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Guy On Twitter Points Out Why Disney’s Mulan (2020) Is Effectively Chinese Propaganda

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On September 4th, the 2020 Mulan movie (colloquially dubbed the New Mulan) arrived at Disney+ where it seems to be finding commercial success.

According to Forbes, Mulan’s release led to a 68% increase in Disney+ downloads despite the film coming with an additional $30 price tag on top of the regular Disney+ subscription fee.

However, the reviews are not as hot as the sales, getting a 5.6 on IMDB with Metacritic giving it 68% and Rotten Tomatoes—76% (audience’s score of 53%). Though people say it is visually stunning, for the most part, the majority expected the classic story of the ’98 animation, when it was actually based on the original ballad.

However, there is also a rather unique take on why it didn’t go well with certain audiences as explained by Twitter user Rohan Javet Beg.

2020’s Mulan is a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to reviews, but this one stands out from many others

Guy On Twitter Points Out Why Disney’s Mulan (2020) Is Effectively Chinese Propaganda

Image credits: RohanBeg

Twitter user Rohan Javet Beg gives his own take on the movie, pointing out its shockingly bad themes

Guy On Twitter Points Out Why Disney’s Mulan (2020) Is Effectively Chinese Propaganda

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Image credits: RohanBeg

Guy On Twitter Points Out Why Disney’s Mulan (2020) Is Effectively Chinese Propaganda

Image credits: RohanBeg

Guy On Twitter Points Out Why Disney’s Mulan (2020) Is Effectively Chinese Propaganda

Image credits: RohanBeg

Guy On Twitter Points Out Why Disney’s Mulan (2020) Is Effectively Chinese Propaganda

Image credits: RohanBeg

Guy On Twitter Points Out Why Disney’s Mulan (2020) Is Effectively Chinese Propaganda

Image credits: RohanBeg

Though Mulan 2020 is based on the ballad, Rohan can’t but compare to the animated film to explain the stark contrast

Guy On Twitter Points Out Why Disney’s Mulan (2020) Is Effectively Chinese Propaganda

Image credits: RohanBeg

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Guy On Twitter Points Out Why Disney’s Mulan (2020) Is Effectively Chinese Propaganda

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Image credits: RohanBeg

Guy On Twitter Points Out Why Disney’s Mulan (2020) Is Effectively Chinese Propaganda

Image credits: RohanBeg

Guy On Twitter Points Out Why Disney’s Mulan (2020) Is Effectively Chinese Propaganda

Image credits: RohanBeg

Guy On Twitter Points Out Why Disney’s Mulan (2020) Is Effectively Chinese Propaganda

Image credits: RohanBeg

He points out a heavy emphasis on patriarchy and misogyny as themes throughout the film

Guy On Twitter Points Out Why Disney’s Mulan (2020) Is Effectively Chinese Propaganda

Image credits: RohanBeg

Guy On Twitter Points Out Why Disney’s Mulan (2020) Is Effectively Chinese Propaganda

Image credits: RohanBeg

Guy On Twitter Points Out Why Disney’s Mulan (2020) Is Effectively Chinese Propaganda

Image credits: RohanBeg

Guy On Twitter Points Out Why Disney’s Mulan (2020) Is Effectively Chinese Propaganda

ADVERTISEMENT

Image credits: RohanBeg

Guy On Twitter Points Out Why Disney’s Mulan (2020) Is Effectively Chinese Propaganda

Image credits: RohanBeg

Guy On Twitter Points Out Why Disney’s Mulan (2020) Is Effectively Chinese Propaganda

Image credits: RohanBeg

Guy On Twitter Points Out Why Disney’s Mulan (2020) Is Effectively Chinese Propaganda

Image credits: RohanBeg

He ends up calling it Chinese propaganda, explaining that its production involved the Chinese government

Guy On Twitter Points Out Why Disney’s Mulan (2020) Is Effectively Chinese Propaganda

Image credits: RohanBeg

In a nutshell, Rohan explains that the movie is dedicated to a purely Chinese audience instead of exploring anything about its culture, and is done in a way that feels tone-deaf.

Rohan can’t but compare it to the animation in its spirit, pointing out how the plot is very patriarchal this time around and Mulan as the protagonist is just drifting through this movie wracked with guilt over her betrayal of her sword’s motto of ‘loyalty, bravery and truth’.

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He concludes that the movie is borderline propaganda in how it’s made, elaborating that the production of the movie involved four CCP propaganda departments and the Public Security Bureau in Xinjiang.

Guy On Twitter Points Out Why Disney’s Mulan (2020) Is Effectively Chinese Propaganda

Image credits: RohanBeg

Guy On Twitter Points Out Why Disney’s Mulan (2020) Is Effectively Chinese Propaganda

Image credits: RohanBeg

The tweet found its way to Imgur where it went viral. As of the moment of this article, the post received over 123,000 views with over 4,000 upvotes and 600 comments.

Besides criticizing the added price tag of $30 to stream the movie in the first place, many have commented that it is pandering to China with a story that some doubt is as faithful to the ballad as it is claimed to be.

What are your thoughts on the new Mulan? Let us know in the comment section below!

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Robertas Lisickis

Some time ago, Robertas used to spend his days watching how deep the imprint in his chair will become as he wrote for Bored Panda. Wrote about pretty much everything under and beyond the sun. Not anymore, though. He's now probably playing Gwent or hosting Dungeons and Dragons adventures for those with an inclination for chaos.

