Sunday, June 1, 2014

Maleficent With Angelina Jolie


                                                                  
My daughter invited me to go see the new movie Maleficent, Disney’s new take on the evil fairy from the Sleeping Beauty Tale.  I said yes because I love Angelina Jolie and I heard this movie would be different than the earlier Disney version. Holy spells was it ever!
At first my grandsons Nathan and Joshua weren’t interested. “We don’t want to see any girly Disney movies!”
“But Angelina Jolie is in the title role,” I countered, receiving blank stares. “There is lots of fighting and bloodshed,” I added.
“We’re in!” Was their reply.

                                                               
I’m not going to tell my readers the plot. We’ve all read the books and seen the original animated movie. What I wanted to talk about was Angelina’s portrayal of one of the most frightening Disney characters ever. Who could ever forget the original animated version when Disney Studio has the evil fairy turn into a dragon? I bet there were a lot of children having nightmares over that scene


Maleficent 2014


Maleficent was directed by Robert Stromberg who in my opinion did one hell of a fine job getting both Maleficent’s anger and then subsequent change of heart across to the people in the theatre. The actor who played Stefan (Sharlto Copley) was an excellent villain. Maleficent’s familiar, Diaval (Sam Riley), a crow, who is bewitched into serving Maleficent, added to the humorous and tender moments in the film. The three bumbling pixies, played by Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple and Lesley Manville, often failed in their caring of the infant Aurora, but they were so comical to watch; we easily overlooked their goofiness. Phillip (Brenton Thwaites) is the handsome charming prince that is charged with releasing Aurora from the spell, but…..

                                                                         

                                      

It is Maleficent’s tale of true love betrayed and Aurora’s learning that sometimes an enemy is more than she seems that made the movie so worth seeing. Elle Fanning’s portrayal of Aurora is mostly the same as in the fairy tales, but with one big difference. She knows her enemy. I love watching Miss Fanning on the screen and she did not disappoint me in Maleficent.

If Angelina Jolie does not receive an Academy Award for her portrayal of Maleficent, then the judges need to be retired and quick. I don’t want to spoil the film and tell you too much, but I will say this, I don’t ever want to piss off Angelina Jolie.  So how good was the main star, you ask?

Damn Good!!! Angelina was able to make the audience hate her and pity her at the same time. Even stranger…was the cheering and clapping when Maleficent got her point across via magic. I especially loved the scene where the toddler Aurora, Angelina’s real life daughter Vivienne Jolie-Pitt, interacts with the person who cursed her.  Priceless!!
                                                                      


Go see the movie! I’m giving it a 4 star review and for all the little girls out there and even us big girls...sometimes we need to remember just how powerful we are.
 
 

 

3 comments:

  1. I can't wait to watch this movie. It's been on my to-watch list for a long time and I'm really excited about it, too!

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    1. Jack, you will not be disappointed. I'm going to see it again with my sister.

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  2. You can only do so much with your film when all it does is rely on beautiful visuals, and doesn't have much else to show for them. Good review Marie.

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