MALEFICENT
Director : Robert Stromberg
Year : 2014
Genre : Fantasy
Rating : **
While I love horror, science fiction and psychological thrillers, I have no shame in admitting that I also adore the classic Disney movies of the 1930's, 40's and 50's, with 'Sleeping Beauty' featuring near the top of the list. Many of the focal scenes from that gorgeously animated film are some of the most memorable and indelible images of my childhood with the character of Maleficent providing many of them. Voiced by the unequaled Eleanor Audley (who also provided the voice for 'Cinderella's sinister Lady Tremaine), Maleficent was cunning, intelligent, vindictive, diabolical, cold, scary, over the top and best of all, she could transfigure herself into one of the most threatening dragons in motion picture history. While she may be only in the movie for about 10-15 minutes maximum, her towering screen presence is the reason why I and so many others love and watch 'Sleeping Beauty' over and over and over again.
Now Angelina Jolie dons the iconic horns and staff for 'Maleficent', the latest adaptation/re imagining of the 'Sleeping Beauty' fable. Telling the story from the eponymous villain's side, 'Maleficent' takes the beloved 1958 Disney classic as it's main inspiration while at the same time changing it's plot and characters around enough to give audiences something new and fresh to enjoy. Helmed by production designer-turned-director Robert Stromberg, 'Maleficent' is a very nice looking movie and it certainly has it's fair share of visually stunning set pieces. However, the film completely pales in both tone and atmosphere when compared to it's much darker and much more memorable animated predecessor.
Before becoming the mistress of all evil, Maleficent was a benevolent fairy who lent her powers and immense knowledge to the upkeep and safety of the forest and it's mythical inhabitants. Equipped with huge, beautiful wings that allowed her to soar into the clouds, Maleficent served as the guardian of the woodlands; protecting it from the humans who endeavoured to wipe out all fairykind.
However, her goodwill soon turned to full blooded anger when her long lost love Stefan (Sharlito Copley) stole her wings in an attempt to become king. Reduced to a grounded life, Maleficent becomes a vengeful demon whose hatred is only matched by her lust for revenge. The movie then follows the typical 'Sleeping Beauty' formula; curses, fairies, spinning wheels and loves first kiss but with a new postmodern twist, a twist that completely destroys the power, the legacy and the terror of the original character that I love so much.
As mentioned earlier, the film looks nice. The director Robert Stromberg (who served as the production designer on some of the most beautiful looking films of all time such as 'Alice In Wonderland', 'Oz : The Great & Powerful' and 'Avatar') clearly has a way with special effects and he flawlessly creates a world which is full of colour, wonder and enchantment. The creature designs are also very pretty to look at, with woodland animals and mythological beings (most of the time) blending in seamlessly with the live action backgrounds and beautifully realised locations. However while the colours are lovely to behold, in the wake of the aforementioned special effects filled blockbusters, 'Maleficent' doesn't really look that unique or particularly identifiable.
While Eleanor Audley brought a seemingly endless amount of energy and power to her vocal work as Maleficent, Angelina Jolie seems to hold back in giving us a truly memorable character. She's certainly looks the part, with her huge horns, black gown, long staff and angular face perfectly matching that of the 1958 design but something seems to be missing from her personification of this most iconic of villains. On it's own, her performance is rather good and entertaining enough to watch, with Jolie doing a fine job of switching from benevolent guardian of the forest to scene chewing, revenge seeking witch in the blink of an eye. But sadly, when compared to the might and majesty of Audley's towering vocal performance, Jolie just doesn't compare.
Accompanying Jolie is a host of badly written and frankly, badly acted characters. Elle Fanning plays the Princess Aurora and she is just as interesting as the typical Disney princess who just stands around looking pretty, waiting for her Prince Charming to save the day. Sam Riley is given nothing to do whatsoever as Diaval, Maleficent's loyal shape shifting raven, Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple and Leslie Manville play the beyond annoying three fairies and Sharlito Copley is downright awful as Stefan, the movies main antagonist who hungers for Maleficents head on a platter.
For anyone who is familiar with the original 'Sleeping Beauty' or the fairy tale it is based on, 'Maleficent' is going to play as very odd indeed. Children will enjoy it enough, with it's bright colours and conventional archetypes distracting from the lack of character or interesting plot. However, as a huge fan of both the 1958 film and Maleficent herself, I see the film as a spit in the face. Maybe under the eye of a more darker edged director like Tim Burton (who was on board to direct during pre-production) or Guillermo Del Toro, 'Maleficent' may have been a more engrossing and tonally believable movie. But by softening the characters heart and lightening the atmosphere of the dark fairytale, Stromberg has inadvertently destroyed what made her the Disney icon she is today.
As mentioned earlier, the film looks nice. The director Robert Stromberg (who served as the production designer on some of the most beautiful looking films of all time such as 'Alice In Wonderland', 'Oz : The Great & Powerful' and 'Avatar') clearly has a way with special effects and he flawlessly creates a world which is full of colour, wonder and enchantment. The creature designs are also very pretty to look at, with woodland animals and mythological beings (most of the time) blending in seamlessly with the live action backgrounds and beautifully realised locations. However while the colours are lovely to behold, in the wake of the aforementioned special effects filled blockbusters, 'Maleficent' doesn't really look that unique or particularly identifiable.
While Eleanor Audley brought a seemingly endless amount of energy and power to her vocal work as Maleficent, Angelina Jolie seems to hold back in giving us a truly memorable character. She's certainly looks the part, with her huge horns, black gown, long staff and angular face perfectly matching that of the 1958 design but something seems to be missing from her personification of this most iconic of villains. On it's own, her performance is rather good and entertaining enough to watch, with Jolie doing a fine job of switching from benevolent guardian of the forest to scene chewing, revenge seeking witch in the blink of an eye. But sadly, when compared to the might and majesty of Audley's towering vocal performance, Jolie just doesn't compare.
Accompanying Jolie is a host of badly written and frankly, badly acted characters. Elle Fanning plays the Princess Aurora and she is just as interesting as the typical Disney princess who just stands around looking pretty, waiting for her Prince Charming to save the day. Sam Riley is given nothing to do whatsoever as Diaval, Maleficent's loyal shape shifting raven, Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple and Leslie Manville play the beyond annoying three fairies and Sharlito Copley is downright awful as Stefan, the movies main antagonist who hungers for Maleficents head on a platter.
For anyone who is familiar with the original 'Sleeping Beauty' or the fairy tale it is based on, 'Maleficent' is going to play as very odd indeed. Children will enjoy it enough, with it's bright colours and conventional archetypes distracting from the lack of character or interesting plot. However, as a huge fan of both the 1958 film and Maleficent herself, I see the film as a spit in the face. Maybe under the eye of a more darker edged director like Tim Burton (who was on board to direct during pre-production) or Guillermo Del Toro, 'Maleficent' may have been a more engrossing and tonally believable movie. But by softening the characters heart and lightening the atmosphere of the dark fairytale, Stromberg has inadvertently destroyed what made her the Disney icon she is today.
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