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Disney criticised for filming Mulan in China's Xinjiang province

58 points by abc-xyz 6y ago

vertis 6y ago
Did we need a live-action version of Mulan? What was wrong with the animated version (that is better in the live version)? Edit: I might even have been excited about a new version of Mulan if not for the controversies surrounding it. It is a shame because it was one of my favourites as a child.
- brian_herman 6y ago
  it's not better there are no musical numbers edit: grammar
- Riverheart 6y ago
  Mulan Pitch Meeting (spoilers) https://youtu.be/j_USHuhOqyk https://youtu.be/j_USHuhOqyk
  - natcombs 6y ago
    I’m glad I watched that. Looks like the movie is a waste of time
    - umvi 6y ago
      I think it's worth at least one watch. Lots of fun Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon esque kung fu scenes. The biggest problem really is Mulan being a Mary Sue.
      - vermilingua 6y ago
        Why does that make it worth a watch? There are lots of CTHD-esque movies/shows, some of them are actually a bit more than a blatant cash grab, and close to zero of them give money to the absolute trash fire that is the Disney corporation. Watch one of those instead!
- AznHisoka 6y ago
  We don’t “need” any movie. Anyway, I liked the live action one. Nothing groundbreaking of course but what movie is these days?
  - StavrosK 6y ago
    Damning with faint praise is my favorite!
- debuggingnoob 6y ago
  Did we need a live version of Lord of The Rings? What was wrong with the print version? The original Mulan legend is good material as is the original movie. If the new movie had been any good we'd likely all be happy for it. A Star Was Born has been re-made 4 times. The most recent is the highest rated. Pride and Prejudice has been made several times. I personally really enjoyed the mid 90s version. Mutiny on Bounty has been re-made more than once. I liked the 60s version over the 40s version. I liked the 2005 King Kong (and the 1933 King Kong) There's nothing wrong with remaking. It's just disappointing when it's a bad remake.
  - foobarian 6y ago
    I'll tag along: I liked the live action version of Aladdin a lot more than the animated.
    - vertis 6y ago
      I enjoyed the Aladdin stage play, though TBH it's not my favourite play I've been to in recent years. Would settle for any play right now.
  - jkinudsjknds 6y ago
    I'd argue some of the recent disney efforts like the Lion King don't qualify for this because, unlike remakes of the past, it's basically a shot for shot recreation of the animated version. Something about that feels wrong to me. They're more like remasters.
  - vertis 6y ago
    These are all good examples. Lord of the Rings is an interesting example because it's such a different medium. I guess for me it's not so much the remaking even as Disney remaking it's own properties. I like the BBC pride and prejudice more than the more recent remake, but perhaps that's just nostalgia. I haven't watched it yet, but I'm told the most recent Little Women is a better version.
- konart 6y ago
  Not sure about "we", but Disney most likely wanted to earn some money from China, where the animated version was not very well received back then.
- aaron695 6y ago
  It's always good to see we are all positive thinkers and can jump from an OP about a possible genocide in the making and how we as a world should deal with that, to should cartoons be made live action. So I checked the box office, and it's to early to tell by popular vote. It's not out in China until the 11th of September and I think that might bring in a lot. But why would you delay on China? It's already on the torrents. But maybe the Chinese language version is not? And should we re-mix things? I think not, that's why it annoys me people complain about Disney copyright. Be original people, stop waiting to be able to copy Mickey Mouse. Extend Disney's copyright I say.
vermilingua 6y ago
> Disney is under fire for shooting its new film Mulan in parts of China where the government is accused of serious human rights abuses. Because as we all know, if they’d shot it in any other province, the crimes against humanity basically aren’t even happening!
- acdha 6y ago
  There’s a difference between not stopping genocide and giving money and recognition to the people conducting it. The actual point of the criticism is more nuanced than what you quoted: > social media users noticed that in the credits Disney thanked a number of government entities in Xinjiang, including the public security bureau in the city of Turpan and the "publicity department of CPC Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomy Region Committee".
  - sudhirj 6y ago
    This probably implies they paid for permits and fees as well, which would make them direct supporters of the system. If this was a sanctioned country it would be a clear cut issue, but as long as the US can’t / refuses to impose sanctions there’s only consumer pressure.
  - dominotw 6y ago
    > giving money and recognition to the people conducting it. Isn't this basically all products that we buy at walmart though. What is the difference. I don't understand the nuance here.
    - acdha 6y ago
      I agree that western companies’ decision to ignore human rights in favor of cheaper prices is a problem but it seems like an escalation to go from ignoring the issue to publicly supporting the organizations involved with the full knowledge that they use things like that both as part of their public defense and to gauge how much more they can get away with.
  - vermilingua 6y ago
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
ImAlreadyTracer 6y ago
On the one hand I'm glad they're deciding to give work to Chinese locals, they could have picked a better place though.
mytailorisrich 6y ago
This is manufactured outrage, once again. Nothing wrong with filming in any part of China, but when people want to find something to pick on they find something to pick on.
- JoeAltmaier 6y ago
  I can see this point. We'd not be able to film anywhere if outrage were the selection criterion. Not in America surely.
- falcolas 6y ago
  I'll stick to my outrage of the casts' attitudes towards Hong Kong and the outrageous $30 rental rate. I think that's more than enough, though this particular story certainly doesn't change my mind.
  - umvi 6y ago
    Well the $30 rental rate is an attempt to recoup box office losses due to covid so can't really blame them for trying... don't like it? Wait until December when it's free.
  - mytailorisrich 6y ago
    The $30 rental rate is not 'outrageous'. It's a commercial decision, perhaps an experiment, taking into account the current special circumstances: How much is a family willing to pay to see this in a cinema? It's more than $30 in total, so as they cannot do or decide not to go, let's then watch this movie for actually less than that but more than for a movie that is passed in release date. The 'market' will decide. As for the cast, well they are Chinese and may not have the same opinion as the 'correct' opinion broadcast on Western media. I think this is not outrageous. This just shows that people in different countries see things differently. In this case I think that taking note and understanding Chinese people views on Chinese issues is more productive than being outraged.
    - john-shaffer 6y ago

