Review Maleficent


The movie starts by showing us a land that has two kingdoms; one for the humans and one for the Moors (some term for magical folk). It looks promising when we get a glimpse at a young Maleficent, a good fairy who comes across a young boy named Stefan where it's revealed that there's some hatred between fairies and humans. We cut to some time later when Stefan becomes heir to the throne by cutting off the wings of Maleficent and straining the relationship between magical creatures and humans more when she decides to use her powers for darkness. As revenge for steeling her wings, Maleficent (Angelina Jolie) goes to the christening of Aurora and delivers a curse-gift, proclaiming that by touching the needle on the spindle on her sixteenth birthday, the child will fall into a death-like sleep. King Stefan (Sharlto Copley) orders every spindle burned and that three fairies, Knotgrass, Thistlewit, and Flittle, to take Aurora into the woods to raise her. Maleficent keeps a close eye on the child, sort of becoming an accidental mother to Aurora when the three fairies prove to be incompetent. At sixteen, Aurora (Elle Fanning) believes Maleficent to be her fairy godmother and the mistress of evil seems to be having second thoughts about the curse.

I loved this version of the tale very much. The acting was fantastic, and Angelina Jolie was spell- binding in the lead (this was HER movie). Her character development, although perhaps simply is beautifully executed in this movie. You want her to succeed and you understand her somewhat evil thoughts at times too. It all makes perfect sense. Elle Fanning was also very good in her role.

I actually think that the fact that Diaval turned into the dragon makes more sense to THIS movie as she could turn him into anything she wants. I really loved the moments that she was evil in, but my two favorite scenes were the christening and the kiss, which was a very nice twist. The motherly love shown in this film really melted my heart like butter on a pan. Showing both innocent and dark side and finally mother side of Maleficent really made me warm and fuzzy. I loved that the prince wasn't the true love, and it show everyone that true love can not only be with a significant other or soul mate, but also with someone like a mom or aunt or "godmother". The handsome, young prince that Aurora met when he was lost in the forest is unable break her spell with a kiss because he doesn't love her; he's merely infatuated with her. Instead, it's a kiss from Maleficent, who eventually became Aurora's godmother and mentor after she was unable to withdraw her curse, that brings her back to life. It's Aurora who helps restore Maleficent's wings and reigns over a peaceful and united land as Maleficent once dreamed of doing herself before the prince stole her wings. 

I admitted to shed a good tear there. I found this movie much more educational morally than the classic good and bad and nothing in between fairy tale that we all used to know. This one puts new layers to the characters that show another aspect of the nature of humanity, keeping it real without making it spooky to watch and maintaining that frame of great kids movie with awesome effects and with all the magical sparkling elements you expect your kid to enjoy in films such as this.


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