Life Introspect’s

One word, “Love!” I absolutely loved the movie. It was probably just, “ok” to some people, but for me it was Auhhhmazing! Maybe its because of my bias and love for Zhao Wei? Maybe. I’m so glad she was picked to portray Hua Mulan. She did an Auhhhmazing job. Ever since her first Drama I was addicted to this chick. I loved her as Sun Shang Xiang in Red Cliff. How is it that One of my favorite Actress gets picked to portray two of my favorite historical women? I mean of course the existence of Mulan is kind of iffy, but I believe she existed.

This movie has to be one of my favorite movie of this year. The soundtrack not to mention is phenomenal. Stephanie Sun never cease to amaze me with her voice.  The performance is amazing also. Zhao Wei and Chen Kun had so much chemistry for two people who weren’t suppose to show it. The ending was so hard for me to watch, but at the same time I understood why they made the decision they did. One problem I had with the movie though is that why didn’t Mulan’s character attempt to hide her identity more? She wasn’t manly at all! Gawww dammit she was just like a woman to me.  Zhao Wei is great at playing the tomboy roles. I adored her in Red Cliff and Red Cliff 2! In fact thats one of the only reasons I even anticipated the movie. Well I love the Romance of the Three Kingdom story, but once I found out Zhao Wei was portraying Sun Shang Xiang good heaven I was ecstatic! I love Sun Shang Xiang =]! The graphic and quality was absolutely amazing. Gosh watching the movie made me feel like I was on the battlefield myself.  The plot could have been a little more dense though.  I love the movie I love the movie I love the movie! That’s all I have to say lol. I’ve rewatched it so many times now. The quotes from the movie are all too ;[. I wrote a full synopsis on the movie so go ahead and read if you aren't afraid of being spoiled.

Now I totally can't wait until 14 Blades (Donnie Yen & Wu Chun! will be in this also!!!!!)  and Asian Games Movie!

Character Review

Vicky Zhao Wei as Mulan: The only real complaint is why wasn't she more tomboyish? She didn't disguise her voice or anything. She seem like a girl through and through. I have deeper thoughts as to why she wasn't. Maybe we were suppose to see her as a woman to be reminded what Mulan was actually doing? What I mean is like maybe We were suppose to remember she's a woman thats why they left her so womanly. A woman on the battlefield killing.. I love how every time I see her she has amazing chemistry with the leading man. When I saw her in the drama treasure venture I hoped and prayed that her and Nicky Wu would really hook up lol.

Chen Kun as Wentai/Toba Hong: Honestly this is one of few of his on screen projects that I've seen and I have to say I absolutely loved him in this movie. His performance was great in my opinion anyways others may have other opintions. I liked how I fell into his character. Mulan wasn't the only one falling for Wentai. I was too and the weird thing is we barely see him onscreen in the movie!

Jaycee Chan as Fei XiaoHu: Jackie Chan's son really? Yes. His acting has improved quite a bit. The sad thing is unlike his father he doesn't have such a comedy look to him. He is more the type for the loyal best friend. The sincere poor sap. Maybe over time his acting will make him more diverse. Sometimes people can surprise you just because they look a certain way doesn't mean they don't fit into other roles. Example my lovely Ariel Lin. So many people doubted her as Hong Rong in Legend of the Condor Hero 2008 and she prevailed with a big slap to everyone's face. She was one of the best Hong Rong out of many. Back to Jaycee, I like him honestly. I think he'll be able to break free from, "Jackie Chan's Son" stamped on his forehead. I wouldn't doubt that he will be able to establish his own mark in the acting world.

If you haven't seen it then <3 Go see it!

Synopsis: [Don't Read if You Don't Want To Be Spoiled] – Major Spoiler Alert!

It is 450 A.D. in China and the Wei nation is living prosperously, but they are under constant attack from the northern tribe, The Rourans. The Rourans wish to take over the central plains and live the prosperity of the Wei people. The Chinese army did a nationwide draft to boost the number of men in their army.

Hua Hu a retired soldier desires to enlist in the army to serve his country once again. Mulan (Vicky Zhao Wei)  his only child refuses to see her father suffer so she gets him drunk and takes off to take her fathers place in the military. While singing up she is approached by Fei XiaoHu (Jaycee Chan) who knows Mulan as a woman. She asks him to keep her secret; although hesitant Fei XiaoHu agrees and help her disguise herself.

Mulan undergoes harsh training as all the men in her battalion and draws the attention of the battalion’s vice commander, Wentai (Chen Kun). The two quickly develops a mutual admiration. Mulan’s identity is nearly revealed when Wentai runs into her while she is bathing. Mulan was lucky enough to escape without her identity being revealed to Wentai. However, Wentai was determined to find the identity of the woman who is hiding amongst them.

Luck is on the opposite side of Mulan when the bully of the battalion loses a Jade Pendant. A strip search is ordered and Mulan is once again at risk of exposing her identity. She is forced to admit to stealing the Pendant. Mulan is sentenced to death because of this act. While in prison Mulan reveals to Wentai the truth and he promises to keep this a secret. Mulan also asks Wentai, “Please don’t let him know I did not die in battle.”

