Editing Mulan (1998 film) (section)

===Critical reception===
Upon release, ''Mulan'' received mostly positive reviews from film critics,<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Mark |first=Joshua J. |date=September 7, 2020 |title=Mulan: The Legend Through History |url=https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1596/mulan-the-legend-through-history/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241112190434/https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1596/mulan-the-legend-through-history/ |archive-date=November 12, 2024 |access-date=January 20, 2025 |work=[[World History Encyclopedia]] |quote=The film was generally well-received}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Cooper |first=Gael |date=July 7, 2019 |title=First Mulan trailer for live-action remake blazes with grace, action |url=https://www.cnet.com/culture/entertainment/first-mulan-trailer-for-live-action-remake-blazes-with-action/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240815074804/https://www.cnet.com/culture/entertainment/first-mulan-trailer-for-live-action-remake-blazes-with-action/ |archive-date=August 15, 2024 |access-date=January 20, 2024 |work=[[CNET]] |quote=The original animated Mulan came out in 1998 and received positive reviews}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last=Ouellette |first=Jennifer |author-link=Jennifer Ouellette |date=September 5, 2020 |title=Review: Sumptuously reimagined Mulan turns Disney princess into a true warrior |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2020/09/review-sumptuously-reimagined-mulan-turns-disney-princess-into-a-true-warrior/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227065708/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2020/09/review-sumptuously-reimagined-mulan-turns-disney-princess-into-a-true-warrior/ |archive-date=February 27, 2024 |access-date=January 20, 2025 |work=[[Ars Technica]]}}</ref> who praised it for exploring themes such as strength, feminism,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Patidar |first=Ligna |date=September 21, 2020 |title='Mulan (2020)': A beloved childhood story turned political controversy |url=https://themiamihurricane.com/2020/09/21/mulan-2020-a-beloved-childhood-story-turned-political-controversy/ |access-date=January 20, 2024 |work=[[The Miami Hurricane]]}}</ref> and gender roles.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Singh |first=Anvita |date=March 8, 2018 |title=The enduring feminism of Disney's Mulan |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/hollywood/happy-womens-day-movies-disney-mulan-5087894/ |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610061119/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/hollywood/happy-womens-day-movies-disney-mulan-5087894/ |archive-date=June 10, 2023 |access-date=January 20, 2024 |work=[[The Indian Express]]}}</ref> The review aggregator website [[Rotten Tomatoes]] gave the film an approval rating of {{RT data|score}}, based on {{RT data|count}} reviews, with an average rating of {{RT data|average}}. The site's consensus reads, "Exploring themes of family duty and honor, ''Mulan'' breaks new ground as a Disney film, while still bringing vibrant animation and sprightly characters to the screen."<ref name="RotTom">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mulan|title=Mulan|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]]|access-date={{RT data|access date}}|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210330035149/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mulan|archive-date=March 30, 2021|url-status=live}}{{RT data|edit}}</ref> In a 2009 countdown, Rotten Tomatoes ranked it seventeenth out of the fifty canonical animated Disney features.<ref name="disneycountdown-rescuers">{{cite web | work=Rotten Tomatoes | title=Disney Animation Celebration | url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/guides/best_disney_animated_movies/ | access-date=November 28, 2009 | archive-date=November 28, 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091128053921/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/guides/best_disney_animated_movies/ | url-status=live }}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the film has a score of 72 out of 100, based on 24 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/movie/mulan|title=Mulan (1998) Reviews|website=Metacritic|access-date=October 13, 2014|archive-date=January 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112084203/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/mulan|url-status=live}}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film a rare "A+" grade.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cinemascore.com/|title=Cinemascore|publisher=CinemaScore|date=2012|access-date=August 24, 2018|archive-date=December 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220122629/https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Roger Ebert]], reviewing for the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'', gave ''Mulan'' three-and-a-half stars out of four in his written review. He said that "''Mulan'' is an impressive achievement, with a story and treatment ranking with ''Beauty and the Beast'' and ''The Lion King''".<ref>{{cite web|last=Ebert|first=Roger|title=Mulan Movie Review & Film Summary (1998)|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/mulan-1998|publisher=Roger Ebert|date=June 19, 1998|access-date=August 24, 2018|archive-date=August 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825002414/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/mulan-1998|url-status=live}}</ref> Likewise, James Berardinelli of ''[[ReelViews]]'' awarded the film three-and-a-half stars out of four praising the lead character, its theme of war, and the animation. He concluded that "Adults will appreciate the depth of characterization while kids will love Mulan's sidekick, a colorful dragon named Mushu. Everyone will be entertained [by] the fast-moving plot and rich animation."