Classic Animation

[chiqui]

It's about a New Orleans debutante who turns into a frog by a voodoo curse.

[kateln]

Mar 30, 2009 19:39:19 GMT -4 Mugsy said:

Methinks you have a mouse fixation, kateln

Every animated movie in the 80's had a mouse. It was like the studios were saying "more Mice!".

[incognito]

One of my favorite Disney movies is Mulan, but that has nothing to do with the animation quality, which is really nothing special, and everything to do with the story. Yeah, I know Disney completely bastardized another actual legend, but it was still a cool story in its own right. IMO, Mulan is one of the few true Action Girls in the Disney franchise. I like that she doesn't just sit on her butt and dream away, and also that she doesn't care two whits about meeting her prince charming. Her driving motivation isn't, "Golly gee, I'm so sheltered, I'd like to get out and see the world some more!" which (to me) has this sort of tired, cliche feel (as much as I love Aladdin...). Mulan doesn't run away because she wants to see the world, but because she wants to protect her father. Don't get me wrong, I do like a lot of the older Disney classics as well, but for different reasons. I love Mulan because I thought she broke the mold for Disney heroines.

And to use a TV Tropes phrase, my favorite "crowning music/moment of awesome" was during the whole "I'll Make a Man Out of You" sequence. I just have to forget that it's Donny (ick) Osmond singing.

Oh, and I recently rewatched The Secret of NIMH. Now there is a gorgeous, gorgeous movie. I think the first time I watched it as a little kid, I totally shipped Justin and Mrs. Brisby even before I knew what shipping was. And I'm totally not a furry.

[Deleted]

"Mulan" and "Emperor's New Groove" are really underappreciated in the Disney canon. Mulan doesn't fit in with the pukey little prissy princesses from the other movies (and she proved to be seriously difficult to market) and ENG is so out in left field that it's insane. I know a guy who worked at Disney during ENG and he said the animators were just like "Screw it. Let's make something funny for once." And it's the only reason I can tolerate David Spade.

[missjennifer]

I wouldn't really say Disney bastardized the Fa Mulan legend. There are many different versions, each with its own ending...so which one should it be true to?

The only thing I wasn't crazy about in Mulan was Eddie Murphy as Mushu. It would have fit a little more to have Jackie Chan do the voice!

Otherwise, I'm totally with you on the character of Mulan. She's not only willing to protect her father, but she wants to see what she can be capable of in a society that doesn't seem to think she's capable of anything more than pouring tea.

And I love the fact that she's always thinking her way out of problems and defeats the enemy with brains, not brawn!

The same is actually true for Aladdin...he doesn't out-fight Jafar, he out-thinks him. His past as a "street rat" works to his advantage...he figures out his enemy's weakness and is "one jump ahead" at the most important moment!

[Deleted]

What I really appreciate about Mulan is that both of her parents are alive through the entire movie. In pretty much all other Disney movies, either the mother or the the father or both are dead. It was nice to have a coming-of-age story that didn't involve someone being orphaned.

[chiqui]

I hate to say it but Eddie Murphy ruined Mulan for me. I just could not get past a jive-talking dragon, and then there was the bit at the end where all the deceased relatives were doing some weird rapper dance.

[augurey]

Full Princess and the Frog trailer


I'll be pissed if she spends most of the film as a frog. I'll save my more cynical thoughts for later.

I hate to say it but Eddie Murphy ruined Mulan for me. I just could not get past a jive-talking dragon, and then there was the bit at the end where all the deceased relatives were doing some weird rapper dance.

There's nothing remotely rap about the ending. It ends with a 98 degrees song!
[/color]

I actually think that Eddie Murphy is only tolerable as a voice actor, both in Mulan and the Shrek films.

Emperor's New Groove is totally underrated. It's so different from the rest of Disney's fare, and hilarious.

Mulan was on the Disney Channel some weeks back, and it really does kind of close the era, doesn't it? It had some nice songs (how much it pains me to admit to liking something Donny Osmond sang!), but nothing to compare to some of Disney's best classics. I agree the animation wasn't great (after the stunning work in The Lion King, everything else seemed downhill), but that's nothing really against the film. I also think it's pretty cool that Lea Salonga was the singing voice for Mulan, as she also voiced arguably the only other kick ass Disney heroine Jasmine. A Whole New World>>>>Reflection, though.

[MrsCatHead]

LittlestCatHead and I read The Princess and the Frog last summer. If the film is anything like the book, yes, she'll be a frog for most of it. But already,the film seems very different from the book...

[zoeguacamole]

I personally found Mulan to be beyond boring only second to Pocahontas, Any love for fox and the hound?