Maleficent
Maleficent is well….rather magnificent (see what I did there, I rhymed). I know it has had some mixed reviews but I really did love it. (Side note: I think If I were ever to become a pro reviewer I would like totally be a nice, kind one).
I am happy to see that Disney is continuing to produce great films. Maybe one day Disney will prove to me that “dreams can come true” and let me work for them. Please.
I was very excited about this film ever since seeing its trailer so when I finally watched it I was mega excited (despite the fact that it was in 3D and I don’t know why but it makes me slightly dizzy). I also had to put my differences aside that I have with the indisputably stunning, Angelina Jolie (I think Jennifer Aniston is over it now so I guess I should be too). Anyway, I was pleased that the film did not at all disappoint. My friend and I discussed it and actually this particular Disney film can be just as suitable for adults as it is for children. Really I feel that most Disney films do address adult themes (blog/rant about this to follow).
Anyway back to the film. I am assuming most of you are familiar with Sleeping Beauty, and if you are not, what’s wrong with you? Go on amazon and order yourself a copy. I promise you will like it. I mean it has fairies, dragons and it makes you believe in a true love’s kiss. Argh Disney you just love to keep it real don’t you?!
Maleficent is a fairy who is actually described on Wikipedia as “ Mistress of all Evil”. I mean if you’re going to be bad, at least be the baddest, right?
Naturally, we side with the good guys in Disney and never ask ourselves questions like, “wait , like why is she like so mean? Maybe she had a bad childhood? Maybe she is just misunderstood? Maybe she should have seen a therapist to help her deal with her issues and then maybe she would not have felt so inclined to curse Aurora into a deep eternal sleep?. So many questions but Sleeping Beauty did not focus on this at all and it is just so rude, there are always two sides to a story. I think. Most of the time.
But fear not children because years and years later the moment has come - the whole truth is revealed. Maleficent shows how and why the fairy developed into being “evil” and resentful. One of the things I loved about the film is its focus on Maleficent’s character arc and how she reverts from “good” and bad”. But the film does not at all suggest that you can be either or, but that you can consist of both dependant on life circumstances.
Angelina Jolie carries the whole film and I believe that she does it so well. I think she was wonderfully cast and I am not sure if I can think of anyone else now, after seeing it, playing it but her. Also, as I was watching all I kept thinking, apart from the fact that she is talented, is that this woman is just too beautiful and even as a “villain” with horns and wings she still is stunning. The other characters I feel just complimented her and I personally felt were more like “factors” that reflected and influenced her character development.
I found the story itself also very interesting and whilst in a true Disney fashion it did focus on love, it felt a little more profound than that. It touched upon human vices and virtues and in a way commented on how life events can often affect us in a way where we lose hindsight of who we are and our purposes. But ….*drum roll*…there is always a way back , there is always hope with a little bit of love and faith. Ha okay I know that is vommingly cheesy but we have to be optimistic right?
There were some times when the story did feel like it was getting a little lost and lacking a firm direction and resolution. So there were minor flaws. But hey, who am I to judge? Am I making a Disney film? No. Exactly. Another aspect of the story I admired was that it did not reduce “true love” to be limited to just a romantic type of love. True love can be amongst friends, family, pets. Anything. So really we must appreciate that in the film too.
I loved the way the film looked. In lack of other intelligent ponsy words, it was just so so so very pretty yet kind of gothicy without being scary. The visual effects, the use of colour, the music and the production design - it was just all so well done. In my eyes, it was hauntingly magical. Of course, I am assuming this is what they were going for.
I firmly believe that we can learn a lot about life from Disney and whether you believe in fairy tales or not, there is some meaning/moral behind them all.
I know I said Maleficent is not just about romantic love…but it is a little bit. It’s more like a back story if you like.
Maleficent’s moral lesson? (apart from the fact that true love can happen between anyone, not just lovers)
Well….If you break a woman’s heart, there is like a 50% chance (clearly actual stats I went on to research) that she will deal with it normally and cry about it to her friends, watch romances ( Bridget Jones, Love Actually, The Notebook, to be specific) and eat chocolate. But, there is the other 50% chance where she may turn out to be a bit of a vengeful badass bi**h.
Just saying.
Maleficent is definitely worth seeing, it may not be everyone’s cup of tea (woohoo look at me after more than 12 years of being in England I am now using sayings like this) but I hope you would still enjoy it.
