Directed by Robert Stromberg
Starring Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, and Sharlto Copley
There are villains, and then there are Disney villains. A delicious gallery of rogues that have stood the test of time and become some of cinema's most captivating antagonists. Quite possibly the most popular of all Disney villains is Maleficent, from the animated masterpiece Sleeping Beauty. Logically, if one were to make a film based around a Disney villain, Maleficent would be a wise choice. She's an iconic villainess. The self-proclaimed mistress of all evil.
Unfortunately, in Walt Disney Pictures' Maleficent, the mistress of all evil is nowhere to be found amidst this frustrating mess of a film.
The film begins by telling us Maleficent's previously unknown origins. As a young fairy living in the mystical land of the moors, alongside a population of CGI rejects from The Lord of The Rings and the Neo-Pets, she meets an orphan boy named Stefan. The two grow closer and closer over the years, and eventually fall in love.
Time passes, and as Stefan (Copley) grows he distances himself from Maleficent (Jolie). He works his way up to becoming a trusted knight of the king, who is ought to destroy Maleficent and the moors, fearing her power. After a rough battle, the king declares whoever can kill Maleficent, shall be his successor to the throne.
Stefan returns to the moors, and although he doesn't kill Maleficent, he does drug her and cut off her wings. He presents the wings to the king (claiming Maleficent is dead), and the king appoints him the new king. This all sends Maleficent down the dark path that transforms her into the villain we all know…or at least thought we knew, as this film claims…horribly.
Right after this point is where the film progresses into its own twisted version of the original Sleeping Beauty narrative, and into a downward spiral. This is not the Maleficent old fans have come to expect, and the filmmakers completely ignore what made the character great, and what drew audiences into the theater into the first place. Because of this, as they try to make Maleficent out to be this "misunderstood" character, they in turn tare down what the original Sleeping Beauty established.
The original characters you know and love aren't in this film. If you're a fan of Sleeping Beauty, then you'll be rolling your eyes, groaning, and even tempted to leave the theater at every change in the story. Even the littlest changes that make no sense. Why only change the three fairies names when everyone else keeps their names? Why make the green one the idiot and the blue one ditzy and sensible one when it was the other way around? Why??
Everything in Sleeping Beauty is brought down, to build Maleficent up into this hero character. She's not plotting to find and get Aurora. She's…getting to know her and watching over her? What?? I'd love to list all this film's sins, but I respect the sanctity of spoilers. But this film is afraid to make Maleficent the real villain she is. The best example that come to mind right now is The Lorax, where The Onceler is made not the greedy business man from the book, but the Lorax's conflicted "bro". Ugh. Let the villains be villains!
Maleficent is a perfect example of a film that goes for style over substance. The visuals are nice but the script isn't strong enough to justify them. The script is underdeveloped, which is a shame considering it's written by Linda Woolverton. I mean this is the woman who wrote Beauty & The Beast and The Lion King! Tim Burton's Alice In Wonderland too but…come on! Again, the first act is the strongest, and builds up a lot of wasted potential in a rush to get to the "meat" of the film. We barely get to touch on Maleficent and Stefan's relationship so we really don't have time to get caught up in their conflict.
The effects are nice and the world they create in the moors is pretty enough, but essentially they're just trying to do what every fantasy film since Avatar has done. Imitate Avatar's effects. I already mentioned The Lord of The Rings and Neo-Pet rejects (Seriously what are they doing in this film??).
However, amidst all this, are instances of a good film trying to get out. The saving grace of it all is of course Angelina Jolie. She is Maleficent, and gives a great performance. Even when she's not playing the Maleficent we know, she still gives an emotional, compelling character. I must say, despite this film's flaws, the recreation of the scene where Maleficent crashes Aurora's christening and curses her as a baby is great. Jolie's performance, supported by the practical and visual effects, make it like the scene from the original has literally come to life.
Elle Fanning is good but not great as Aurora. Sharlto Copley almost looks like a real-life version of the animated King Stefan, and he works in the role. Sam Riley, who will forever be known now as Discount Orlando Bloom, plays Dival, this film's version of Maleficent's raven, here her shape-shifting servant. He's alright, and the adaptation of the character is creative, but he also pulls in my opinion the biggest middle finger of all (You'll have to watch and see).
Prince Phillip is nothing but a footnote here, and played by who looks to be a lost member of One Direction that missed his tour bus. I've heard the three fairies in Sleeping Beauty be called annoying before. Well wait til' you see them here.
Starting out with a strong and compelling first act, Maleficent soon degrades itself into a film that's difficult to watch, despite a wonderful performance from its lead actress. If you're not a fan of Sleeping Beauty, or willing to ignore its existence for two hours, maybe it's a better film for you. Nevertheless, that doesn't change the fact that it's underwritten, over-stylized, and ignorant to its own source material. That last part being the biggest offense of all, considering the original was made by the same studio. I can only hope parents of younger children will show their children Sleeping Beauty, and not just Maleficent. That way they can see what true evil looks like.
