MEMBERS
ACTIVITY
GROUP SCORE
ESTABLISHED
Learn about Stories
Welcome to Stories!
Rewards
Author:
Joyces Choices
Joyce Kulhawik, best known as the Emmy Award-winning arts and entertainment critic for CBS-Boston (WBZ-TV 1981-2008), is currently lending her expertise as an arts critic/advocate, motivational speaker, and cancer crusader. Kulhawik is President of the Boston Theater Critics Association, a member of the Boston Society of Film Critics, and Boston Online Film Critics Association. Kulhawik has covered local and national events from Boston and Broadway to Hollywood, reporting live from the Oscars, the Emmys, and the Grammys. Nationally, Kulhawik has co-hosted syndicated movie-review programs with Roger Ebert and Leonard Maltin. Look for her arts & entertainment reviews online at JoycesChoices.com
Comments:
MULAN just opened virtually and it’s too bad you can’t see this on the
big screen. It’s an expansively shot and handsomely choreographed epic
adventure that will inspire all the women (and the men I hope) in your
household; it inspires me still, and I know the story well. Disney’s
original animated version came out in 1998 and I watched it many times
with my then 4 year-old daughter. Lea Salonga singing the title role and
its heroine’s signature song “Reflection” burrowed right into our
brains and it’s resurrected here in the new 2020 live action version’s
swelling score, propelling us through this story of identity, self
discovery, and female empowerment. MULAN stars Yifei Liu who joins an
all-star Asian cast in this tale based on the real-life Chinese legend
of a young girl who secretly disguises herself as a male warrior and,
taking her beloved ailing father’s (Tzi Ma) place, answers the call of
the Emperor (Jet Li) to fight against invaders threatening Imperial
China.
Mulan already looks like a warrior when we first see her against an
expanse of land and sky, a young woman on horseback galloping through
the hills, her long black hair trailing in the wind. Shortly we will
see her scampering over the rooftops of her tiny village chasing down a
chicken and we recognize it as a signature moment, a funny and exciting
set of stunts (Liu did most of her own) demonstrating a decidedly
unfeminine skill set that will come in handy later. But right now she’s
suffering the disdain of the villagers and her mother (Rosalind Chao),
who can only see an undisciplined daughter instead of a demure young
maiden whose duty is to bring honor to her family by excelling at
serving tea (another inventively hilarious scene) and …..
continue reading
Join Us!
To join this community, create a free account. Click the Join button above and then register. After you register, you will be brought back to this page. Click the Join Button again.
There are many benefits to being a member of a this community. You'll have access to resources to help provide support, inspiration and services. You also have access to VIP content, rewards and specials.
9/6/2020