**TL;DR: Mushu was absent from this live-action remake, his character replaced by a non-speaking aloof bird, and so it could never live up to the original animated version** The live-action remake of Disney’s Mulan was so disappointing because they missed out on the best character, Mushu! Previously voiced by the comedic genius of Eddie Murphy, Mushu made the previous Mulan film so entertaining and lighthearted, alongside the more serious themes of family troubles, war and sexism that are prevalent through the previous plot. The recently released live-action film, whilst the actors are excellent and the costumes are beautiful, I felt like the funny and ridiculous asides from Mushu were missing, the script was less well thought out, and the catchy songs that dominated my childhood were sadly left behind. I thought this film would feel nostalgic to me because I loved Disney’s Mulan when I was small, but it fell flat because of the lack of: 1. musical numbers, 2. Ridiculous and funny facial expressions that can only be captured by animation (because real people can’t contort their faces that much!), and most of all 3. Mushu. Although I did like the actor chosen to play Mulan, Liu Yifei, I think even she was cheated in this film because the script was so soulless it couldn’t showcase her talent and reveal her potential as an actor.

**'Mulan' (2020) suffers for many reasons in comparison to its 1998 predecessor. As a standalone film, it has both its own strengths and its own problems.** - Disney's 2020 release of 'Mulan' was advertised as a 'live-action' remake of the original animation — so it is surprising in a way that it was [changed so much] (https://eu.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/movies/2020/09/04/mulan-remake-disney-biggest-changes-original-animated-movie/3449748001/) and was essentially stripped of the 1998 movie's signature style and humour. It also changed some crucial elements of the original — leaving out characters like Mushu the dragon and Mulan's love interest, Li Shang. There are arguments for Disney [going too far with their live-action remakes] (https://epigram.org.uk/2020/01/17/disneys-obsession-with-the-live-action-remake-is-a-thoughtless-destruction-of-nostalgic-favourites/) so that they feel like cash-grabs rather than genuine creative efforts, and those looking to relive a childhood favourite with 'Mulan' (2020) will most likely be disappointed. - The live-action movie also had issues that were all its own: although it was praised by some for its depiction of ancient Chinese culture, it was also criticised for the unrelatable portrayal of Mulan as someone with superhuman powers (as a result of the Chinese element 'Qi'). It was also overshadowed by its association with Hong Kong's [controversial extradition law] (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/10/world/asia/hong-kong-extradition-bill.html) — exemplified by the lead actress's support for it. Overall: it suffers by its inescapable comparison and link to the original. It could have worked as another movie (and one which does have its strengths — like its all-Asian cast and its striving for historical accuracy).