Luck returns to Mulan’s side when the Rouran launches a surprise attack. Wentai quickly sneaks in and help Mulan escape. As things were getting chaotic in battle Mulan quickly returns and joins her brothers in battle. Mulan is able to decapitate the Rouran general and save her own life. Due to her bravery and achievement Mulan is promoted to Vice- Commander along side the battalion’s new commander Wentai. Mulan and Wentai fight through various battles together and one day due to her feelings for Wentai Mulan is tricked into leaving her supply team behind to go and save Wentai. Once she reaches Wentai, Mulan realizes that it was a trick. Upon return to her supply team she realized they were severely attacked. Wentai and Mulan gets into a heated arguement and Mulan asks Wentai,  “If it were me wouldn’t you have come.” With his back turned towards her and his eyes filled with tears; Wentai is forced to say, “I wouldn’t” in addition to, “Your father was right there should be no feelings in the battlefield.”

Mulan is tired of having become a butcher on the battlefield and wants to leave. When Wentai leads his men into battle Mulan doesn’t go and this results in Wentai’s death. Fei XiaoHu returns to inform Mulan along with giving her Wentai’s dog tag, “Before he died he told me to tell you to never give up.”

Mulan is devastated by Wentai’s death and becomes a drunk. She quits training her men and lays in misery about Wentais death. One day Fei XiaoHu comes and tears down the dog tags that Mulan and Wentai had hung up which belonged to their brothers. He yells and Mulan and lets her realize that she is letting Wentai die in Vain.

Mulan gets up and train her men. While she is giving her speech a mystery soldier is see laying in bed and attempting to get up. His face is covered. Fei XiaoHu comes in with a smile and there is a flashback of the day Wentai was hurt, “No matter if I live or die tell Mulan that I have died. Her emotional tie must be cut before she can really grow strong. Promise me.”  Wentai is alive!!!!!!!!!

Mulan fights for 7 years and becomes a well respected leader. Her men are all ready to die for her. Due to the fact that she is first in line when they ride into battle Mulan buys the respect of many soldiers. Mao Dun the prince of the Rourans murders his fathers and launches an attack on the Wei nation consisting of 200,000 men. Mulan draws a plan with the main commander to take her troop into lure the Rouran people and draw them to a corner where the Chief Commander will launch an ambush, but sadly Mulan is betrayed by The Chief Commander who is jealous of her achievements. Mulan also finds out that Wentai is alive and has been watching over her for 7 years. Mulan loses half of her brothers when they are held captive. They are brought to the canyon where Mao Dun is attempting to use them as bait to lure Mulan and the rest of men out. The captured half is slowly slaughtered by the Rourans in front of Mulan who refused to let the rest of her men go out and be ambushed. Before being killed the men that were captured and the men that were in the canyon proceed to sing their anthem. As they sang their anthem the captured men are slowly killed in front of their brothers and general. Along with the captured half Fei XiaoHu was also killed. Mulan rises up and attempts  to take her men into one last battle, but refuses to surrender. Before killing her horse to feed her men one of her men stops her and tells her to kill him instead. Wentai seeing this walks towards the Rouran’s and calls for the Rourans to come talk to him.

This is where we find out that Wentai is actually, “Hoba Tong” The 7th son of the Wei Emperor. Wentai trades himself for the life of his men and Mulan. Mao Dun takes Wentai back and while there Wentai is treated nicely by the Rouran princess who wishes to be queen of the Wei Empire so that her people could live peacefully with the Wei’s. Mao Dun tells her that when he takes over the Wei Empire she will get her wish as he will marry her (Sick she is his sister WTF)

Mulan left her men behind as they pleaded to go with her. She sneaks into the Rouran camp and overhears the princess’s desire to be queen of the Wei and unite her people with them. She sneaks into the princess’s bed at night and reveals herself as the woman general Hua Mulan. She tells her that her wish could come true if they killed the root of all evil. The Rouran princess agrees and helps Mulan slay Mao Dun.

Once the war is over Mulan goes to the palace where the emperor informs her that The Chief Commisioner has been punished for his coward act. He also attempts to promote Mulan to the Chief Commisioner, but she refuses because she wants to return home and take care of her ill father who she had been away from for 12 years. She also asks him to punish her because she is a woman. The emperor tells her that he knew and has long forgiven her and that the country his lucky to have a woman such as her. Mulan leaves and as she leaves Toba Hong/Wentai attempts to go after her, but he is stopped by his father who tells him that he has a responsibility to marry the Rouran princess which has become a nationwide event.

While home Mulan is visited by Wentai who was speaking to her father. Dialogue after the two walks out

Wentai: “Let’s go away together doesn’t matter where.”
Mulan: “You once said if you could give your life to end this war you would do it.”
Wentai: “It’s easy to give up my life, but it’s too difficult to give up the woman I love.” (Omg ;[ soooooooo ugh romantic but sad)
Mulan: “In order that there be more tigers, that no more families end up with just a bloody dog tag,”
Wentai: “I Understand.”

They hug for one last time ;[

Wentai: “Forget about me”
Mulan: “For 12 years every day I wake up in the battlefield my first thought is of you knowing you are there gives me the courage to open my eyes. Forever after, it will still be the same way everyday.”

They break apart and Wentai leaves. There after is a thought from Mulan,

“Someone once said go too far from home and you will lose your roots. Kill to many people and you will forget yourself. If you die in battle your life will sink into the ground like rain and vanish without a trace If at that time you fall in love with someone hope will blossom again from the earth and embrace life with a passion. Thank You, Wentai.”

Tags: Chen Khun, Chen Kun, Hua Mulan, Hua Mulan 2009, Jaycee Chan, Jingle Ma, Mulan 2009, Mulan 2009 Synopsis, Mulan Review, Vicky Zhao Wei

This entry was posted on Monday, December 28th, 2009 at 2:56 am and is filed under Movie Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.