Brief Summary
This video analyzes why the live-action remake of Mulan (2020) failed, arguing that the removal of musical numbers without replacing their narrative function led to a soulless and hollow film. The video explains the importance of musical numbers in musicals, tracing their origins to arias in opera and how they convey character emotions and drive the plot. It also discusses how Disney's successful animated musicals, particularly those from the Disney Renaissance, effectively integrate music and storytelling, a formula the Mulan remake abandons to its detriment.
- The removal of music from the Mulan remake without replacing its narrative function is the primary reason for its failure.
- Musical numbers in musicals are direct descendants of arias in opera, serving to express character emotions and advance the plot.
- Disney's animated musicals effectively integrate music and storytelling, a formula the Mulan remake fails to replicate.
Intro
The video starts by stating that the Mulan remake was a failure because they cut the music. The author expresses his confusion about the success of live-action Disney remakes that cut out music, citing examples like The Jungle Book, Cinderella, and Alice in Wonderland. The author questions the reasoning behind removing the music, particularly the claim of aiming for a more realistic tone, when the film includes fantastical elements.
Opera and Operetta Explained
To explain why the Mulan remake failed, the video introduces opera, breaking it down into two main components: recitative and aria. Recitative is when characters sing the plot, moving the story forward, while aria is when the story stops and a character expresses their feelings. The video uses the aria "Nessun Dorma" from Puccini's Turandot as an example. Recitative is further divided into recitativo secco (dry) and recitativo accompagnato (accompanied), with the former being more spoken-word-like and the latter more song-like. The video then transitions to operetta, a lighter form of opera that emerged in the late 1800s. Operetta incorporated elements like jokes, dance numbers, and burlesque, and replaced recitative with dialogue, retaining arias for emotional expression.
From Operetta to Musical Theater
The video explains how operetta evolved into modern musical theater by adding more vaudeville elements, dancing, and acting. Musical numbers in Western stage musicals are descendants of arias, serving as moments for characters to reflect on their emotions. To illustrate this, the video uses the example of "The Producers," comparing the original non-musical film to the musical adaptation. In the musical, characters define themselves and their desires through song, such as in the numbers "We Can Do It," "I Want to Be a Producer," and "Guten Tag Hop-Clop." Each character gets a moment to express their feelings and motivations through song, laying the foundation for character development.
Howard Ashman's Influence on Disney Musicals
The video emphasizes the importance of music as information, developing the story and characters. It highlights Howard Ashman's role in the Disney Renaissance, noting his understanding of how to convert emotionally significant moments into song. Ashman's approach involved creating simple yet effective musical numbers that conveyed character wants and feelings. The video uses Disney Renaissance films like "The Little Mermaid" and "Beauty and the Beast" as examples of how to integrate music and storytelling effectively. These films open with a number that sets expectations, introduce the main character and their desires, do the same for the villain and sidekicks, and include a love song.
Disney Remakes and the Mulan Failure
The video discusses the trend of live-action Disney remakes, which began with "Alice in Wonderland" in 2010. While some remakes cut music, they couldn't eliminate it entirely due to its integral role in the films' identities. The video argues that the "Beauty and the Beast" remake struggled with integrating the music, while the "Mulan" remake failed because it cut all the music without replacing it with emotionally intense scenes. The remake lacks character development and fails to convey Mulan's wants and feelings. The original film's songs, like "Reflection" and "I'll Make a Man Out of You," effectively communicate Mulan's internal conflict and the expectations placed upon her.
Mulan Remake's Shortcomings
The video reiterates that the problem with the Mulan remake is the absence of music and the failure to replace it with emotionally resonant scenes. The movie feels soulless because it lacks character development and charm. The supporting characters, like Li Shang and Mushu, are missing, and Mulan's desires are never explored. The video contrasts this with the original film, where Mulan's song "Reflection" reveals her struggle to balance her own identity with societal expectations. The video also points out that the references to the original songs in the score of the remake only serve to highlight the emotional emptiness of the new film.
Referencing Music in the Score
The video emphasizes that the Disney company is marketing these remakes to adults who grew up with the original films. By including references to the original songs in the score, the remake reminds the audience of the superior original and highlights the emotional gaps in the new film. The video concludes by expressing astonishment that Disney, a company known for its successful musicals, could produce a film as flawed as the Mulan remake.
Credit Where Credit's Due
The video acknowledges that James Newton Howard and Harry Gregson-Williams included a light motif for Mulan in the film's score. However, this detail was overshadowed by the film's other problems. The author mentions this to appease potential commenters.