Some time ago, Robertas used to spend his days watching how deep the imprint in his chair will become as he wrote for Bored Panda. Wrote about pretty much everything under and beyond the sun. Not anymore, though. He's now probably playing Gwent or hosting Dungeons and Dragons adventures for those with an inclination for chaos.

Lukas Garnelis

Lukas is a photo editor at Bored Panda. 4th year in Vilnius Gediminas Technical University as a graphic designer. Can do whatever he sets his mind to.

Lukas is a photo editor at Bored Panda. 4th year in Vilnius Gediminas Technical University as a graphic designer. Can do whatever he sets his mind to.

What do you think ?

Jessica Jeffery 4 years ago

Even if this movie wasn't pandering to the Chinese government, and even if it didn't film in Xianjang near the CONCENTRATION CAMPS, it's still a very poorly written movie with a Mary Sue lead that has literally no character evolution. She starts 'awesome' and ends 'awesome', doesn't learn any new skills through her trials. Even Goku in Dragonball Z has to overcome adversity and pain and get better at his skills!

54points

PaulJin 4 years ago

Lol，this Propaganda thing just doesn't work out，it's basicly WonderWoman coated with story of Mulan.It got 4.7 on douban(kinda of Chinese version IMDB).The cartoon is better,at least it's fun! 2020091111...c480d1.jpg

5points

Load More Replies...

Raine Soo 4 years ago

How low Disney has fallen...They now churn out products as if it were an assembly line. Walt Disney must be spinning like a lathe in his grave.

44points

Marcellus the Third 4 years ago

Sorry? When exactly did Disney make hard-hitting films out of sync with mainstream politics? The focus has always been "fairytales" (not in the Grimm but in the saccharine sense) and "family films" with happy plots. The only stuff out of that line is stuff they bought (Pixar, Lucasfilm). The difference Pixar/Disney was always held up as such a gulf of visions (even though Pixar is mostly sweet as well, but with more of a different viewpoint).

11points

Load More Replies...

danielw 4 years ago

thinking he could have made all that money, himself.

1point

Bacony Cakes 4 years ago

If you put his grave on a car, nearby airports would attempt to contact it.

1point

Darwinist 4 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Johnnee 4 years ago

This is nothing new really as the Chinese market is very important for Hollywood. Disney however would literally walk over dead corpses to get that revenue. A truly disgusting company with zero talent of their own. Everything they have was acquired elsewhere; Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and recently the entire 20th Century Pictures.

32points

Parmeisan 4 years ago

They have all the original IP of their animated films prior to Pixar, but they're not doing anything interesting with it. :( I loved the animated Mulan film despite some over-the-top humour, because I admired Mulan herself. I was really looking forward to this movie, but I wasn't following it closely enough to know that it wasn't (like the live-action adaptations before it) a recreation of the animated version. This plot sounds really bad, and that's unfortunate. You're right, Disney nowadays is just a conglomerate of everything they've bought out, and everything that's wrong with capitalism.

10points

Load More Replies...

Load More Comments

Jessica Jeffery 4 years ago

Even if this movie wasn't pandering to the Chinese government, and even if it didn't film in Xianjang near the CONCENTRATION CAMPS, it's still a very poorly written movie with a Mary Sue lead that has literally no character evolution. She starts 'awesome' and ends 'awesome', doesn't learn any new skills through her trials. Even Goku in Dragonball Z has to overcome adversity and pain and get better at his skills!

54points

PaulJin 4 years ago

Lol，this Propaganda thing just doesn't work out，it's basicly WonderWoman coated with story of Mulan.It got 4.7 on douban(kinda of Chinese version IMDB).The cartoon is better,at least it's fun! 2020091111...c480d1.jpg

5points

Load More Replies...

Raine Soo 4 years ago

How low Disney has fallen...They now churn out products as if it were an assembly line. Walt Disney must be spinning like a lathe in his grave.

44points

Marcellus the Third 4 years ago

Sorry? When exactly did Disney make hard-hitting films out of sync with mainstream politics? The focus has always been "fairytales" (not in the Grimm but in the saccharine sense) and "family films" with happy plots. The only stuff out of that line is stuff they bought (Pixar, Lucasfilm). The difference Pixar/Disney was always held up as such a gulf of visions (even though Pixar is mostly sweet as well, but with more of a different viewpoint).

11points

Load More Replies...

danielw 4 years ago

thinking he could have made all that money, himself.

1point

Bacony Cakes 4 years ago

If you put his grave on a car, nearby airports would attempt to contact it.

1point

Darwinist 4 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Johnnee 4 years ago

This is nothing new really as the Chinese market is very important for Hollywood. Disney however would literally walk over dead corpses to get that revenue. A truly disgusting company with zero talent of their own. Everything they have was acquired elsewhere; Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and recently the entire 20th Century Pictures.

32points

Parmeisan 4 years ago

They have all the original IP of their animated films prior to Pixar, but they're not doing anything interesting with it. :( I loved the animated Mulan film despite some over-the-top humour, because I admired Mulan herself. I was really looking forward to this movie, but I wasn't following it closely enough to know that it wasn't (like the live-action adaptations before it) a recreation of the animated version. This plot sounds really bad, and that's unfortunate. You're right, Disney nowadays is just a conglomerate of everything they've bought out, and everything that's wrong with capitalism.

10points

Load More Replies...

Load More Comments

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