eline
Imagination
Posts: 141
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Post by eline on Jun 5, 2011 14:23:20 GMT -5
Okay,so something has been bothering me lately.
Namely,the portrayal of Mulan in stories.Of course there are enough kick-ass stories,I just get the feeling that some fans want her to turn in some pretty,feminine girl who Shang falls in love with because she's so Prettyyyyy.This are namely AU stories.Nothing is wrong with this couple,I actually love them.I just always thought that Shang fell in love of her because she of her heart and mind and because she's badass.Either that,or I really get the message of the movie wrong...
Then there are these so called *shudder* forbidden love stories where they turn her into a dude.Why trade all the bad ass that is Mulan for such a cliché story? Note:I am in no way homophobic or against yaoi(or whatever it's called) I just think it's a waste.
Of course,everyone has freedom of speech I just wanted to rant a little.
So,what is your opinion?
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levy120
Guardian
Muushuuuu~
currently working on: fanfic overload and reviews
Posts: 945
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Post by levy120 on Jun 6, 2011 12:51:46 GMT -5
^ This
Mulan is suffering from a lot of clichees. The Most used probably being "What if Shang found out her secret earlier" and that in 80% ending with a baby. But I'm not too much of a fan of AU anyway. Or the Mulan/Shang pairing in first place - and yes you can quote me on that AND stone me if you feel like it.
In the Audiocommentary on the DVD it was stated that the romance was NOT intended, but during a Preview of the Movie to a test audience, they requested that the movie could need some Romance so they shoved it in for the sake of it and I dunno how you feel about it, but I think it shows.
I like to emphasize on this point that I do not dislike Shang as a character, it's just the... randomness of it all that irks me. And because it is so random in the movie already, I cannot focus on reading any kind of fic that deals with it as a serious business.
I have however seen a lot of Mulan/Shang fics that gave them a really nice chemistry too, that keep proving me that it CAN be done, witty and well - it just happens ever so rarely :<
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Post by bookwormgal on Jun 14, 2011 20:59:29 GMT -5
To the people who insist on turning Mulan into a delicate flower whose only purpose in the story is to get paired up with a male (Shang or otherwise) and have a kid, I have this to say:
"Dishonor! Dishonor on your whole family! Dishonor on you! Dishonor on your cow! Dishonor on your story!"
First and foremost, she is a strong individual. That was the first thing that grabbed Shang's attention. She gained his respect before he knew her gender. Then, she showed up and saved him from Shan Yu. I have a feeling that all her actions might have a slightly greater affect on his viewpoint of her that the fact she looks pretty.
She can save the country and get her man, but she does not need a man to be a whole person. If you can balance her strong will with the fact that she's a woman, fine. If you take out everything that made her hero, drown her in cliches, and turn her into a fragile flower that can only exist if there is a romantic relationship, you apparently slept through 98% of the movie.
Once again, there is no reason why she can't have a relationship. After all, in traditional stories the hero of the tale saves the world and gets the girl, right? Why can't she get her own reward for her heroics? She's allowed a romantic relationship (as long as the writer does not destroy her entire character to create it).
And now my rant is over....
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Post by castledown13 on Jul 11, 2011 18:30:01 GMT -5
I agree with all of you! When I was younger,I used to read a lot of Mulan/Shang fluffy love stories,like The Honor of a Traitor(which includes lyrics of If I Never Knew You from Pocahontas!).
Now when I look back at it,I always find that I used to be an idiot back then. I'm not the type with AU fanfics,unless it's with Times That Taint,a really good,dark,almost realistic fanfic. Anyway, I HATE fanfics that have Shang falling in love with Mulan just because of her beauty.It's not that I want Mulan to have a relationship with Shang,it's just that I don't want Mulan to be all girly girl like the princesses from Mulan 2(Ting-Ting,Mai and Su).
But it's possible to have a fanfic with Mulan and Shang,but add some drama,suspense,a hint of romance,some dark,angsty stuff,add some historical facts that REALLY happened in ancient China here and there and you got one h*ll of a good Mulan fanfic!
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levy120
Guardian
Muushuuuu~
currently working on: fanfic overload and reviews
Posts: 945
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Post by levy120 on Jul 19, 2011 15:44:53 GMT -5
And it just so happens I found a fanfic with THIS Summary: "My version of Mulan, which invloves more Mulan and Shang romance."
... KILL IT WITH FIRE
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eline
Imagination
Posts: 141
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Post by eline on Jul 21, 2011 14:13:04 GMT -5
I've actually read that fic .*feels akward* But only because Mulan gets so little fanfiction and I want to give it all a try. At least she joins the army in this story (some Mulan/Shang fanfiction removes the entire army storyline. It's...irritating...). And I agree with castledown 13. Actually I dislike the princesses for exactly that reason. The first movie has Mulan who is,obviously, kick ass. The second movie has a bunch of self-centered princesses who care more about their crush on a guy(who they know for like... 2-3 days? ) then the well being of an entire kingdom. If Mulan was like that everyone would be dead and Shan-Yu would be emperor. In the mountains when she saw the huns,she didn't think to save herself.She thought about her country and the innocent lifes that would be lost. And that is one of the many things that makes her such a good role model. Her selflessness. But the hugest wallbanger fic is that of Lian-Hua. I used to love it untill I noticed how she promoted Shang to protagonist and Mulan to love-interest when it should be the other way around. Not to mention the spin-off saga where she makes her a cold-hearted,whiny little bitch who doesn't deserve Shang. That's even more frustrating then the whole porcelain doll thing.
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Post by castledown13 on Jul 26, 2011 18:10:37 GMT -5
THANK YOU! FINALLY,SOMEONE AGREES WITH ME!
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