Be sure to order your 3-Disc Special Edition Blu-ray + DVD combo pack for Mulan and Mulan 2! This is to celebrate Disney’s Mulan’s 15th Anniversary Edition and will be released on March 12th!! When it comes to Disney Princesses, my daughter and I (and my hubby), can cuddle up under some blankets and pillows and dream through the princess and bravery of all of the princesses!
I was REALLY excited to review this movie! This is one movie my daughter hasn’t watched and a princess we have yet to meet from our Disney trips! We love making our trips around the parks to meet the royal princesses! This wouldn’t be as exciting if my daughter didn’t love and know them all!
If you haven’t seen Mulan, no need to rent, rush out and buy this Blu-ray Combo pack. So, what do you get in this package? 3 discs: Disc 1: Blu-ray version of Mulan and Mulan II and oodles of special features that give you a behind the scenes step-by-step smorgasbord of storyboards, and construction of the musical collections. Disc 2: Mulan with some of the bonus material. Disc 3: Mulan II, also with features.
Get this home and pop in the Blu-ray! If you’ve seen the movie, and you’re like my husband go straight to the deleted scenes. From there, your next step go and check out either story board comparisons or music of Mulan. Are you an audiofile? If so you’ll like being able to see the music videos with performers such as Mouskateer herself Christina Aguilera. In addition you’ll hear from composer Mathew Wilder (you might remember his hit from 1983, Break my Stride). Especially interesting was hearing how Mushu had a very popular song cut, because with the addition of Eddie Murphy it no longer worked with the character.
Next, check out the story board comparisons. It’s amazing to see how these ideas transform from quick sketches (that are still more amazing then I could do if you gave me years) to incredibly detailed final product!
Now for those who haven’t seen Mulan, *SPOILERS* the movie is a story of a young woman who goes to fight to keep her father from having to go to battle. Disguised as a man she goes into training with a group of other rag tag men. As the young Captain Shang struggles to whip his troops into shape Mulan seems to be falling behind the rest. The Shang sings a song which is voiced by Donny Osmond, and quite catchy. At the end the captain tells Mulan to go home and retires to his tent for the night. When the men wake up in the morning Mulan has climbed to the top of a pole with weights and retrieved an arrow that all had tried, and none had done. From there the whole gang gets the hang of it.
The group is summoned by the General, Shang’s father. A marquee song “Girl Worth Fighting For” outbreaks on the groups travel to support the other troops (This song is remade in Mulan II). When they come upon the village they find it burned down and all of the troops and the General have fallen on the battle field. In going after the Huns a battle scene takes place where Mulan uses a firework to trick the Huns and create an avalanche. In the midst of the avalanche Shang is saved by Mulan, who he still believes to be a man. After discovering an injury to Mulan she awakens in a tent only to realize her secret is no longer a secret. Shang doesn’t kill Mulan saying they were even and the troops move on without her.
Mulan then sees the Huns leader, Shan Yu making his way for the City to kill the Emperor. When Shang refuses to listen, Mulan is forced to save the Emperor herself. The Emperor bows to Mulan showing her the highest possible respect. He then essentially tells Shang to go after Mulan. The movie ends with him at her family’s house agreeing to stay for dinner.
Mulan II picks up essentially where Mulan left off. In the town with Mulan’s parents and grandmother betting on when Shang will propose. After proposing Mulan and Shang, now the General, are summoned by the Emperor. They are instructed to take the three princesses to join their arranged marriages for the sake of their kingdom. Mulan and Shang enlist the help of Yao, Ling and Chien-Po part of their crew in the first movie.
During the journey the three princesses fall in love with Yao, Ling and Chien-Po. Also Mushu, Mulan’s guardian in the first film is forced to try to keep Shang and Mulan’s wedding from taking place because he’ll lose her if it happens. Mushu tricks Shang into distrust towards Mulan.
Entering bandit country Cri-Kee, the lucky cricket from the first movie convinces Mushu to admit his trickery. Mulan tries to explain what happened to Shang while the bandits attack. During the attack Shang sacrifices himself and falls into the river.
Mulan continues along with the plan, even though she is against the arranged marriages. Mulan agrees to to marry in place of one of the princesses because she thinks Shang died in the fall. Mushu trick the ruler to stop the marriage and gets the princesses released from the vows. In the marriage Shang combines the family temples which allows Mushu to stay with Mulan as her guardian.
Be sure to Pre-Order your copy of Mulan/Mulan 2 from Amazon! It is 38% off today but that could change! That is $15 off!
During my L.A. trip to Disney’s Oz The Great and Powerful Red Carpet Premiere I interviewed the Director and Artists, The Bancroft Brothers. I will be posting the interview next week, so be ready for one of my favorite Disney moments! They even made me a picture!
Disclaimer: I was sent this movie to review for my Disney sponsored L.A. trip to the Red Carpet Premiere of Oz The Great and Powerful.