects, which make lush cherry blossoms as vivid as the intense battle scenes, are balanced by Disney's tradition of care and painstaking detail in developing and animating its characters.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Salon.com | Comment
Salon.com
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What is chiefly impressive is that the appropriation of Chinese iconography in a film that was plainly made by Western animators feels ultimately so natural and successful.

December 3, 2009 Full Review Source: Antagony & Ecstasy | Comment
Antagony & Ecstasy

Overall, this is a lovely film, ranking with the best of Disney's animated features while taking on rather serious issues of war, honor, gender roles and family pride.

October 18, 2008 Full Review Source: Seattle Times | Comment
Seattle Times

From the first scene onwards, you know you're in good hands.

September 1, 2008 Full Review Source: Film4 | Comment

Using richly hued, angular animation, this vibrant, action-filled Disney offering is immensely entertaining.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out | Comment

Female heroes permeate most of Disney's animated movies, but this is the first time they've given her real strength.

February 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | Comment
Combustible Celluloid

This is the best Disney animated feature, ever (involving extensive use of cross-dressing).

December 6, 2005 Full Review Source: Film Threat | Comment
Film Threat

Continues Disney's dominance of the animation field with its solid, assured story-telling, good main and supporting characters and superior craftsmanship.

April 9, 2005 Full Review Source: Reeling Reviews | Comment
Reeling Reviews

In the end, Mulan isn't bad - it's just mediocre, which is particularly disappointing given its Disney pedigree.

January 31, 2005 Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews | Comments (4)
Reel Film Reviews

Overall, I liked the more serious aspects far better than I did the comic relief.

November 2, 2004 Full Review Source: 7M Pictures | Comment
7M Pictures

remains squarely in the realm of family entertainment, but it's lush and effective as such (if a little more violent than usual)

October 31, 2004 Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | Comment
Filmcritic.com

Neither fish nor fowl, though it certainly leans towards foul

October 28, 2004 Full Review Source: Film Freak Central | Comments (4)
Film Freak Central

A fascinating and artistically animated movie that's worth seeing more than once.

October 27, 2004 Full Review Source: ReelTalk Movie Reviews | Comment
ReelTalk Movie Reviews

To its credit, Mulan does strive to present its characters as something more than potential Happy Meal toys.

October 27, 2004 Full Review Source: Creative Loafing | Comment
Creative Loafing

Mulan manages a nice balance throughout, weaving drama, action, comedy, and music together

October 26, 2004 Comment
Reel.com
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Mulan

A good Disney movie, slightly different from the usual Princess tales they have done in the past. The characters are good, the story is fun and intriguing. It's definitely worth seeing.

September 6, 2010
ajv2688

Super Reviewer

In my top three Disney movies of all time, Mulan breaks the mould of the average Disney heroine and follows in the footsteps of the hero rather than the damsel in distress. A touching story that makes me cry at the end more often than not, rooted in a rich and interesting period of history, Mulan is funny, filled with

August 25, 2011
theunknownhobo
Unknown Hobo

Super Reviewer

    1. The Emperor: I've heard a great deal about you, Fa Mulan. You stole your father's armor, ran away from home, impersonated a soldier, deceived your commanding officer, dishonored the Chinese Army, destroyed my palace, and... you have saved us all.
    – Submitted by Champ S (2 months ago)
    1. Mushu: You risked your life to help people you love. I risked my life to help myself.
    – Submitted by Champ S (2 months ago)
    1. Yao: I'll get that arrow pretty boy, and I'll do it my shirt on.
    2. Shang: Whoa, one moment. You seemed to be missing something. This represents discipline. And this represents strength. You need both to reach the arrow.
    – Submitted by Derek K (5 months ago)
    1. Mulan (singing): When will my reflection show who I am inside?
    – Submitted by Michelle L (8 months ago)

Latest News for Mulan

September 7, 2010:
Zhang Ziyi Is Jan de Bont's Live-Action Mulan
Director Jan de Bont ("Speed") is planning to film a live-action version of "Mulan" starring Zhang...

June 12, 2008:
Mulan Scribe Uncorks New Jeannie Script
Mulan writer Rita Hsiao has become "at least" the sixth person to take a shot at coming up with a...

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