Maleficent (2014)

Maleficent (2014)

7/10

Starring

Angelina Jolie

Sharlto Copley

Elle Fanning

Sam Riley

Imelda Staunton

Directed by Robert Stromberg

Disney decided to rewrite the Sleeping Beauty story and show us how Maleficent (Angelina Jolie) became a villain. The film is a live-action reimagining of Walt Disney’s 1959 animated classic Sleeping Beauty, but this time, the story is told from the perspective of the antagonist, Maleficent.

The movie starts by showing Maleficent as good, then turning evil because of betrayal. I was hoping it would stay that way and that there would be plenty of battles, but I was surprised by how the movie ended up. Turns out, Maleficent wasn’t bad at all—she was just misunderstood.

Regardless, the big question is, “How good was this movie?”

The answer is, it was very good. It wasn’t boring, and it was a fresh take on the story I’m used to. But—and here’s the “but”—it wasn’t glamorous or memorable enough to be a classic. Still, it can be classified as wonderful. I sat through it, blown away by the CGI and the plot. It ended up being one of those movies that, if you missed it, your 2014 movie portfolio would feel incomplete.

Angelina Jolie was in a class of her own in this flick. I loved her grace and poise. She made being Maleficent enviable. The rest of the cast was also on point, and the special effects are a must-see.

The movie starts with young Maleficent thriving in the forest, making everything around her flourish. She meets and falls in love with a human named Stefan, who’s power-hungry. When the time comes for him to choose between his love for Maleficent and his desire for power and glory, he chooses the latter and betrays her by stripping her of her wings.

Revenge drives Maleficent to curse Aurora, a curse she later regrets as she grows fond of the child. This bond begins when Aurora is taken to the woods to hide from Maleficent’s curse. The three fairies are tasked with protecting Aurora and keeping her away from spindles—and Maleficent. But in the woods, Maleficent ends up caring for the child better than the fairies who were supposed to be her guardians.

It’s this hidden care that brings them together and forms a bond between them.

If you ever catch Maleficent on TV, give it a watch. It’s a good enough movie for you and the family. Plus, it was a huge commercial success, raking in over $757 million from its $180 million budget.

Again, the movie’s special effects are the crown jewel of this Disney rewrite. And finally, the joke’s on you if you think you’ve figured out the “true love’s first kiss” secret.