Synopsis
Directed by Robert Stromberg and released in 2014, Maleficent is rooted in Disney’s Sleeping Beauty (1959) but instead focuses on the story of its villain, the powerful fairy Maleficent, who cast the curse on Princess Aurora. While keeping its fairy tale elements, the film goes further by telling the story of Maleficent’s life and portrays her as a tragic anti hero instead of the one-dimensional villain that has been previously presented.
The story opens in the Moors, a magical world that combines lush nature with fairy-tale elements, magical creatures, and other residents that embody the world of enchantment. Young Maleficent is a fairy who is headstrong, spirited, and has large wings. She lives in peace with her folk and is able to form friendships. She falls in love with a human peasant boy named Stefan, who often sneaks into the Moors. At the later stage of the story, the two drift apart as Stefan becomes a power hungry noble while Maleficent stays devoted to her magical home.Everything changes for the Moors and the human kingdom when King Henry sets his sights on the Moors due to his unquenchable greed for power. With no regard for her realm, he attempts to subdue her, but Maleficent defeats his army. From that moment on, she becomes the infamous guardian of her realm. Towards the end of his life, King Henry states that the one who brings her head will win the throne, something that captures Stefan, a court worker, who has his eyes on the prize.
Stefan decides to treat Maleficent towards reconciliation and pays her a friendly visit. While he does this, he injects her with a drug that makes her unconscious. Once she is unconscious, he cannot bring himself to kill her so he removes her wings, providing Stefan with a trophy that he proudly shows to the king. This deeply angers Maleficent while simultaneously crushing her spirits, hardening her heart towards the world and turning her bitter.
After becoming king, Stefan wed and had a daughter named Aurora. Maleficent, on the other hand, builds herself a dark fortress in the Moors and dubs herself the queen of magical creatures. Maleficent attends Aurora’s christening and during the celebration, she curses her to die in a death-like slumber on her sixteenth birthday. Stefan, wanting to protect her at all costs, commands that all spinning wheels in the kingdom be destroyed and sent Aurora to live in a remote cottage. She was to be taken care of by three bumbling pixies.
Unbeknownst to Maleficent, she had actually been watching over Aurora throughout her youngest years, building a bond along the way. As she grows, she begins referring to Maleficent as her “fairy godmother.” The once hardened fairy starts to feel affection for the girl and regrets the curse. However, her attempts to undo the spell are helpless. The curse is far too powerful, even for her.
On Aurora’s sixteenth birthday, just as predicted, she succumbs to the cursed sleep. Phillip, a young prince who had a brief encounter with Aurora and was captivated by her, is brought in by the pixies with hopes to break the spell with his kiss. However, their bond does not constitute true love and his kiss fails.
In a powerful change, it is Maleficent who casts the spell with her kiss meant to be a motherly gesture filled with love and sorrow, which frees the princess. The film suggests that true love does not have to be romantic. This change is of prime importance to the film’s message.
With King Stefan, furious and paranoid, leading an attack against Maleficent, she now possesses vengeance, causing her to spiral into anger. Throughout the battle, Malificent is supported by her loyal servant Diaval, who she can change into creatures. During the fight, Aurora frees Maleficent’s stolen wings, allowing her to regain her full power. She defeats Stefan, who ultimately falls to his death.
The movie closes with everything hopeful. The Moors and the human kingdom are at peace. Aurora is crowned queen of both realms. Maleficent is no longer vengeful and free once more. She soars through the skies, redeemed and whole.
Cast & Crew
Director:
Robert Stromberg: Made his directorial debut with Maleficent, is a two-time Oscar winning production designer for Avatar and Alice in Wonderland. The lush, fantastical, and visually striking look of the film comes from his background in visual effects.
Writer:
Linda Woolverton: She is famous for writing for Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (1991) and The Lion King (1994). She is known for adding a feminist and a revisionist twist and in this case turned a classic evil character to a sympathetic and complex protagonist.
Main Cast:
Angelina Jolie as Maleficent
In her performance, Jolie infuses a balance of menace and motherhood, vulnerability, wrath, and eventual redemption. With the sharp cheekbones and Disney’s iconic horns and costuming, Jolie embodies one of Disney’s most recognizable characters. Her nuanced performance redefines the character, transforming her into one of the most beloved villains.
Elle Fanning as Aurora
Fanning captures the essence of the gentle and sweet princess with her warmth and charm. She and Jolie’s interaction lends believability to their relationship development, which becomes the emotional heart of the film.
Sharlto Copley as King Stefan
Copley interprets Stefan as a character with deep flaws that makes him something of a tragic figure. He descends from a hopeful and ambitious dreamer into a paranoid and tyrannical ruler, showcasing the film’s theme of betrayal and ambition.
Sam Riley as Diaval
Riley adds comic relief as Maleficent’s loyal companion who can shapeshift. He acts as both a friend and a guardian figure, which enriches Maleficent’s otherwise solitary existence.
Imelda Staunton, Lesley Manville, and Juno Temple as the three pixies
The triumvirate brings humorous relief to the story, albeit through a satirical lens that highlights Maleficent’s unanticipated maternal instincts.
Music:
James Newton Howard – The score combines a full orchestra with sweeping, dramatic melodies and a touch of the haunting. Del Rey’s cover of “Once Upon a Dream” gives a dark touch to the credits.
Movie Aliases and Effects:
Stefan’s kingdom is cold and stone, but the moors are filled with vibrant wonder and magical creatures, showcasing ethereal landscapes and gothic costumes the film is filled with. Stromberg’s visual storytelling in Maleficent leans heavily on symbolism, marking themes of transformation and duality.
Ratings and Reception
Maleficent is rated 6.9/10 on IMDB, and some reviewers noted audience reception is favorable. Divided critics and viewers alike all praise Angelina Jolie’s commanding performance alongside the fresh perspective of the film’s plot.
Angelina Jolie’s portrayal of Maleficent was praised, and critics noted the depth of emotional complexity and the gravitas she brought, transforming a character who had been seen as a one-dimensional villain.
They noted visuals had a classic Disney storytelling feel with modern CGI.
Challenging tales of good and evil in fairytales, the reimaging has been labeled as a bold portrayal of feminism.
Critics noted the slow pacing in the middle of the film was a problem.
Characters such as the pixies and Prince Phillip with the rest of the supporting cast lacked depth.
Longtime fans of sleeping beauty were bothered by the changes to the story’s themes and structure.
With all of the critiques, the film still managed to do exceedingly well, earning over $750 million worldwide, which contributed to the sequel, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, released in 2019.
Conclusion
Maleficent is not simply a retelling; it is a story re-imagined. The film looks at a misunderstood character and villain, which shifts the perception of malignant and benevolent figures as dualistic. It is a story of betrayal, emotional scars, and a possible redemption, with the redemption being love. Not romantic love, but maternal and love that is genuinely selfless.
Maleficent illustrates the story of a character seeking to regain their lost identity after suffering profound losses. It is a journey immersed in visuals and emotions detailing the experiences of suffering, vengeance, and ultimately forgiveness. The film is an audacious reinterpretation of a classic tale, and with the striking performance of Angelina Jolie, it is unarguably one of the most bold and thought-provoking live-action reinterpretations of a Disney film.
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