KyleLicht

5/12

This movie just wasn't necessary. It happened but it didn't need to. Everything was kind of blah and it didn't really have any heart to it. The only good thing was the cinematography, which looked really nice. It was fine enough to sit through once or half-watch but I wouldn't want to do that again. I appreciated that it was set in China with all Chinese actors it it was also annoying that they spoke English. Like... you almost had it. Also, that makes it clear that it was just an attempt to make more money. The story of Mulan is always great so the remake wasn't really necessary since it's the same plot. All the signs point towards cash grab. Also, the special effects were really bad and just didn't seem to fit.

7/12

It was cute and some of the childish jokes got me more than they should've. Also, I haven't seen the first one so I'm missing out on any of that context. But, this was easy enough to understand on its own. Kids will love it and adults can enjoy it enough to sit through.

12/12 This is the second film on my MLK Day antiracism watchlist. Like I mentioned, Freedom Writers was an outer circle antiracism film since it has a white savior storyline, but this film falls into the inner circle of antiracism, especially since it is a Black starring, Black-written, Black-produced, and Black-directed film that is made for black people and about black people. Many antiracist films can fall flat when they are clearly written for white people to educate them on racism. Da 5 Bloods does not do that. It tackles the idea of race in many different ways, whether it's the treatment of Black people in the 70's and during Vietnam, between Black people and Vietnamese people, about what it means to be Black and celebrate it, and how it can tie history into the present. Lee has a masterful way of educating us on history. This film focuses on the Vietnam War but also greatly mentions MLK, Crispus Attucks, Angela Davis, Marvin Gaye, Black Lives Matter, and so on. But anyway, this movie is a masterpiece of cinema, as I would expect from Spike Lee. It's a Spike Lee Joint 100% with all of his trademarks and psychological makeup of dealing with themes of race, manhood, and trauma. His style is bizarre and creative and breaks the rules of film and challenges viewers to look at things a different way. Lastly, this was Chadwick Boseman's last film in his lifetime and second-to-last that he starred in. Having died soon after the release and having the movie revolve around the memory of his dead, admirable character, is double depression and absolutely heart wrenching to watch. Rest in Power Boseman.