Maleficent (2014)

"Evil has a beginning"

Directed by Robert Stromberg
Produced by Joe Roth
Screenplay by Linda Woolverton
Based on  Disney's Sleeping Beauty, "La Belle au bois dormant" of Charles Perrault
Starring: Angelina Jolie, Sharlto Copley, Elle Fanning, Sam Riley, Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple, Lesley Manville
Narrated by Janet McTeer
Music by James Newton Howard
Cinematography: Dean Semler
Editing by Chris Lebenzon, Richard Pearson

Distributed by Walt Disney Studios, Motion Pictures
Release date: May 28, 2014(United Kingdom)
Running time: 97 minutes
Country: United Kingdom, United States

"Maleficent" is an action adventure family film directed by Robert Stromberg from a screenplay by Linda Woolverton. It's a re-imagining of Walt Disney's 1959 animated film "Sleeping Beauty" but it portrays the story from the perspective of the witch, Maleficent. Once upon a time a young potent fairy living in the Moors meets a human boy, Stefan. As they grow older, they begin to fall in love, however the young man's love for Maleficent is eclipsed by his ambition to become a king. Because of his wish Stefan betrays the fairy taking away her main value, therefore she changes into an evil enchantress. But who is Maleficent in fact: a hero or a villain?

Cast

• Angelina Jolie as Maleficent
• Ella Purnell and Isobelle Molloy as young Maleficent
• Elle Fanning as Princess Aurora
• Vivienne Jolie-Pitt and Eleanor Worthington Cox as young Princess Aurora
• Janet McTeer as elderly Aurora (the film's narrator)
• Sharlto Copley as King Stefan
• Michael Higgins as young Stefan
• Sam Riley as Diaval
• Imelda Staunton as Knotgrass
• Juno Temple as Thistlewit
• Lesley Manville as Flittle
• Brenton Thwaites as Phillip
• Kenneth Cranham as King Henry
• Hannah New as Leila 

Frankly speaking, the story of Sleeping Beauty wasn't my favourite one when I was a child. But it doesn't mean that I didn't know it. The witch Maleficent puts obeah on the Princess Aurora who sinks into a deep sleep before the kiss of Prince Phillip. However, I got used to consider things in different ways. So the chance to see this tale from the other part has interested me.

The main reason why I've watched this film is Angelina Jolie. I've never seen her in the person of a sorceress in a fairy tale. Therefore it was really curious for me. And I can say Angelina has managed to do that splendidly. She topped her part by making her heroine majestic and... humane. Yes, Angelina showed us that even a magical creature can have feelings and emotions which aren't alien to people. Certainly she's a beautiful and talented actress what served its purpose in image building.

As for other actors I want to note Ella Purnell. She played her role excellently notwithstanding the fact that she had only some minutes. Young Maleficent turned out very nice and ingenuous. Elle Fanning as Princess Aurora looked fabulous. Personally, I feel that a princess must be like something like this. I can't say that Elle's work is really magnificent but I guess it's only because of stereotypical role. Sam Riley coped very well with his part of the werewolf. I heard he even had repeated movement which are peculiar to a raven.

"Maleficent" is the directorial debut of Robert Stromberg. He's also a special effects artist and designer whose works are James Cameron's "Avatar", Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" and Sam Raimi's "Oz the Great and Powerful". Therefore it isn't surprising that this fairy tale is succeeded.

Advantages

• Visual effects
• Angelina Jolie as Maleficent
• The story is told from the perspective of Maleficent
• Sam Riley as Diaval
• Music

Disadvantages

• King Stefan's rash actions
• A weak script

"Strangenesses"

• Maleficent's kiss saves Princess Aurora
• The role of Prince is useless

Clue Moments

• The kiss
• The betrayal of Stefan
• The birth of Aurora
• The meeting of Maleficent and Aurora

As far as I'm concerned, a tale has its morals, ideas. So do the film "Maleficent".

Telling the truth, this movie leaves conflicting emotions. On the one hand it's thought that Maleficent is Mephistopheles and her raven Diaval is Devil. And these forces of evil try to defeat cruel people. This way it might be understood that people are worse than a real evil? As for male roles, they're much drearier than female ones. Moreover, all the problems appear because of men. There's an evident interior meaning, isn't it? Besides, family values are treated down. Princess Aurora even doesn't care about what has happened to her parents.

But on the other hand I can find some positive ideas. There's no answer to question: does the true love between a woman and a man exist? But the film has showed that it exactly exists between two persons. I mean feelings, no more. Many have been prejudiced against an unexpected kiss. To my mind, there is no idea of the forbidden love. It's just a love which can be between a mother and a child. And there's no something terrible.

Revenge have never been a problem solving. It always changes a person into the worst side making him or her wicked. Moreover, revenge becomes the meaning of life so a person forgets about everything except his purpose. But one day he or she will realise that this idea was wrong and then there will be two ways of courses of events - it might be too late or it might be changed.

"Maleficent" also teaches that the subject may be viewed in different ways: a villain from one side can be a hero from another one.

Soundtracks

1. James Newton Howard - Maleficent Suite
2. James Newton Howard - Welcome To The Moors
3. James Newton Howard - Maleficent Flies
4. James Newton Howard - Battle Of The Moors
5. James Newton Howard - Three Peasant Women
6. James Newton Howard - Go Away
7. James Newton Howard - Aurora And The Fawn
8. James Newton Howard - The Christening
9. James Newton Howard - Prince Phillip
10. James Newton Howard - The Spindle's Power
11. James Newton Howard - You Could Live Here Now
12. James Newton Howard - Path Of Destruction
13. James Newton Howard - Aurora In Faerieland
14. James Newton Howard - The Wall Defends Itself
15. James Newton Howard - The Curse Won't Reverse
16. James Newton Howard - Are You Maleficent?
17. James Newton Howard - The Army Dances
18. James Newton Howard - Phillip's Kiss
19. James Newton Howard - The Iron Gauntlet
20. James Newton Howard - True Love's Kiss
21. James Newton Howard - Maleficent Is Captured
22. James Newton Howard - The Queen Of Faerieland
23. Lana Del Rey - Once Upon A Dream

Quotations

* * *

Maleficent: I must say, I really felt quite distressed at not receiving an invitation.
Stefan: You're not welcome here.
Maleficent: Oh dear. What an awkward situation.

* * *

Princess Aurora: I know who you are.
Maleficent: Do you?
Princess Aurora: You're my Fairy-Godmother!
Maleficent: What?

* * *

Princess Aurora: I know you're there. Don't be afraid.
Maleficent: I'm not afraid.
Princess Aurora: Then come out.
Maleficent: Then you'll be afraid.

* * *

Princess Aurora: All the other fairies fly, why don't you?
Maleficent: I had wings once, and they were strong. But they were stolen from me.

* * *

Maleficent: I will not ask you for forgiveness. What I have done is unforgivable. I was so lost in hatred and revenge. I never dreamed that I could love you so much. You stole what was left of my heart. And now I've lost you forever.

* * *

Prince Phillip: I'm looking for a girl.
Maleficent: Of course you are!

* * *

Maleficent: Royalty. Nobility. Gentry. How quaint. Even the rabble.

* * *
You may see the trailer here.

Plot: 6/10

Entertainment: 6/10

Acting: 7/10

Originality: 7/10

Music and Sound: 6/10

6/10