<ref>{{cite web|last=Berardinelli|first=James|title=Mulan (United States, 1998)|url=http://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/mulan|publisher=ReelViews|access-date=August 24, 2018|archive-date=November 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118185155/http://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/mulan|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Todd McCarthy]] of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' called the film "a female empowerment story par excellence, as well as a G-rated picture that may have strong appeal for many adults." McCarthy further praised the voice cast and background design, but overall felt the film "goes about halfway toward setting new boundaries for Disney’s, and the industry's, animated features, but doesn't go far enough."<ref>{{cite news |last=McCarthy |first=Todd |url=https://variety.com/1998/film/reviews/mulan-2-1117477600/ |title=Film Reviews: Mulan |work=Variety |date=June 8, 1998 |access-date=December 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708213505/https://variety.com/1998/film/reviews/mulan-2-1117477600/ |archive-date=July 8, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Owen Gleiberman]] of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' graded the film a B+ writing, "Vividly animated, with a bursting palette that evokes both the wintry grandeur and decorative splendor of ancient China, ''Mulan'' is artful and satisfying in a slightly remote way."<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Gleiberman|first=Owen|title=Mulan|url=https://ew.com/article/1998/06/19/mulan-3/|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=June 19, 1998|access-date=August 24, 2018|archive-date=August 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825002511/https://ew.com/article/1998/06/19/mulan-3/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Gene Siskel]] of the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' described the film as "a big disappointment when compared with the studio's other recent films about a female hero searching for independence." He was further critical of Mulan's characterization in comparison to [[Ariel (The Little Mermaid)|Ariel]] and [[Belle (Disney character)|Belle]], and claimed the "design of the film does not take advantage of the inspiration provided by classic Chinese artists, and the songs are not memorable."<ref>{{cite news|last=Siskel|first=Gene|title=Mulder, Scully Make A Good Team|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1998-06-19-9806190112-story.html|work=Chicago Tribune|date=June 19, 1998|access-date=May 25, 2022|archive-date=August 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825002536/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1998-06-19/entertainment/9806190112_1_mulder-and-scully-mulan-comparative-analysis|url-status=live}}</ref> Similarly, [[Janet Maslin]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' criticized the lack of detail in the background art and described it as "the most inert and formulaic of recent Disney animated films."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Maslin|first=Janet|date=June 19, 1998|title=FILM REVIEW; A Warrior, She Takes on Huns and Stereotypes|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/06/19/movies/film-review-a-warrior-she-takes-on-huns-and-stereotypes.html|access-date=2021-04-27|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=April 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420035312/https://www.nytimes.com/1998/06/19/movies/film-review-a-warrior-she-takes-on-huns-and-stereotypes.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Reviewing the film for the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', [[Kenneth Turan]] wrote "''Mulan'' has its accomplishments, but unlike the best of Disney's output, it comes off as more manufactured than magical." While he praised the title character, he highlighted that the "by-now-standard hip patter (prepare for jokes about cross-dressing) is so tepid that not even five credited writers can revive it, and the songs by Matthew Wilder and David Zippel (with Lea Salonga and Donny Osmond singing for the leads) lack the spark that Zippel's lyrics brought to the underappreciated ''Hercules''."<ref>{{cite news|last=Turan|first=Kenneth|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-jun-19-ca-61328-story.html|title='Mulan': Formula With a New Flavor|work=Los Angeles Times|date=June 19, 1998|access-date=May 25, 2022|archive-date=April 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180430111306/http://articles.latimes.com/1998/jun/19/entertainment/ca-61328|url-status=live}}</ref> Ed Gonzalez of ''[[Slant Magazine]]'' criticized the film as "soulless" in its portrayal of East Asian society.<ref name="EdGonz">{{cite magazine |url = https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/mulan/ |title = Review of Mulan |access-date = May 25, 2022 |last = Gonzales |first = Ed |year = 1998 |magazine = Slant Magazine |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070930153631/http://www.slantmagazine.com/film/film_review.asp?ID=1301 |archive-date = September 30, 2007 |df = mdy-all }}</ref>

This movie was also the subject of comment from feminist critics. [[Mimi Thi Nguyen|Mimi Nguyen]] says the film "pokes fun at the ultimately repressive gender roles that seek to make Mulan a domesticated creature".<ref name="PopPol">{{cite news|first=Mimi |last=Nguyen |title=Negotiating Asian American superpower in Disney's Mulan |url=http://www.poppolitics.com/articles/2001/01/05/Whos-Your-Heroine? |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080218080321/http://www.poppolitics.com/articles/2001/01/05/Whos-Your-Heroine |archive-date=February 18, 2008 |website=Pop Politics |access-date=August 11, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Pam Coats, the producer of ''Mulan'', said that the film aims to present a character who exhibits both masculine and feminine influences, being both physically and mentally strong.<ref name="TIMEFem">{{cite news | first = Nadya | last = Labi | title = Girl Power | url = http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,988643,00.html | work = TIME Magazine | pages = 1–2 | date = June 26, 1998 | access-date = August 11, 2007 | archive-date = September 30, 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070930101750/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,988643,00.html | url-status = dead }}</ref>