Mulan [2009] (4½ Stars)

"There are no heroes on the battlefield. Everyone is either dead or crazy".

This film is based on the legend of Hua Mulan, a woman who became a Chinese general in the 5th Century. Opinions are divided on whether she really lived or not, but she's considered to be a Chinese heroine. Even the current Communist regime in China claims that she's "one of us", in a futile attempt to give themselves legitimacy in the minds of the Chinese people.

There have been frequent portrayals of Hua Mulan in films. Disney made animated films about her in 1998 and 2004. This film, "Mulan", made in 2009, keeps closer to the legends.

The Chinese dynasty of Northern Wei existed from 386 to 534 AD. It was constantly under attack from the Rouran tribes, descendants of the Mongols. Hua Mulan's father is conscripted into the Wei army, but she thinks he's too old to fight, so she takes his place, pretending to be a man. Her battle skills lead to her promotion to general, and she leads the Wei army for 12 years.

I've watched a few films recently about women pretending to be men, including "Pope Joan" and "Tohuwabohu Total". I have to ask the same question in every film: how could she get away with it? Look at the photo above. Does that look even vaguely like a man? Hua Mulan lived with 10,000 men for 12 years and nobody suspected a thing? What's wrong with them? Am I the only man who can tell the difference?

	Order from Amazon.com
	Order from Amazon.co.uk
	Order from Amazon.de