Maleficent (2014) – Film Review

Director: Robert Stromberg
Cast: Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Sharlto Copley, Sam Riley, Imelda Staunton, Lesley Manville, Juno Temple
Runtime: 97 min
Rating: PG

Disney animated classics have been engraved into history as must-watch films, with stories that have been passed generation after generation. Maleficent takes on a well known children’s story, and gives it a refreshing new perspective, while making an effort to stand out.

Maleficent is an interesting take on the classic Disney story Sleeping Beauty, providing us a film from the perspective of the villain. Betrayed by true love, and driven to protect her homeland, an angry and revenge-driven Maleficent (Angelina Jolie) puts an irrevocable curse on the king’s newborn daughter Aurora. As she grows, Aurora (Elle Fanning) learns of both worlds: the forest kingdom where her heart belongs, and the human kingdom where her bloodline resides. Maleficent realizes the potential in the young girl, and the potential for peace in both lands, and takes drastic measures to make everything alright. The story tests the boundaries of love and hate, and the circumstances that define both.

Going into the film, one can appreciate the difficulty in trying to create a new perspective on something that has impacted people for over 50 years. Sleeping Beauty is a classic tale, and creating a different perspective requires skill and craftsmanship. The film itself is very technical, with a combination of breath-taking animation, vivid colours, and distinct details that provide differentiation between the two lands within the story. The action-elements and paired music both add a sense of excitement and thrill, a major difference from the original story. While the 3D was not distracting as it is in most films, it wasn’t needed and if the film didn’t have 3D, one could have appreciated the finer details. You are often left trying to focus on what is happening on screen than anything else. Overall, the film is quite appealing to watch.

The main reason to watch this film, however, is because of Angelina Jolie. The film was almost made around her, as she exhibited the very characteristics we would come to expect from Maleficent. The facial expressions, the various looks, the ability to communicate with a lack of dialogue; all these various elements created a Maleficent that really stood out throughout the film. In addition, to make the action-sequences and moments of intensity work, you need an alpha-female type figure, and Jolie delivers on that front with flying colours. While Elle Fanning’s portrayal of Aurora was interesting and appropriate, she didn’t pack the punch that Jolie did with Maleficent, and sadly got a little overshadowed by her presence. On the supporting front, Sharlto Copley plays a brilliant maniacal king, putting out there his ability to dive into emotion as seen in other films. Sam Riley is the perfect assistant, adding a bit of calmness to some of the tense situations. Both Copley and Riley were great additions to the cast.

The film is enjoyable to watch, with some very powerful performances. With that said, the film does contain a couple of scenes and moments that one would question if they could be watched by young children, as they are scary and a bit on the mature side. It is thus important to take that PG rating a little more seriously than usual. Apart from that little snag, its a magical experience that the whole family will enjoy. A definite watch this summer.