Review of Maleficent (2014) by Mrmoviebuff — 01 May 2016

I must confess, I was not really a huge fan of Walt Disney's 'Sleeping Beauty' (1959), for some reason, I thought that the film was nowhere near as fun or endearing as 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' (1937) or 'Cinderella' (1950). I did, however, enjoy the evil presence of the ever so powerful Maleficent, thinking she could just be one of the best Disney villains of all time, you would think that making a movie about her would be interesting, especially with Oscar winner Angelina Jolie in the title role.

I am afraid that this film does not do the title character justice, 'Maleficent' commits the crime of being utterly boring, which is a word you wouldn't think could be used to describe a Disney film, but it is.

We see Maleficent from a young age, and how she meets a boy named Stefan, and they grow up together falling in love. One day, when Stefan leaves for the kingdom, Maleficent is charged with almost killing the king. The king then promises whoever kills this villainous Maleficent will be the next in line to the throne.

Sharlto Copley plays the much older Stefan, and he wants the throne so badly, that he betrays Maleficent on order to do so. Ever since this, we see Maleficent grow bitter, and when Stefan gets married and gives birth to a daughter, that's when she decides to curse the child. So, that's the reason why Maleficent did what she did, it's because the king is a cold-hearted person who is just unlikeable. If you're thinking that's not what happened in the animated classic, you are right...already this film makes no sense.

Elle Fanning plays the princess Aurora, she is convinced that Maleficent is her fairy godmother, since she has been watching her since she was a baby. The two seem to get along, and Maleficent seems to think that maybe she is overreacting, which in this case, yeah she is.

This film spends too much time showing us some colorful CGI, and numerous flying creatures as if we are in a "Harry Potter" film, but neither look impressive enough to hold our attention for more than five minutes. The film also plods along ever so slowly, for a film that is supposed to be 97 minutes long, it feels like an extra hour longer. There is no life in this film, no sense of fun and excitement...it is devoid of energy.

Angelina Jolie looks great in the role, but she is ultimately one note, I do not blame her, the blame is for the screenwriter, who just happens to be Linda Woolverton who wrote the wonderful 'Beauty and the Beast' (1991). How could a writer, who wrote something so magical, and so exciting...then go to to write something so lifeless and almost boring?

The dark colors and cartoon-ish CGI do not save the movie at all, everything about this film is just not worth your time or money. 'Maleficent' is a magnificent bore.