Mulan (Niki Caro, July 24, 2020) Movie • Page 8

Independent theaters are looking at closing down for good. One of the local theaters here keeps pushing for people to write to Congress about bailing out theaters. When they see Mulan go to VOD, they see that more and more movies will go that way in the future, even after the pandemic is over.

The problem for the independent theaters is the same one that local restaurants have; the chains can wait this out and then monopolize the market even more than they already do. AMC and Regal stand to gain as more and more independent theaters shut down, and as AMC showed with the Universal deal, they have leverage that independent theaters can never have.

 

I basically agree with this post, but releasing Mulan right now isn't gonna save theaters in regions where the virus is still spreading way worse than it should be. That's on the United States government to start giving a shit. And, for the industry & people who love the industry (& can afford it) to support whatever funds hopefully exist to support independent theaters. (If Disney were gonna give a shit about theaters, that'd be the better way to show it than forcing a Mulan release when it's not really safe.)

Like, it sucks. I know. Capitalism sucks. This pandemic sucks. The government sucks. And, yeah, Disney sucks, too. But, I just don't see how this live action remake of a 90s animated film going to theaters instead of VOD while the country is metaphorically (& literally?) burning is gonna make a difference.

 

Ultimately the responsibility is on the federal government for both not containing the virus and not guaranteeing monthly payments like other countries did. In that environment, people end up blaming other people and entities that are dealing with their own difficult decisions.

 

I don't like it being described as "posting cringe", but it shows how Disney's decision will affect countries and theaters that did act more responsibly toward the virus.

 

It’s the coming of the time. The movie theater industry won’t be the same ever again, even in countries that had low numbers. With studios being more open to streaming and the recent AMC deal that lowered that number of days a film can be in the theaters before going on demand from 90 days to 17. Huge blockbusters will still make alot and bring people to theaters but pre-covid theater days are gone. Maybe it will actually be a challenge for blockbusters to cross the $1 billion mark again.

 

As expected.

 

New trailer.

 

The soundtrack better include this German-Hungarian classic

lolol what a product of its time

 

X for doubt

 

Any clue when the review embargo will drop?

Also, here is a list of some previous reactions if anyone wants to get hype.

The first impressions of 'Mulan' are in

 

thats exciting, though I always wonder if these folks are mostly Disney shills who want to be invited back.

 

i always take those kinds of reviews with a grain of salt, i remember seeing one of those articles with a bunch of verified user reviews for TROS and a few folks lauded it as a cinematic masterpiece, a film for the generations or something like that, and, well...

 

They just sent out screeners to general critics today. Social media embargo lifted today. Regular embargo is Thursday.

 

These forums count as “social media,” right? Did you happen to watch it, & formulate any tweet-length first impressions?

 

I consider it that! Haha. I’m watching it tomorrow.

 

Damn. Welp, I guess that was always going to be the next logical step for these studio-owned streaming services huh.

 

Disney is so glad they had Disney+ released before the pandemic.

 

So...what did ya think?

 

Overall, I’m satisfied. It’s the best execution of a Disney live-action remake, where it has a bunch of little nods to the original, but is able to be its own thing. It’s funny in parts, but not goofy like the animated version. The cast as a whole is good, especially Mulan’s comrades. The story is tweaked because it has more villains and no Mushu and has way more to do with someone’s chi that gives them supernatural powers.

The bad is the villains are still fairly thin. The main bad is pretty cartoonish and his minion is just kind of there to give Mulan a formidable foe. The cinematography is great.m, but the editing in pretty much any action scene is an annoying, hyperedited, Guy Ritchie-type “fast-slow-fast” presentation that I absolutely loathe. And the recurring motif of a phoenix rising is laid on almost comically thick.

Overall, it’s good. The representation in it is important. I hope Disney takes that and the fact that they can do remakes without copying everything from the animated version to heart. Would I pay $30 for this? Only if I was watching it with a group. It’s not a $30 solo watch.

 

Sounds like I'm gonna like it.

 

Does Doua Moua get at least some decent screen time as one of Mulan’s comrades?

 

All of them get a good moment or two. I liked that whole group more than I did in the animated version.