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Mulan(2009 film)

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Mulan: Rise of a Warrior
Official poster
Directed byJingle Ma
Screenplay byZhang Ting
Produced byJingle Ma
Wang Tian-yun
Jeffrey Chan
Ni Ying
Li Li
StarringZhao Wei
Yu Rongguang
Chen Kun
Hu Jun
Jaycee Chan
Nicky Lee
Vitas
CinematographyTony Cheung
Edited byKwong Chi-leung
Music byLee Shih Shiong
Lee Wei Song
Yi Jiayang
Cheung Ah-tung
Tan Dun
Xiao Ke
Production
companies
Starlight International
Media Group
Beijing Galloping Horse
Film & TV Production

Hunan TV & Broadcast Intermediary Co., Ltd.
Shanghai Film Group
PKU Starlight Group
Beijing Polybona Film Publishing Co., Ltd.
Release dates
  • 26 November 2009(2009-11-26)(Malaysia)
  • 27 November 2009(2009-11-27)(China)
Running time
114 minutes
CountryChina
LanguageMandarin
Budget$6.75 million[1]
Box office$304 million[1]

Mulan: Rise of a Warrior(simplified Chinese:Hoa mộc lan;traditional Chinese:Hoa mộc lan;pinyin:Huā Mùlán), also known asMulan: Legendary Warrior,is a 2009 Chineseactionwarfilm starringZhao Weias thetitular protagonist.The director,Jingle Ma,explained that the film is vastly different from the 1998Walt Disneyanimated filmand stated, "Zhao Wei's appearance is closer to that in my imagination".[2]Zhao Wei was cast by Ma as Hua Mulan over actressesZhang Ziyi,Michelle Yeoh,andLiu Yifei,who were all considered for the role.[2]

Plot[edit]

In 450 A.D., the ruling Chinese dynasty is under constant threat from the Rouran tribes. The Chinese army conducts a nationwide draft. A retired soldier named Hua Hu insists on enlisting again to serve his country. Mulan (Zhao Wei), his young daughter, is quite intelligent and skilled in various martial arts. But because she is a woman, she cannot enlist. Mulan tricks her father, steals his armor and weapon, disguises herself as a boy and enters the Wei army in her father's place.

Through the harsh military training, Mulan proves to be quite courageous, quick-thinking, and unstoppable, always helping others fend off the army bullies. She gains the attention of Wentai (Chen Kun), the battalion's Sub Commander. They soon befriend and develop a mutual fondness and liking for one another.

One night, when Wentai is taking a bath in a hot spring, he accidentally runs into Mulan. After a brief skirmish, Mulan escapes without exposing her identity. However, Wentai becomes determined to uncover the woman hiding among the troops. To make things worse, the army bully loses a jade pendant and a strip-search is ordered. Terrified to reveal herself as a woman and tarnish her father's reputation, Mulan admits that she committed the theft.

In prison, she tells Wentai the truth and he promises to keep her secret until the very end. When the Rourans launch a surprise attack, Wentai releases Mulan from jail, but Mulan stays back to fight. Her life is spared and she is also promoted to be a female sub-commander.

Unhappy that the Rouran tribes have not joined forces to create a powerful army to fight against the Wei forces, the greedy Prince Mudan murders his own father to seize the throne for himself.

Mulan's troops then fight strongly against the Rourans, but many, including Mulan, are injured in a volley of arrow fire. Suddenly, a hugedust stormknown as the Poison Dragon appears, and everyone on the battlefield is consumed by it. When they regain consciousness, Mulan is reunited with Wentai and she orders a retreat back into the closed canyon. Mudan wants to see how Mulan copes without any provisions and sets up a siege at the entrance of the canyon. Mulan is very sick, but is kept alive by Wentai, who gives her his own blood to drink as the provisions of water have run out.

When Mulan realizes that the Commander-in-Chief isn't bringing his troops and they have been left to die, she prepares her troops to fight to the death for their country. Wentai goes to the front line and announces he is the 7th Prince of Wei, and offers to be taken prisoner in return for Mulan and her soldiers' freedom. Mudan takes him as prisoner and delivers provisions and medical supplies to Mulan and her troops.

Mulan changes her military uniform to that of a Rouran woman's to save Wentai. Talking to the Rouran princess, she reveals her gender as a woman and tells her that she would help her fulfill her dream to stop the war and have peace. Mulan saves Wentai with the help of the princess and returns to the Wei capital, where she at last reveals herself as a woman. As Mulan asks to only return to her village to take care of her ill father, the emperor announces the engagement of the Rouran Princess and Wentai to bring peace to the two empires. Back at Mulan's hometown, Wentai visits her to ask her to runaway with him, but Mulan chooses the country of China over their purely deep, close romantic relationship. He respects her decision, and the two share a long passionate embrace before Wentai departs.

Cast[edit]

This was the second collaboration betweenBeijing Film Academyclassmates Zhao Wei and Chen Kun afterPainted Skin.

Reception[edit]

On the film's opening day Beijing Screen, the Chinese government recognized Mulan:[3]In 2011,Mulanearned the 9th Henan province governmental award - movie category of Achieving Five Top Project Prize[4]

Home media[edit]

In the United Kingdom, it was 2020's third-best-sellingforeign language filmon physicalhome videoformats (belowParasiteandWeathering with You).[5]

Theme song[edit]

The end theme song performed byStefanie Sun,"Mulan Qing" ( mộc lan tình; "Mulan Love" ) was composed byLee Shih Shiongwith lyrics by Kevin Yee. It was nominated for Best Original Song at the29th Hong Kong Film Awards.Vitascovered it in English as "Beneath the Glory".[6]

An insert song, "Mulan Xing" ( mộc lan tinh; "Mulan Star" ), was performed byJane Zhang.[citation needed]

Awards[edit]

Awards
Award Category Name Result
10th Changchun Film Festival Best Actress Zhao Wei Won
21st Golden Melody Awards Best Producer for a Single Melody Li Shih Song, Yee Kar Yeung Nominated
29th Hong Kong Film Awards Best Actress Zhao Wei Nominated
Best Original Film Song Li Shih Song, Yee Kar Yeung andStefanie Sun
30th Hundred Flowers Awards Best Picture Won-Runner Up
Best Actress Zhao Wei Won
Best Supporting Actor Jaycee Chan Nominated
19th Shanghai Film Critics Awards Best Actress Zhao Wei Won
Vietnam DAN Movie Awards Favorite Chinese Movie Won
Favorite Chinese Actress Zhao Wei

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ab"Mulan Rise of a Warrior".Hilo.hawaii.Retrieved8 July2021.
  2. ^ab"Zhao Wei is 'Mulan'".CRI English.11 February 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 8 July 2012.Retrieved22 May2010.
  3. ^Đệ thập tứ giới "Bắc kinh phóng ánh" khai mạc 《 hoa mộc lan 》 thụ biểu chương,Ent.163.com 08 September 2010
  4. ^Hà nam tỉnh đệ cửu giới tinh thần văn minh kiến thiết “Ngũ cá nhất công trình" nhập tuyển ưu tú tác phẩm công kỳHà nam nhật báo 2011 niên 09 nguyệt 27 nhật
  5. ^2021 - Film on Physical Video.United Kingdom:British Film Institute(BFI). 2021. p. 10.Retrieved27 April2022.
  6. ^"Vitas' Mulan".CRI English.8 December 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 15 January 2013.Retrieved7 January2010.

External links[edit]