Film Review | Maleficent

We’re all familiar with the story; we all know how it goes. Once upon a time a princes gifted with grace and beauty is trapped with a curse to sleep for all eternity. A jealous witch is at the foot of the damned castle, determined to prolong her curse until the end of time. With only truelove’s kiss to save the princess, the impenetrable wall of thorns is not the only barrier for anyone who dares to break the spell cast by Maleficent.

But what if such a tale was simply a fragment of the truth? What if the story was not at all as we have been told?

The Story

This adaptation of Charles Perrault’s, The Sleeping Beauty, takes a different turn by titling it, Maleficent, rather than Disney’s first adaptation with the original title. Like many retellings of beloved fairytales, many writers like to take from a different point of view, and writer, Linda Woodverton, has done just that.

Woodverton gives a deeper meaning to Maleficent’s jealous rage, while simultaneously recreating a villain that is more relatable than the one we were introduced to in the animation back in 1959. This version sees Malifecent’s childhood and ascent to power, while also portraying King Stefan just as vicious as the dragon that we’ve read and seen in the original tale.

The story has Aurora sitting idle rather than being the centre of attention. She becomes leverage for both ends, and is the soul key to the humanity that Maleficent lacks in the animated feature. With the princess sitting as the film’s damsel in distress rather than the token heroine, the concept of “truelove” is questioned.

Since the success of Disney’s new direction (story and concept wise) initiated in Tangled, which continues here with Maleficent, it’s an exciting time for fairytales that we thought we knew and loved. I can’t wait to see what Disney will do with their upcoming Cinderella.

The Cast

Angelina Jolie is magnificent in this film. She embodies Maleficent in such away that gives the character a repulsing, yet relatable compulsion that leaves you curious and jaded. She allows audiences to feel what she’s feeling and even carries a hint of humour every now and again. In one word, Jolie is: compelling.

Sharlto Copley similarly portrays a different Stefan as we see his greedy assent to the throne. With a retelling where the villain is unclear, Copley brought a madness to the character that truly allowed you to never really connect with him from beginning to end. He was brilliant in capturing the tortured nature of a king under threat.

Elle Fanning’s portrayal of a beloved princess was brilliant. She was perfect for the role in the sense that she not only looked sixteen, but she also had the liveliness and optimism that comes with youth and innocence. Through her we see the purity of humanity and imagination that Maleficent and Stefan lose in their adulthood.

Sam Riley’s unlikely character addition is a brilliant new take on Maleficent’s beloved pet. Diaval is Maleficent’s raven who gains a central role in this retelling. Riley character becomes a source of wisdom and hope for Jolie’s character. He balances and supports her well and is never overshadowed. Here, Diaval is Maleficent’s best friend rather than just her pet.

Imelda Staunton, Lesley Manville, Juno Temple play the pixies who guard Aurora. In this adaptation, they’re mainly the source of comic relief. They’re dynamics is amusing and they worked well as a trio who are giddy, submissive and, well, down right stupid.

Aussie, Brenton Thwaites, lands the role of Prince Phillip, who is also an added comic relief in this film. Although he and Fanning did have an uncanny chemistry, it’s unfortunate that he doesn’t have the central role that the animated Phillip had back in 1959. Nevertheless, he did a brilliant job portraying a realistic sixteen-year-old who is just as unsure about truelove as any one in this entire film.

Graphics and Special Effects

I have to talk about the brilliant portrayal of The Moors – a.k.a. Maleficent’s kingdom – in this film. When you’re creating a fantasyland, such as The Moors, it is imperative that you create a land that is both familiar and mind blowing. The special and visual effects teams need to pat themselves on the back and win an Oscar for bringing The Moors to life. The characters and riches that reside in such a magical place are worth the human envy that this film dwells upon – it is beautifully enchanting.

***

Overall, I am loving Disney’s current movement away from the typical love stories that their past animations have portrayed. It’s been a slow, yet stead progression that I’ve loved watching since I was a little girl. If you love their TV series, Once Upon A Time, you’ll LOVE this film. Like Aurora’s curiosity over the spinning wheel, entice your curiosity and prick you sense with an enchanting retelling of epic proportions.

sL Star Rating: ★★★★★

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