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Hope for Disney Live Action
I’ve talked at length about my overall disdain for the Disney live action remakes. I’m on record saying that they’re bad for movies and largely unoriginal and lacking creativity. Like I’ve mentioned before, I didn’t see Dumbo or Aladdin, and I won’t be seeing The Lion King. But there is a new development that could have me interested in these once again.
Earlier this week, the trailer for the remake of Mulan was released. It featured interesting cinematography and what looks like truly imaginative action. But instead of the overwhelming, “Oh my goodness, I can’t wait for this!” that has accompanied most of these trailers, Mulan was met with, “Where is Mushu and the music?”
As it turns out, this remake likely won’t have the famous talking dragon or the beloved musical numbers. It will instead focus on the interesting story of a woman in a man’s world and take a period piece approach. This is a great idea for a few reasons. First of all, it gives the filmmakers a chance to go somewhere new with an old and familiar story. Most of what we’ve seen so far has been shot-for-shot remakes of the originals, with a song or a scene added in here and there. For a new version of the story to be presented would be a welcomed breath of fresh air.
Secondly, it will not come with the same baggage these others have been carrying. The immediate reaction to Aladdin was regarding how Will Smith’s Genie compared to Robin Williams’. With that out of the picture, it will be easier for audiences to separate themselves from their nostalgia and expectations.
The next reason has to do with another piece of Disney live action news – the casting of Halle Bailey as Ariel in the upcoming The Little Mermaid. While Aladdin has new songs added that give the character of Jasmine more agency than her cartoon counterpart (or so I’ve heard), these movies have been missing that one piece that will show why they’re warranted in this day and time. This colorblind casting brings representation and (hopefully) a new young star to a worldwide stage, and that is certainly something to be celebrated.
As Disney continue to completely own the box office – there is a legitimate chance that they will have the top EIGHT grossing movies domestically at the end of the year – their incentive for quality lessens. People will flock to the theaters when they see the words Star Wars, Marvel, or Disney. So here’s to hoping they keep this up and produce some quality films, and maybe - just maybe - they'll get me in a seat at a theater to see Mulan.
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