Mulan 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		5.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Mulan 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

No Harvey Fierstein, no sale.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III January 10, 2021

Released alongside the standard 4K edition, Disney and Target have collaborated on an exclusive packaging variant for the live-action adaptation of 2020's Mulan. Available both in-store and online, this edition takes its design cues from the studio's previous Target exclusives although, like last year's Onward, the "deluxe packaging" really amounts to nothing more than a fat slipcover. It's still a nice collectible for fans, though much less essential than previous ones.

For a synopsis and review of the film, please see both Martin Liebman's review of the standard 4K edition and Brian Orndorf's slightly more positive theatrical review. I fall more in line with Marty's take on the film and thus maintain the same 3.5/5 rating as seen in his review; although I still prefer the 1998 original, it's not a wide margin.

Mulan 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

For an analysis of this disc's 2160p transfer, please see Martin Liebman's 2020 review of the standard 4K edition, which also directly points to the Blu-ray edition that's also included with this release.

Mulan 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

For thoughts on the default Dolby Atmos mix, please see Marty's review of the standard 4K edition.

Mulan 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This two-disc edition looks like a Digipak from the outside but, like Target's edition of Onward, is actually just the standard version in an exclusive slipcase. On-disc extras are identical to the standard 4K edition.

• Exclusive Packaging - More of a beefed-up variant slipcover than a full-on packaging overhaul, the attractive cover artwork opens to reveal a three-paneled image with a Gallery Book tucked inside. Similar to past Target editions, this square-bound softcover book features thick, glossy paper and attractive design elements. Several short write-ups about the production are here including "Bringing Mulan to Life", "Living History", "Creating the World", "Imagining the Costumes", "The Armor and Weapons", "Staging the Battles", and "Returning Home", as well as prop photos and images from the set. It's nicely put together but pretty surface-level stuff.

Mulan 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Disney's live-action Mulan plays out a lot differently than the studio's 1998 animated version, which was a relatively strong effort that nonetheless didn't quite reach top-tier status. The same can be said for this production, which jettisons the slapstick comedy and songs in favor of a much more dramatic and action-oriented affair. Its production values are terrific, but ultimately there's much more style than substance here and, while I do prefer the original as whole, but at least this feels like an attempt to try something new. Disney's 4K disc is predictably good with solid A/V specs and a few decent bonus features, but Target's exclusive "Gallery Storybook" edition doesn't really feel like much of a collectable... especially at the current price point. For die-hard fans only.