58 points by abc-xyz 6y ago

Did we need a live-action version of Mulan? What was wrong with the animated version (that is better in the live version)? Edit: I might even have been excited about a new version of Mulan if not for the controversies surrounding it. It is a shame because it was one of my favourites as a child.

brian_herman 6y ago
it's not better there are no musical numbers edit: grammar
Riverheart 6y ago
Mulan Pitch Meeting (spoilers) https://youtu.be/j_USHuhOqyk https://youtu.be/j_USHuhOqyk
- natcombs 6y ago
  I’m glad I watched that. Looks like the movie is a waste of time
  - umvi 6y ago
    I think it's worth at least one watch. Lots of fun Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon esque kung fu scenes. The biggest problem really is Mulan being a Mary Sue.
    - vermilingua 6y ago
      Why does that make it worth a watch? There are lots of CTHD-esque movies/shows, some of them are actually a bit more than a blatant cash grab, and close to zero of them give money to the absolute trash fire that is the Disney corporation. Watch one of those instead!
AznHisoka 6y ago
We don’t “need” any movie. Anyway, I liked the live action one. Nothing groundbreaking of course but what movie is these days?
- StavrosK 6y ago
  Damning with faint praise is my favorite!
debuggingnoob 6y ago
Did we need a live version of Lord of The Rings? What was wrong with the print version? The original Mulan legend is good material as is the original movie. If the new movie had been any good we'd likely all be happy for it. A Star Was Born has been re-made 4 times. The most recent is the highest rated. Pride and Prejudice has been made several times. I personally really enjoyed the mid 90s version. Mutiny on Bounty has been re-made more than once. I liked the 60s version over the 40s version. I liked the 2005 King Kong (and the 1933 King Kong) There's nothing wrong with remaking. It's just disappointing when it's a bad remake.
- foobarian 6y ago
  I'll tag along: I liked the live action version of Aladdin a lot more than the animated.
  - vertis 6y ago
    I enjoyed the Aladdin stage play, though TBH it's not my favourite play I've been to in recent years. Would settle for any play right now.
- jkinudsjknds 6y ago
  I'd argue some of the recent disney efforts like the Lion King don't qualify for this because, unlike remakes of the past, it's basically a shot for shot recreation of the animated version. Something about that feels wrong to me. They're more like remasters.
- vertis 6y ago
  These are all good examples. Lord of the Rings is an interesting example because it's such a different medium. I guess for me it's not so much the remaking even as Disney remaking it's own properties. I like the BBC pride and prejudice more than the more recent remake, but perhaps that's just nostalgia. I haven't watched it yet, but I'm told the most recent Little Women is a better version.
konart 6y ago
Not sure about "we", but Disney most likely wanted to earn some money from China, where the animated version was not very well received back then.
aaron695 6y ago
It's always good to see we are all positive thinkers and can jump from an OP about a possible genocide in the making and how we as a world should deal with that, to should cartoons be made live action. So I checked the box office, and it's to early to tell by popular vote. It's not out in China until the 11th of September and I think that might bring in a lot. But why would you delay on China? It's already on the torrents. But maybe the Chinese language version is not? And should we re-mix things? I think not, that's why it annoys me people complain about Disney copyright. Be original people, stop waiting to be able to copy Mickey Mouse. Extend Disney's copyright I say.

