Disney's Maleficent

A film I am really quite intreged by is coming out later this year. It is a retelling and reimagining of the old movie Sleeping Beauty focused upon arguably Disney's most badass intimidating villain of all time, the titular charater of the film, Maleficent - played by Angelina Jolie. It was the only trailer I saw prior to the Hobbit that really interested me, and I will definitely go to the cinema to watch it.

Here are the trailers:

Angelina Jolie was a great choice for the role.

Lana Del Ray's version of that song is so perfect in the trailer. I love it.

A newer trailer for the film:



Watching that I have a horrible feeling that they're going to try to turn Maleficent into a tragic villian who you're supposed to relate to. If that's the case then they've gone totally the wrong direction. Maleficent is a personification of evil, magnificent malevolent evil as the name would suggest, giving her a tragic backstory would water her down. I want a truely evil main-character motived by spite and hatred and all those other dark-feeling, one that just wants to do evil things because they like doing evil things and want to mess with people or, in her case, over-react and try to kill the only child of a King and Queen out of revenge for not being invited to a christening. Maleficent is one of Disney's biggest and most bad-ass villians because her motivatio is black and white, she's so much viscious spiteful evil wrapped up in so much charm and charisma, watering that down would damage the character, so I hope that they've not gone the tragic backstory route.

I'm off to see this in about an hour. I'm hoping it'll be worth it and that they haven't watered down the character. I'll report back when I get in.

Oh dear. They did exactly what I worried they would do. They turned Maleficent from an over-the-top badass villain into a tragic hero. Giving her this mother/daughter relationship with Aurora and having this ridiculously telegraphed change from the story we all know and love, and, worst of all, they had her redeem herself and turn good again. Way to water down probably your most iconic villain Disney!

That aside, it was well made, visually it looked stunning, and there were some good scenes to look at they just got the story wrong. The best bits of the film were when Jolie's Maleficent was being the badass over-the-top villain and reflecting the character of the animated film, the rest was...alright if you were after some tragic fallen hero redeeming themself thing but not if you wanted a film about Maleficent.

I just happen to be sitting here watching the original animated Sleeping Beauty on the Disney Movie channel and it just brings home to me how bad the Maleficent film was. Honestly, this new film offends me as a Disney fan. Oh, I stand by my original statement that it's a perfectly salvagable film if it wasn't supporsed to be about Maleficent. It's as if they either had no idea of what made Maleficent the iconic character she was or else didn't care. And it's not just Maleficent either but the three good fairies that they totally ruin. Its trampling over childhood memories with nary a thought nor care to the damage it will do.

Original film was so much better, but I really liked the new Maleficent movie. No particular reason, I just thought it was nice. It does help that I don't have much of an affinity with the original. I love it and all, like I love all disney animation, but I know I'm not as big a fan as some people are. I just enjoy most things the studio does.

Have not seen it.

Sandy saw it and liked it.

I, uh, don't think it's the kind of movie for me. Heard the ending and don't care for Angie that much.

I think she is a fine person in real life, just don't care for her acting skills, etc.

If you're not a Disney fan I wouldn't recommend it. It you are a Disney fan I wouldn't recommend it. This film is...a mostly harmless kids fantasy adventure with date-rape undertones - if you're looking for them - but it, the word fits so I'm using it, castrates one of the most iconic charismatic and enjoyable villains in movie history and is intollerable to me for that.