Film Review: Maleficent.

 

I wasn't too sure about seeing this film as it didn't entirely appeal to me however I have loved Angelina Jolie for as long as I can remember. She is one of my favourite actresses and is just brilliant in every film that she is in. Especially this one.

To give some background, Maleficent is about one of Disney's most iconic villain from the 1959 classic Sleeping Beauty. This is essentially the untold story of the once kind hearted baddie. Maleficent was a beautiful, young woman with a heart of gold and grew up in a peaceful forest kingdom, living a tranquil life. However one day an invading army threatens life in the forest and Maleficent rises to be the land's biggest protector but she ultimately suffers a heartbreaking betrayal which sets her heart to stone. Hell-bent on revenge and driven by a fierce desire to protect the moors where she resides, she faces a battle with the invading king's successor and in time, places a curse on his newborn baby, Aurora. As the child grows, Maleficent realises that Aurora is the key to bringing peace in the kingdom and perhaps the key to her own happiness.

Angelina Jolie as Maleficent was an absolutely fantastic choice. She was stunning with her sharp cheekbones (seriously, they could cut glass!) and gleaming eyes. Her performance as the titular character pretty much overshadowed everybody else, including Aurora. You would literally not miss any other character if they weren't in the film and they seem to be just standing around watching her doing the work. Which is alright by me because I could've happily watched Angelina as Maleficent for hours. For 98 minutes, you are amazed by her presence, creeped out at times by her intensity and taken away by her impressive wings.  

Despite all the hype about this film and Angelina herself, I wasn't that impressed by it really apart from her. The story is a bit of a muddle, just literally a thread of sequences that move the characters back and forth between the two sole locations; a castle and a magic forest. The characters don't really have much of a presence like Maleficent herself but I think this is due to poor screenwriting by Linda Woolverton who seems to not have given the others characters much to do that is challenging and attention-grabbing. 

Also when Aurora meets some boy who is deemed to be her 'true love', there is literally no connection between them within their two scenes that they have (yes, TWO SCENES) that make you believe that they could have any love for each other whatsoever. It is pretty unbelievable and a bit sloppy really. Furthermore when Aurora falls asleep, she is literally asleep for about five minutes and woken up instantly by a true love's kiss (which is a predictable scene by the way when you see it).. this is not enough time to make you feel the devastation that everyone seems to feel within the film and not quite like the death-like sleep that seems to be in the Disney animation.

All in all, every scene without Angelina Jolie leaves you lingering for more of Maleficent. Whether it be a mischievous twinkle in her eye or a flick of her hands whipping up some more brilliant magic, she is clearly the film's power and is the only thing that seems to make up for what the film lacks.

If there is any reason to go and see it, it's her.

Thankyou for reading.
Laura.