Yifei Liu is perfectly cast as the title character; Little girls might be better off sticking with the cartoon for now; but this opulent, ambitious production and Liu's focused, intrepid performance at its center, gives them something to grow into
this is such a great-looking film, with amazing set pieces and dazzling action; The international cast is nothing short of great, led by Yifei Liu's movie star turn as a boundaries-shattering, stereotype-defying hero-warrior for her time and for ours
it's a stirring showcase for star Liu Yifei; In Niki Caro's "Mulan", that story elegantly and energetically moves forward, a timeless message made for right now
gorgeous and exhilarating, it's the best of the Disney remakes so far; "Mulan" isn't what we've come to expect from Disney's live-action remakes – it's far more sober, meditative, and refined
every single shot of Niki Caro's "Mulan" is designed to impress, so much so that the film can be overwhelming to absorb; More than ever, Mulan's story shows that gender is no obstacle to heroism
Disney's live-action "Mulan" is a sweeping, somber epic; "Mulan" is a classic hero(ine)'s tale, exhilarating in its elaborate set pieces and large-scale ambitions even when the smaller human story within it sometimes falls short
despite all the splendor, there's little sense of vision; Liu YiFei has enough charisma for a lead performance, but the script gives her no depth and no meaningful relationships to work with
an entertaining if straightforwardly glossy action-adventure from the Disney workshop; the live-action remake has blue-chip acting talent and exciting battles, adroitly sidestepping any awkward sexual issues in favour of glossy family entertainment
a winning action movie, a vivid, athletic and gorgeously rendered take on the legend that strips away many of the cuter elements of the animated "Mulan" and instead hews to the basics of the original story
a dazzling, moving, hair-prickling spectacle; Niki Caro's boldly reimagined, battle-laden saga belies its Disney status and spotlights the multifaceted star power of Liu Yifei. The result is a live-action remake done right
"Mulan" is a perfectly fine live-action adaptation, delivering some Disney magic and gorgeous visuals, but it's ultimately just an average action movie; it's one of the Disney's better live-action adaptations of its animated offerings
"Mulan" features stunning visuals fit for big screen, but its characters fall flat; Although the battles are eye-popping, the character arcs feel rushed, painted with broad strokes, leaving scenes devoid of emotional and narrative weight
by Ann Hornaday [Washington Post ]
by Richard Roeper [Chicago Sun-Times ]
by Peter Bradshaw [The Guardian ]
by Cary Darling [Houston Chronicle ]
by Katie Walsh [Tribune News Service ]
