Disney’s Maleficent Movie Premiere at the El Capitan theatre, was an event full of stars and fan fare. While Angelina Jolie and her co-stars were walking the red carpet, I was up the street at the media preview. I was excited to see how Disney would portray their biggest villain and spin her side of the famous story of Sleeping Beauty known to all.
The movie opens with a young child fairy with beautiful wings enjoying herself in the forest. Surrounded by unusual looking “friends” Maleficent appears happy and loved by all in the forest kingdom, until a chance meeting with a young man named Stefan, caught stealing from the Moors, results in a friendship and eventual romance. All appears fine until the King of the Human Kingdom declares war on the forest kingdom and places a price on Maleficent’s head. Stefan goes to warn Maleficent of the danger and instead betrays her, resulting in a catastrophic edge of your seat scene. Maleficent, heart broken and out for revenge, takes her anger out on the newborn Aurora, placing the famous curse upon her and turning both the forest and human world upside down.
After being cursed, Aurora is taken deep into the forest by the 3 fairies in the hopes, Maleficent’s curse can be prevented. Aurora enjoys many years of happiness in the forest and a strong and unique bond develops between Aurora and Maleficent during this time. But in true Disney magic, on the night before her 16th birthday, Aurora, finds out the truth about her family and heads to the Castle, only to have the curse become a reality and place Aurora into her deep sleep we are all familiar with from Sleeping Beauty tales.
The fight to save the kingdoms and the realization that Aurora is the key to peace between the kingdoms, finds Maleficent struggling against her heart of stone which seems to be softening with each passing scene. The kiss of true love and subsequent happily ever after scenes at the end of the movie, sent this story spinning into a whole new dimension. The trailers and hype had me believing I would see Maleficent in all her evilness, but instead the movie gives us the soft and caring side of Maleficent. The movie takes us into the youth of the evil and sinister villain, and with the potential to create an even bigger following for this Disney villain, it instead weakens her and takes away from the Maleficent we all love and fear.
Although not a fan of Angelina Jolie, she was the perfect Maleficent. Ella Fanning as the innocent, Aurora was also great as were the rest of the actors in their roles. The special effects used to make Maleficent fly were beyond spectacular, as were the battle scenes , especially the final battle between King Stefan and Maleficent. King Stefan’s betrayal and continuing battle to destroy Maleficent is downplayed causing the revenge felt by Maleficent to be diminished. I am curious to see where this film will end up in Disney history. Love it or dislike it, it will be in theatres, Friday, May 30th, go see Disney’s Maleficent and share your thoughts and comments below.
Maleficent stars Angelina Jolie as Maleficent, Sharlto Copley, Elle Fanning, Sam Riley, Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple and Lesley Manville. “Maleficent” is produced by Joe Roth and directed by Robert Stromberg, with Angelina Jolie, Michael Vieira, Don Hahn, Palak Patel, Matt Smith and Sarah Bradshaw serving as executive producers. Linda Woolverton wrote the screenplay.
I am the Entertainment Writer for Chip and Co and look forward to sharing my reviews with you. Check out the interview with Angelina Jolie about her thoughts on playing Maleficent.
Let our friends at Destinations to Travel help you book your next Disney Vacation. They are the preferred Travel Agency of Chip and Company and Disney Addicts, and who we use ourselves.
Get started below for your FREE No Obligation Quote.
Book With our friends at Destinations to Travel
For the BEST in Disney, Universal, Dollywood, and SeaWorld Theme Park News, Entertainment, Merchandise & More follow us on, Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube. Don't forget to check out the Chip and Company Radio Network too!
Up until now I have heard nothing but good things about the movie! I thoroughly enjoyed the movie, although I didn’t analyze it in the same ways you did. I thought the lessons that the movie highlighted were interesting! Why does a good person become evil at least on the exterior? What is true love? Also how do you know who is worthy of your trust? I’d much prefer to see the other side of Maleficent than to be frightened by her! I’m glad she got her revenge on King Stefan! After all, good rules over evil! It wasn’t as dark as I was expecting, but I was actually glad!
I agree totally. I was so disappointed in the last half of the film. It was like making a movie about Scar and turning him into nothing but a lovable kitten. Also, the 3 fairies were horrendous. I couldnt stand any scene they were in.