Maleficent (7 out of 10) Directed by Robert Stromberg; starring Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Sharlto Copley; rated PG; running time: 97 minutes.
Disney’s live-action revisionist fairy tale “Maleficent” is now available to own on DVD and Blu-ray, and the popular villainess becomes the heroine in this adaptation of “Sleeping Beauty.”
Angelina Jolie and her extraordinary cheekbones carry this film almost singlehandedly. The three good fairies are bland characters and really could have been left out of the movie altogether. Dakota Fanning shines as Aurora, but there isn’t much for her to do other than smile and be sweet and then sleep. It truly is Maleficent’s story, and the other characters exist solely to explain what turned her from a gentle fairy into a bitter enemy, so reviled she doesn’t even earn an invitation to Aurora’s christening.
And while the movie is pretty to look at, the story leaves something to be desired. Maleficent’s transformation into a Disney baddie is believable, and we feel her pain when she becomes a victim of greed. But everything from that point on feels rushed, with so much time devoted to backstory in a film that isn’t even two hours long.
Jolie is larger than life in this role and really does make everyone else look like set dressing. Even her costumes demand attention, from the elaborate wings to the horns on her head and the fire in her eyes.
Despite its flaws, “Maleficent” is a stunning film. The visual effects are amazing, and I think fans familiar with its animated counterpart will see a lot of similarities in how certain scenes were shot. It also takes a darker and more cynical look at the story, with Maleficent’s battle with the kingdom and the existence of a True Love’s kiss.
The bonus features on the disc include:
· From Fairy Tale to Feature Film – Reimagining Maleficent for a new generation
· Building An Epic Battle –Creating the clash between Maleficent and King Henry’s Forces
· Classic Couture – Examine Maleficent’s spellbinding head wraps and jewelry.
· Maleficent Revealed – Explore the layers of extraordinary special effects.
· Aurora: Becoming A Beauty – Elle Fanning reveals her lifelong love of Disney’s original animated classic.
· Deleted Scenes:
o “Stefan In King’s Chamber”
o “Pixie Idiots”
o “Diaval asks about the Curse”
o “Pixies Seek Asylum”
o “Suitor”
An excerpt from the bonus feature Becoming a Beauty:
