Disney’s live action retelling of “Mulan” hits Disney+ this Friday with a Premier Access cost of $30, but is it worth it?
Like many other movies since March, “Mulan” had to delay its original release date of March 27th 2020, due to the growing COVID-19 pandemic. It wasn’t until late June, when Mulan finally received its second theatrical release date, July 24th 2020. However, without a steady decline of COVID-19 cases, and the continued closure of the movie theaters across the nation. Disney decided skip a theatrical release all together, and allow “Mulan” to become accessible at home through their streaming platform Disney+, under the new Premier Access feature.
So what is the Premier Access feature? Basically, if you are already a Disney+ subscriber you can unlock “Mulan” on the platform for $29.99. This gives you unlimited access to the film, as long as you remain a Disney+ subscriber. Note, this is once again only for current Disney+ subscribers. If you are not already subscribed to the Disney+ platform, you will have to play for a monthly Disney+ subscription plan on top of the $29.99 Premier Access cost to view “Mulan.” While this may seem like a steep price to some, this has been nothing new. Since the start of the pandemic, many studios including Universal & Warner Brothers have skipped the theatrical window of their films and added them straight to video on demand services. “Trolls World Tour,” “Scoob,” & “Bill and Ted Face the Music” have all debuted to rent or own immediately, with the price tags of $19.99 and $24.99 respectively. The only difference here is the mark up price of $5 and the added Disney+ subscription.
So why is “Mulan” so much more? Let’s break this down. Unlike the previous films that have been released for video on demand, “Mulan” is one of the only big blockbuster features that have taken this risk. The budget for “Mulan” alone was over $200 million, without advertising. It’s no surprise that studios are hurting without theaters, and with an already crowded release schedule thru 2022, there are no more dates for “Mulan” to be pushed back to. So in this case, yes Disney is trying to recoup as much here as possible through this release strategy. You also have to account for the target audience of Disney features; families. The average trip to the theater for a family of four can run upwards from $40-$60, not including snacks. So with $29.99 price tag on an unlimited viewing feature, it seems like a great deal for their target audience. Now, is a great deal for a single Disney-loving fan like myself, probably not. But with most movie theaters closed, and for the safety of limiting human contact, this seems like the best solution.
So you’ve now made the decision to purchase “Mulan” this weekend at the $29.99 price point, but is it worth it? If you’re like me, you haven’t been too impressed by Disney’s recent takes on their live action retellings. My two favorites so far have only been Cinderella (2015) & Jungle Book (2016), but I might have to add Mulan (2020) to this list. Animated Mulan purists beware, if you are looking for a direct retelling of the classic animated feature, you will not find it here. The “Ballad of Mulan” supersedes its animated counterpart, it’s a legend that has been past down & told through many dynasties, and I applaud Disney and director Niki Caro for reimagining it in a brand new light. There is a very fine line with all of Disney’s live action retellings between respecting the animated feature, while also in turn creating something new. Yes, there is no singing. Yes, there is no Mushu. However, this allows the film to become more realized and grounded within the story of Mulan itself. Don’t worry, you’ll still be able to pick out all your favorite songs within the score, and all the major story beats are there, but we’ve matured a bit with this retelling. I applaud Disney for keeping “Mulan” at a PG13 rating as it does well to not shy away from the spoils of war; as even Mulan racks up a pretty high body count throughout the film.
Even without the mesmerizing animation & show stopping musical numbers, this live action version of “Mulan” still manages to capture the same heart & powerful message of its animated predecessor. From the visually stunning sets & landscape, to impressive choreography, this is the level other Disney remakes should be striving for. The only disappointing part of Disney’s live action Mulan is the fact that we don’t get to experience it on the big screen.
So is “Mulan” worth $30? I’d say yes! Especially now, during this uncertain time we’re all living through. Mulan portrays an inspiring & empowering message of bravery, honor, and self worth, that all of us can benefit from today! Loyal. Brave. True.
“Mulan” hits Disney+ on Friday September 4th.
