How many ways can you tell one tale? Maleficent shows us there can be two [very different] sides to every story. What you know as a love story with a villain is now a.. love story with a villain. But such a different kind! See Disney Maleficent with an open mind and unattached to the classic version of Sleeping Beauty to fully enjoy it. It’s so on storytelling trend right now to tell an untraditional, unconditional love story. Maleficent does that and makes you say ooh and aah. You’ll ooh at the wonder that is Maleficent’s home and aah at the portrayal Jolie does of this majestic villain. In fact, Angelina Jolie radiates majesty in this role. She’s perfectly cast and angelically stoic in the presence of others. For much of this film, Maleficent is poised and wondrous and gives movie-goers all the feels with just one word or just one look.
Near the beginning of this film, I felt some details were contrived. Much of the events match up with those of the original tale and it took an effort to do so. However, once the story moves along to the Briar Rose, cottage-living part everything changes. This movie is like a warm, fuzzy, magical blanket. Heroines make the film.. fly.
Maleficent (Angelina Jolie) and Young Aurora (Vivienne Jolie-Pitt)