Director: Robert Stromberg
Stars: Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Sharlto Copley
Disney takes a page from the wicked playbook with a new spin on one of their most beloved films sleeping beauty, this time focusing on the story of the fairy who cursed Aurora (Sleeping Beauty) Maleficent.
Maleficent is visually gorgeous (both the film and the character) with Jolie perfectly cast, she is continually framed and lighted in a striking manner.. This shouldn’t come as a shock as first time Director Robert Stromberg’s background is Visual Effects and Production Design. He definitely has the skills to make something look good.
If only as much thought went into the script and story of the film as it did the visuals.
Anybody paying half a lick of attention will stare dumbfounded as plot hole after plot hole is dug.
This spin on Maleficent shows us how the goodly fairy came to enact a curse and the repercussions of said curse. We see both the good and the evil in her. When Jolie is in full villain mode Maleficent soars chewing up scenery, spouting the occasional quip and commanding the screen. When she acts as a surrogate parent to Aurora the film turns into a time vacuum plodding through the mud and trudging along at a desperately slow pace.
There are twists on the original story that keeps things fresh however limited villain time, slow pacing and a weak script sabotage this family friendly fairy tale. Thank god for Jolie she saves this from being a total abomination.
Grade – 70
