Maleficent – Review

Film, Reviews, Top Story

Hell hath no fury like a fairy scorned!

In the 1956 animated Disney film Sleeping Beauty, Maleficent is introduced as a being of pure evil. She is evil for the sake of being evil because the story requires an evil character. She is one of Disney’s most iconic villains, yet in the film she is about as one dimensional as villains come. Now, nearly 60 years later some asked the question: Why was Maleficent so pissed off at King Stefan anyway? The answers can be found in Maleficent.

The film opens with a young Maleficent living happily in the moors with the other magical creatures that reside. Nearby is a kingdom inhabited by humans. When Maleficent meets a young boy named Stefan the two quickly become good friends. He comes to visit her often and as they get older their friendship deepens. However, Stefan becomes obsessed with being rich and powerful and sides himself with the king who wants to rule his magical neighbors.

The king leads his troops into battle against a now adult Maleficent (Angelina Jolie) and her army of giant tree creatures. It is a brutal battle and the king is gravely injured in the fray. On his death bed he decries that whomever kills Maleficent will be his successor. Stefan (Sharlto Copley) sets out to use her trust in him against her. He can’t bring himself to kill her but… well, I don’t want to spoil it too, much, but let’s just say he makes everyone believe that she is dead and Maleficent is left hurt physical and mentally, betrayed by the only human she had and trust in or feelings for. This turns Maleficent into one dark and angry fairy.

The story continues on into the realm of the animated film we all know so well. Stefan, now the king, has a daughter and three good fairies arrive to bestow magical gifts upon the child. A still bitter Maleficent curses the child to prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel on her 16th birthday. Everyone freaks out and Stefan sends his daughter Aurora to be raised in secret by the three good fairies and hidden from Maleficent.

Here is where the classic tale and the new version depart greatly. To spill details here would be to ruin it, but suffice to say, this new version takes Maleficent’s story in a very different direction. Maleficent is humanized more than one would think possible, this once visually striking, yet one dimensional villain is no made into a rich, complex character that we care about and want to see succeed. We see why she is driven to do the evil deeds she has done, but we also see how she deals with the repercussions of these decisions. As a massive Star Wars fan I hate to say this, but has the rise and fall of Anakin Skywalker in the prequel films been half as engaging as Maleficent’s story told here, they just might have been good films.

There are still some similarities, Aurora (Elle Fanning) does meet the dashing young Prince Phillip (Brenton Thwaites); Aurora does prick her finger and fall into a death like sleep; and there is still a giant dragon at the end. However, this time around Maleficent has transformed her crow into a human named Diaval (Sam Riley) whom she can turn into any animal she pleases, a relationship develops between Maleficent and Aurora that one would never expect, and the ending is completely different.

When I first heard about this film all I could think about was the train-wreck that was Snow White and the Huntsman, but when I saw Jolie in costume in the poster I knew this film had potential. I can now say that this is a much better adaptation of a classic Disney film than Huntsman. However, it could have just as easily been a disaster. What saves this film is the brilliant performance by Jolie and the good performances by Fanning and Riley. Jolie shines as Maleficent, she owns this role more than any that I’ve seen from her in a while. This is a Gia and Girl, Interrupted quality performance. You can also tell that she is loving every second in playing this character, from the happy moments, to the angry moments, to the begrudgingly bitter moments, Jolie owns it all. There are a couple moments where she does go a little over the top, but even then it doesn’t become cringeworthy like it could have. I really don’t think any other actress could have pulled off this role the way Jolie did.

Fanning is fine as Aurora, and Riley is interesting as the crow turned human, but from their the performances go down hill pretty quick. Most annoying is Copley as King Stefan, which is a shame, because I really liked him in The A-Team. He’s just not convincing at any point, be it the young man trying to become a king or the king who has lost is mind to paranoia awaiting the revenge of the woman he scorned.

The film is directed by first-timer Robert Stromberg, who previously won Academy Awards in Art Direction for Alice in Wonderland and Avatar. Suffice to say, he knows how to make a film look good, and Maleficent is no different, as this film is filled will all sorts of strange little magical creatures and they are all great looking. This a fantastic looking film that really whisks you away and makes you feel like you are in a strange new world they way a fantasy film should. He has made the transition to director well and I’m sure will be give the opportunity to do it again.

It’s not a perfect story, there are a couple minor plot holes, the beginning of the film is a little awkward and the middle of the film drags a little bit, but for the most part this film is a joy to watch. I wasn’t expecting much when I sat down to watch Maleficent, but I ended up enjoying it far more than I thought I would. It’s not a great film, but if you’re a fan of Maleficent as a character, then you are sure to enjoy this film that gives her more of a reason to be evil than just because.


Director: Robert Stromberg
Notable Cast: Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Sam Riley, Sharlto Copley and Brenton Thwaites
Writer:Linda Woolverton

Mike Noyes received his Masters Degree in Film from the Academy of Art University, San Francisco. A few of his short films can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/user/mikebnoyes. He recently published his first novel which you can buy here: https://www.amazon.com/Seven-Days-Years-Mike-Noyes-ebook/dp/B07D48NT6B/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1528774538&sr=8-1&keywords=seven+days+seven+years