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Movie Review: ‘Maleficent’

“Maleficent” shines on the fantasy aspect, and definitely is empowering for women. But it falls short in other areas and Jolie might have picked a better film to signify her return to the silver screen. Hello Moviegoers! Disney’s latest fairy-tale animated film to get a live-action fantasy makeover is Sleeping Beauty. “Maleficent” focuses on the titular character, and iconic villain and recreates her as more hero and less villain. As the re-telling’s main failures were not showing enough of Maleficent’s good side or her fantastical world, the original Maleficent still reigns superior.

Maleficent ( 2 sweet potatoes out of four) Stars: Angelina Jolie, Sharlto Copley, Elle Fanning, Sam Riley, Leslie Manville, Imelda Staunton, and Juno Temple; Director: Robert Stromberg; Genre: Action/Adventure, Family; Rated: PG; Running Time: 97 minutes; Opens: Friday, May 30th , 2014.

In ancient times the human kingdom is separated from a peaceful magical kingdom, The Moors. In The Moors, Maleficent (Angelina Jolie) a wonderfully, loved, and happy fairy’s life is disrupted by a human discovered trespassing in The Moors. Said human is the young future King Stefan (Sharlto Copley) who befriends Maleficent despite the humans noted hatred and disdain for The Moors. As the pair grows, they eventually fall in love as young teenagers, but they drift apart and Stefan disappears to Maleficent’s despair.

Years later, Stefan works in the castle and the current King has been defeated by Maleficent in an attempt to conquer The Moors. The King cites anyone who can kill Maleficent will become the next king. Stefan goes to the forest with an iron weapon, Maleficent’s weakness, and they falsely rekindle their friendship. However, he is unable to kill her in her sleep, so he cuts off her wings instead. He becomes King and Maleficent becomes dark and evil, intent on revenge against Stefan. When Aurora (Elle Fanning) is born, Maleficent sees her opportunity and uses the legendary curse to take something away from Stefan.

The film itself has many plot holes, two that I couldn’t quite get over. The first, it makes no sense why the humans want to destroy The Moors. It’s forest. There’s no gold, no treasure, and the magical beings don’t attack or bother them. I don’t understand why the humans want miles of inhabitable forest among their possessions. Secondly, if someone cuts you while you’re sleeping, you will wake up. Don’t try it at home, but no one is sleeping through mutilation. The major problem with the movie is it is the focused too much on Stefan and the humans, when they weren’t interesting. Maleficent is interesting, The Moors, Aurora’s childhood growing up being raised by fairies is interesting, not Stefan’s internal torment.

Problems aside, “Maleficent” entertains at time and the world of The Moors is a delight to find yourself in. The film also has patches of really fun action scenes with Tree warriors reminiscent of Tolkien, and of course the dragon. I give Maleficent two sweet potatoes out of four.

This is A. P. Richardson for moviegoersview and I’ll see you after the movies at moviegoersview.com.

MV Staff
MV Staff
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