This post in an entry to the CineTV Contest
No, it's not the Lion King, or Cindrella and the mysterious case of the shoe that didn't disappear even though everything else did. It's not Snowwhite And The Seven Asexual Brothers, or Moana where Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson plays Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson but animated. The movie is
Drumroll
The Jungle Book 2
Wait, what? No
Here Is The Actual Movie
Mulan - The 1998 Animated Movie
I have watched almost every movie Disney created, from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Fantasia all the way to the new movies Disney is releasing every 3 hours nowadays. There hasn't been a movie that rocked my childhood and resonated with me, even now as a grown-up, as much as Mulan did.
This is a movie, that I could recite from memory, the Egyptian dub version to be specific. I am not kidding, I could, and have done on several occasions, recited the entire movie. Before I talk about why the movie is the greatest in Disney's animated history, let me talk about my story with it.
Background
Before Mulan, we have had our share of Disney animated movies. If it was animated by Disney, we saw it. The Egyptian dub version of it at least. My, and my young relatives would sit around and watch Cinderella, The Lion King, Snowwhite, and all of those movies. All movies I liked, but not really loved, you know.
Those movies had heart, and were hilarious in bits, especially when you add in the Egyptian dub. But, I never saw a Disney movie with so much stake grounded in reality. The Hunchback of Notre Dame showed a lot of that, which is why it is my second favorite. However, The Hunchback of Notre Dame showed me that there is more to be desired from these movies, even as a kid.
Until one day, I saw the CD, yes I am a CD generation guy, of Mulan while I was hanging out with my dad during one of the few times he traveled back to Iraq as he was working abroad. My mother and younger had died during the US invasion of Iraq and my dad focused on providing for the family while dealing with his sadness. Our family seemed to be like it was each person doing their own thing but getting together sometimes.
And that's the thing about all the Disney movies mentioned before. They were just made for the kids as the grown-ups did their own thing. And that's what changed during Mulan, yes I watched the first few times alone. But, later my sisters also started watching, and for the first time in what seemed like forever, we were doing something as a family since my mother and younger brother died.
What Made Mulan Superior
For starters, Mulan as a character was just different. She didn't come from a broken home or a family that treats her badly. But, she did suffer from societal pressure to behave in a certain way. As a character, she wasn't this perfectly beautiful, honest, kind person that all the other Disney female characters were, she was flawed.
Mulan struggled to find her place and knew it was different than what was expected of her. She struggled to be something that wasn't an option for her, so, she made it an option by taking the role of her father and going to the army instead of him.
The struggle continued as she joined the army, not finding her place in the testosterone-fueled world in the army and the display of male showmanship. And much like she tried to be the qualified bride in her life back home, she tried to fit into her new role.
Seeing A Better Way
Mulan didn't manage to be that powerful being the army wanted and expected. Instead, she started playing it smart. That's how she was the first to climb the wooden pole, the first to beat the commander in a fight. All while dealing with her colleagues' teasing and societal sexism as seen below in the outstanding I'll Make A Man Out Of You song.
The Horribleness of War
Mulan as a movie didn't shy away from showing the effect of war and the destruction it brings. You see what the Huns have done to the army and villages they come across, total annihilation. You see the full threat of it in the animated movie, yes no bodies were shown, but you feel it in your core.
In the scene above you see that clearly and learn that the small unit of an army is the last thing standing between the powerful Huns and an entire country.
Embracing Your Wit
In the mountain fight scene, we watch the army fail to hurt the Huns. As a last resort, they aim to only kill Shan Yu, the leader of the Huns. And that's when we see Mulan find the smart route and a way to defeat them all with a single action.
A Single Heroic Actions Doesn't Change Everything
After defeating the Huns, Mulan is exposed. All her deeds are thrown to the side upon everyone discovering that she is a woman. The only thing that kept her alive is that she saved Shang's life
After that, we get one of the best self-assessment scenes. Mulan faces herself with the reason she did everything she did. It wasn't about her father or family as much as it was about her finding her place,
Determination
The movie doesn't end there. Mulan realizes it is her place to fight for her country, even if that leads to being dishonored once again or having her work go unappreciated. Even after everything that just happened, she still makes the decision to fight after she saw that the Huns weren't completely wiped out.
Mulan Saves China
To defeat Shan Yu, Mulan utilizes every part of her, as a warrior and even her feminine side along with her wit. The end of the fight perfectly embodies that.
In the end, Mulan gets the credit she deserves from everyone.
In Conclusion
As a person who didn't see myself belong in my surroundings, Mulan was an inspiration. Her story was written by her, not by a kiss from a prince, or a witch changing her life. Mulan created the change she needed to see. That's why I know the movie by heart and that is why it rocked my childhood AND adult life as I still watch the movie every now and then.