Hong Kong director takes on Mulan with real actors
More than a decade after Disney made a blockbuster animated film out of a folk tale about a young woman in ancient China who takes her father’s place on the battlefield, a Hong Kong director is taking on the story of Hua Mulan with real actors.
Jingle Ma said his live-action version of “Mulan” avoids glorifying one of China’s best-known female folk heroes, instead focusing on her vulnerabilities and relationships. Ma said he delved into Mulan’s trepidation when killing for the first time and confronting the death of her comrades.
“The animated movie tells you she is cheerful. She’s a little godlike in that she can solve all her problems. She can use her wits to solve many of her problems. But it doesn’t discuss her deepest emotions,” he said in a recent interview.
In Ma’s 115-minute movie, which opens in China, Singapore and Malaysia on Friday, gone are the goofy antics of a sidekick dragon voiced by Eddie Murphy and the smooth Broadway-style numbers performed by “Miss Saigon” star Lea Salonga, replaced with the bloody, gritty reality of war. One of the movie’s shots shows Mulan, played by Chinese actress Zhao Wei, sprayed with blood on her face after killing a general from a foreign tribe invading mainland China.
Zhao, whose credits include Stephen Chow’s “Shaolin Soccer” and John Woo’s historical epics “Red Cliff” and “Red Cliff II,” is known for her pretty looks but also boyish demeanor that Ma says made her a good fit for the lead role. The Hong Kong director said he was looking for an actress who was athletic and well-built enough to be a credible male soldier.
Mobile Wait Times for Android & Pre Now Available
For the Android user who wants to go to Walt Disney World and needs to know the wait time for certain attractions in the famous park, TouringPlans.com has a solution. Lines, a mobile website that displays estimates of wait times for every attraction at Walt Disney World.
The folks at TouringPlans have launched in the past products such as Touring Plans and the Crowd Calendar to help the visitors at Walt Disney World to efficiently tour the parks and avoid the crowds. And now, Lines is available for Android as well as for the first and second webOS phones; Palm Pre and Pixi, oh, and the fruit phone too. With this service, they will help you to “Find out how long you’ll actually wait in line for every attraction.†And not only that but you can also “Get crowd estimates, refurb data, single rider lines, & more.â€
Now, when you think you are stuck and don’t know how long the line is at Space Mountain, or Frontierland, just get your Android phone out and hit http://m.touringplans.com (Lines) in your browser, to unleash the power of this mobile web app. Lines is free to use for a limited time, and you’ll need to subscribe to use Lines during this preview. Is anyone here planning a trip to Florida and especially to WDW, let us know in the comments if this web app worked out for you.
Disney’s Armed Forces Salute 2009
Saluting our men and women of the armed forces this holiday Disney is offering a discount for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party tickets.
Adults 10 and Up: $36.40 plus tax
Children 3-9: $32.20 plus tax
Discounted tickets for Active and Retired U.S. Military, including Coast Guard and active National Guard or Reservists. Can purchase up to 5 additional tickets for family or friends. ID requirements are the same as the 5-day Disney’s Armed Forces Salute tickets.
NOT available at Military Bases or Shades of Green. Purchase does not specifically have to be day of event (i.e. can purchase Dec 3rd tickets on Dec 2nd), but the purchase must and can only be made at Guest Relations/Ticket Counters at the parks.
Available Dates are:
November: 29
December: 1, ,3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17
