The Film
Our little Mulan is turning 15 this year, so Disney is giving her a Blu-ray birthday. However, instead of making it a grand Cinderella-style affair, she's getting two films slapped on the same disc, just like last year's The Rescuers: 35th Anniversary Collection.
The Mulan/Mulan II: 2-Movie Collection has both films and all of its extras on one disc. The first movie is the 1998 theatrical release, which introduces us to another one of Disney's princesses. Like most princesses, it seems like Mulan's (voiced by Ming-Na Wen) main purpose in life is to get married. In fact, people are even singing about it. (In "Honor to Us All," the lyric goes, "With great fortune and a good hairdo, you'll bring honor to us all." Niiiice.)
Of course, like many (not all) Disney princesses, that plan just doesn't fly. So when her village gets word that one man from every house needs to fight in the Chinese army in the name of the emperor, she goes in her father's place -- as a boy named Ping. Mulan doesn't have the same memorable songs as some other Disney flicks, but it's got a strong female lead and a strong roster of voice talent. That lineup includes BD Wong, Miguel Ferrer, Harvey Fierstein, Gedde Watanabe, June Foray, Pat Morita, George Takei and Eddie Murphy.
A lot of that voice cast returns for Mulan II. However, Murphy opted not to return -- and you'd probably never know that, because Mark Moseley is doing his best to mask Murphy's absence. He's voiced Murphy's Donkey character from Shrek on occasion, so he seems to have the voice down pretty well. That said, something seems off. One of those things is that he really isn't needed in this movie. Instead of helping Mulan, he's sort of sabotaging her happiness to save his job. Nice friend!
The main plot has Mulan, her beau General Li Shang (Wong), and the rest of her army buddies trying to escort a trio of princesses to a kingdom where a trio of arranged marriages are waiting. On the way, everyone learns a little something about love. It's a nice sentiment; just not as nice as what's in the original film.
The Picture
Mulan looks more gorgeous than ever. Disney's 1.66:1 image looks as pretty as a watercolor painting -- and that's on purpose. It gives the film a real charm and it looks nice here. The colors are soft and beautiful, but the detail is nice as well. Disney Blu-ray fans will not be disappointed.
Now, even though it's part of the same disc, Mulan II's 1.78:1 transfer is made to look a little shinier than its predecessor. That's because it was made 6 years later on a slimmer budget. The image is a little brighter and a little more advanced, but also manages to lose some of that charm. It just doesn't have the same painting-like look of the original film. That's not to say that it's not good looking; Disney does a nice job bringing this one to Blu-ray. It's just the nature of the direct-to-video release. That said, the colors are bright, the images are clean, and it's an enjoyable viewing experience overall.
The Sound
Disney has given both films a strong DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. Both have clear, crisp dialogue, but Mulan definitely does a lot more in the surrounds. There's plenty of thunder, rain, galloping horses, screams, battle sounds and fireworks to keep those rear speakers (and viewers) engaged. Mulan II does use the surrounds, but not as often, making it a less effective track.
The Extras
Final Thoughts
Mulan is a headstrong team girl. I could definitely see her being all like, "I just turned 15 and all I got was this lousy Blu-ray combo disc." However, Disney fans should be pretty pleased with this package. Both films are busting with vocal and animation talent. Each one also has a pretty solid AV presentation and a nice selection of extras. You could do a lot worse off on your birthday; the Mulan/Mulan II: 2-Movie Collection is a pretty decent package.
Product Details
Where to Buy:
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