vermilingua 6y ago

> Disney is under fire for shooting its new film Mulan in parts of China where the government is accused of serious human rights abuses. Because as we all know, if they’d shot it in any other province, the crimes against humanity basically aren’t even happening!

acdha 6y ago
There’s a difference between not stopping genocide and giving money and recognition to the people conducting it. The actual point of the criticism is more nuanced than what you quoted: > social media users noticed that in the credits Disney thanked a number of government entities in Xinjiang, including the public security bureau in the city of Turpan and the "publicity department of CPC Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomy Region Committee".
- sudhirj 6y ago
  This probably implies they paid for permits and fees as well, which would make them direct supporters of the system. If this was a sanctioned country it would be a clear cut issue, but as long as the US can’t / refuses to impose sanctions there’s only consumer pressure.
- dominotw 6y ago
  > giving money and recognition to the people conducting it. Isn't this basically all products that we buy at walmart though. What is the difference. I don't understand the nuance here.
  - acdha 6y ago
    I agree that western companies’ decision to ignore human rights in favor of cheaper prices is a problem but it seems like an escalation to go from ignoring the issue to publicly supporting the organizations involved with the full knowledge that they use things like that both as part of their public defense and to gauge how much more they can get away with.
- vermilingua 6y ago

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

ImAlreadyTracer 6y ago

On the one hand I'm glad they're deciding to give work to Chinese locals, they could have picked a better place though.

mytailorisrich 6y ago

This is manufactured outrage, once again. Nothing wrong with filming in any part of China, but when people want to find something to pick on they find something to pick on.

JoeAltmaier 6y ago
I can see this point. We'd not be able to film anywhere if outrage were the selection criterion. Not in America surely.
falcolas 6y ago
I'll stick to my outrage of the casts' attitudes towards Hong Kong and the outrageous $30 rental rate. I think that's more than enough, though this particular story certainly doesn't change my mind.
- umvi 6y ago
  Well the $30 rental rate is an attempt to recoup box office losses due to covid so can't really blame them for trying... don't like it? Wait until December when it's free.
- mytailorisrich 6y ago
  The $30 rental rate is not 'outrageous'. It's a commercial decision, perhaps an experiment, taking into account the current special circumstances: How much is a family willing to pay to see this in a cinema? It's more than $30 in total, so as they cannot do or decide not to go, let's then watch this movie for actually less than that but more than for a movie that is passed in release date. The 'market' will decide. As for the cast, well they are Chinese and may not have the same opinion as the 'correct' opinion broadcast on Western media. I think this is not outrageous. This just shows that people in different countries see things differently. In this case I think that taking note and understanding Chinese people views on Chinese issues is more productive than being outraged.
  - john-shaffer 6y ago