10s Movie Review - Maleficent

Director: Robert Stromberg
Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Fantasy/ Family
Runtime: 97 minutes
Year: 2014
Starring: Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Sharlto Copley, Lesley Manville, Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple, Sam Riley, Brenton Thwaites, Michael Higgins

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2021 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 26: A MOVIE WITH AN ANTI-HERO
 
Description: A vengeful fairy (Angelina Jolie) is driven to curse an infant princess, only to discover that the child may be the one person who can restore peace to their troubled land.

Review: “Sleeping Beauty” is a classic Disney animation that was screaming for a new interpretation. The classic may be beloved worldwide; there are also a few things to be said about it. The story is very thin and the characters are hardly given any depth. However, with  the evil witch Maleficent it does have one of the scariest Disney villains of all time. Memorably terrifying because there was no glimmer of compassion or humanity in this mistress of evil.  
So, with “Maleficent” the infamous shrew is given her own full movie. And Disney could have gone either way: work out the creepy cold-bloodedness even more or add more nuance. Debuting director Robert Stromberg goes full for the nuance, making “Maleficent” primarily a breezy family film.
It is the safer choice of the two, but also the dullest. Maleficent is transformed from a terrifying demoness into a nature-loving fairy who fights to preserve her magical forest, while people from the surrounding areas want to destroy it. She becomes the victim of deep betrayal and is not the same from that point on. Revenge she wants, and she gets it.
But soon she regrets it when it turns out that the baby she cursed grows up to be a very sweet girl. Perhaps even a little too sweet for the sober observer. Princess Aurora is played by Elle Fanning, one of the most talented actresses of her age, but her puzzled look and cheerful giggles quickly get on your nerves. Maleficent’s elaboration is better. The creators have given her a background that, for the most part, fits nicely with the 1959 classis. But otherwise, it’s all fat from original and surprising.
Fortunately, there are also plenty of things to enjoy. In the first place, the leading rol of Angelina Jolie, who plays her character with visible pleasure. She is at her best in the famous scene of the christening party: delightfully diabolical. And then there is the visual aspect of the film, which isn’t bad. Only he three fairies look pretty horrible.
I would have wanted a more dark version of the tale, but “Maleficent” is, mostly thanks to Jolie, still an entertaining film.

Rating: 3/ 5