Film Review: Escapism

For Konect’s ‘lockdown’ edition, Robert reviews Mulan in advance of the new live action remake release and shares his top five recommended films for escapism for all ages.

I decided to watch the original Disney Classic Mulan, as I have not seen it recently and I wanted to rewatch it before the live action remake hits the cinema (it was scheduled for UK release on 27 th March but has been postponed).

Mulan still looks beautiful despite the fact it is over twenty years old. The animation is truly stunning and holds up even compared to films released today. The best aspect of this film is the voice acting with the true standout being Eddie Murphy as Mushu. He brings a level of comic relief which is needed for a film that deals with a very real subject matter of women not being respected and deemed not as strong or worthy as males.

While this film is a musical, the music is the film’s weakest aspect. I only remember one song which is “I’ll make a man out of you”. The song is sung perfectly by Donny Osmond which shocked me as the character who sings the song is voiced by B.D. Wong.

There’s also a couple of cool action scenes, the best being when the Huns attack our heroes on a snowy mountain. Mulan was made during the Disney renaissance in the 1990s so because of that I had high hopes going in. While the film is not perfect, I still had a good time. If you need something the whole family can enjoy, watch this blast from the past.

Escapism is what we need during these times. To escape the harsh reality and focus on stories that bring us joy and wonder. From Godzilla and Oldboy to Mulan and The Iron Giant. These films help me escape and keep me calm during these troubled times. So, I thought I would recommend five films that cover different age ranges and genres that I’m watching during this lockdown.

12 Angry Men (1957) - Twelve members of a jury have to decide if someone is innocent or guilty of murder. The case seems opened and closed but one member thinks that something doesn’t add up. What proceeds is 90 minutes of tension-filled drama that is a masterclass of film making. [Rated age 12+ on www.commonsensemedia.org]

Rush Hour (1998) - To me, Jackie Chan can do no wrong; he’s an action comedy legend. Rush Hour is the perfect blend of what Jackie Chan revolutionised in Hong Kong with the added American flare to produce a funny and entertaining film. [Rated age 14+ on www.commonsensemedia.org]

The Raid 2 (2014) - The best martial arts film since The Legend of the Drunken Master. Welsh writer and director Gareth Evans made a film that’s both beautiful and brutal. While all the action scenes are incredible, nothing will ever top the kitchen fight. [Rated age 17+ on www.commonsensemedia.org]

Hunt For The Wilderpeople (2016) - Ricky Baker and Hector are on the run in the New Zealand wilderness. This film is just a pure joy to watch. You will go through a whole range of emotions and it is endlessly rewatchable. [Rated age 12+ on www.commonsensemedia.org]

Pokemon: The Power Of Us (2018) - While some of dialogue is very cheesy, the ideas it explores of working together and putting our past differences behind us for the greater good is a universal theme. Pokemon: The Power Of Us isn’t just a good kids movie, it’s a great movie. [Rated age 7+ on www.commonsensemedia.org]

Sky Cinema are again re-showing the Harry Potter films. This reminded me that I own all the books and while we might not be able to leave our homes, staring at our screens all day isn’t good for us. I intended to pick these up, so if you need something to distract your kids that’s a good learning experience or just need something other than what’s on TV maybe try reading!

The Film Review is contributed by Robert Ewing. Robert is passionate about film as an art form, and shining a light on films that may not be on people’s radar. Robert is from Kirknewton.