I must admit that I am not into movies that are about unreal characters and fairy tales but the moment I saw Maleficent’s trailer I was absolutely sure that I have to watch this one. And I am glad I did that because the movie is no less than splendid.
Maleficent is a dark fantasy adventure film directed by Robert Stromberg and screenplay by Linda Woolverton. Woolverton is best known for her work in Alice in Wonderland, The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast. Maleficent is from the house of Disney which had created Sleeping Beauty in 1959 and Maleficent is the story told from the antagonist’s point of view. Maleficent stars Angelina Jolie as the quint-essential villainous (not really) character known as Maleficent, Elle Fanning, Sharlto Copley and Sam Riley in lead roles.
Maleficent (Angelina Jolie) is the most beautiful and strongest faire in the world and her home is The Moors which is a magical realm that borders a human kingdom. The Moors is no place for humans because humans pose a threat behind the possible extinction of the habitants of The Moors. Maleficent falls in love with a boy named Stefan (Sharlto Copley) and she believes it to be true love, but then is there no such thing called true love. The king from the kingdom strikes an attack on The Moors but Maleficent with her army defeats them hands down. However, with the blindness of the ambition to become the king, Stefan betrays Maleficent and steals her wings which were her power, her life. Maleficent is no weak woman and takes it upon her to seal the fate of Stefan, the new king. Maleficent finds Diaval (Sam Riley) in the form of a crow fighting for his life. She saves him and he offers to become her loyal servant for life and that’s how Diaval becomes Maleficent’s wings, eyes and ears. Stefan and his queen is blessed with a baby girl, Princess Aurora (Elle Fanning). Maleficent arrives in her dramatic way to curse Aurora that she would be stung by a needle from a sewing machine on her sixteenth birthday and only true love’s kiss could awaken her to life from the sleep of death. King Stefan knows the power of Maleficent’s curse and hence bestows the tasks on three feeble and trivial faire to keep Aurora away from the kingdom until her sixteenth birthday and simultaneously gets all sewing machines burnt down. As fate would have it, Aurora’s sixteenth birthday arrives and there’s a whole lot of adventure around the same.
The movie seemed like a complete package to me with faire, minions, tree creatures, dwarfs, dragons giving the audience the substantial rush of adrenaline every now and then. The sets are stellar with such great level of attention given to even minuscule details and the costumes do perfect justice to the grandness of the characters and the story itself. Maleficent roams around in a larger than life black dress that flows for a few feet behind her as she walks. Aurora’s princess like dresses that had to be modest courtesy her exile from the kingdom are beautiful and fairy like herself.
The special effects are worth an applause but I quite didn’t see the point of 3D here. Agreed, it’s a visual spectacle but then if a movie is for 3D the makers must infuse the sequences which reflect the effect in its true nature. I wish they had focused a bit more on this aspect. At the same time, I will have to give it to the makers for ensuring that the movie is full of drama and ensuring that the drama is believable and real.
What stole my heart was Angelina’s magnetic performance as Maleficent. Jolie is such a brilliant actor and that reflects in Maleficent in which she lets her eyes do the work, the talk and the action. She definitely leveraged the beauty of her eyes to the best. Jolie also reflected sincerity in her portrayal of such a complex character who is a bundle of love and yet full of vengeance and overpowered with the emotions of revenge. Her dialogue delivery was impeccable for sure.
Elle Fanning who played Princess Aurora is magical. She was fun, honest, beautiful, playful and just to her character. I personally thought that hers was a job well done with the requisite level of emotions reflected in the requisite quantity. She certainly brought life to her character and to the movie itself.
Shartlo Copley and Sam Riley were well suited for their roles as King Stefan and Diaval. They delivered good performances and certainly added value to the talent of other actors.
My recommendation – this movie is for the masses, kids and adults alike. Go and have fun watching a visual spectacle that is spectacular in a lot of ways. I give 3.5 teaspoon of masala to fairy tale that should be heard and seen.
Read my other reviews here http://masalaartadda.wordpress.com/