P.S kind of like the name Aurora for a child….just to be clear I am not with a child but I just think it’s a cute name. Do you think I may be judged if I do?
I am happy to see that Disney is continuing to produce great films. Maybe one day Disney will prove to me that “dreams can come true” and let me work for them. Please.
I was very excited about this film ever since seeing its trailer so when I finally watched it I was mega excited (despite the fact that it was in 3D and I don’t know why but it makes me slightly dizzy). I also had to put my differences aside that I have with the indisputably stunning, Angelina Jolie (I think Jennifer Aniston is over it now so I guess I should be too). Anyway, I was pleased that the film did not at all disappoint. My friend and I discussed it and actually this particular Disney film can be just as suitable for adults as it is for children. Really I feel that most Disney films do address adult themes (blog/rant about this to follow).
Anyway back to the film. I am assuming most of you are familiar with Sleeping Beauty, and if you are not, what’s wrong with you? Go on amazon and order yourself a copy. I promise you will like it. I mean it has fairies, dragons and it makes you believe in a true love’s kiss. Argh Disney you just love to keep it real don’t you?!
Maleficent is a fairy who is actually described on Wikipedia as “ Mistress of all Evil”. I mean if you’re going to be bad, at least be the baddest, right?
Naturally, we side with the good guys in Disney and never ask ourselves questions like, “wait , like why is she like so mean? Maybe she had a bad childhood? Maybe she is just misunderstood? Maybe she should have seen a therapist to help her deal with her issues and then maybe she would not have felt so inclined to curse Aurora into a deep eternal sleep?. So many questions but Sleeping Beauty did not focus on this at all and it is just so rude, there are always two sides to a story. I think. Most of the time.
But fear not children because years and years later the moment has come - the whole truth is revealed. Maleficent shows how and why the fairy developed into being “evil” and resentful. One of the things I loved about the film is its focus on Maleficent’s character arc and how she reverts from “good” and bad”. But the film does not at all suggest that you can be either or, but that you can consist of both dependant on life circumstances.
Angelina Jolie carries the whole film and I believe that she does it so well. I think she was wonderfully cast and I am not sure if I can think of anyone else now, after seeing it, playing it but her. Also, as I was watching all I kept thinking, apart from the fact that she is talented, is that this woman is just too beautiful and even as a “villain” with horns and wings she still is stunning. The other characters I feel just complimented her and I personally felt were more like “factors” that reflected and influenced her character development.
I found the story itself also very interesting and whilst in a true Disney fashion it did focus on love, it felt a little more profound than that. It touched upon human vices and virtues and in a way commented on how life events can often affect us in a way where we lose hindsight of who we are and our purposes. But ….*drum roll*…there is always a way back , there is always hope with a little bit of love and faith. Ha okay I know that is vommingly cheesy but we have to be optimistic right?
There were some times when the story did feel like it was getting a little lost and lacking a firm direction and resolution. So there were minor flaws. But hey, who am I to judge? Am I making a Disney film? No. Exactly. Another aspect of the story I admired was that it did not reduce “true love” to be limited to just a romantic type of love. True love can be amongst friends, family, pets. Anything. So really we must appreciate that in the film too.
I loved the way the film looked. In lack of other intelligent ponsy words, it was just so so so very pretty yet kind of gothicy without being scary. The visual effects, the use of colour, the music and the production design - it was just all so well done. In my eyes, it was hauntingly magical. Of course, I am assuming this is what they were going for.
I firmly believe that we can learn a lot about life from Disney and whether you believe in fairy tales or not, there is some meaning/moral behind them all.
I know I said Maleficent is not just about romantic love…but it is a little bit. It’s more like a back story if you like.
Maleficent’s moral lesson? (apart from the fact that true love can happen between anyone, not just lovers)
Well….If you break a woman’s heart, there is like a 50% chance (clearly actual stats I went on to research) that she will deal with it normally and cry about it to her friends, watch romances ( Bridget Jones, Love Actually, The Notebook, to be specific) and eat chocolate. But, there is the other 50% chance where she may turn out to be a bit of a vengeful badass bi**h.
Just saying.
Maleficent is definitely worth seeing, it may not be everyone’s cup of tea (woohoo look at me after more than 12 years of being in England I am now using sayings like this) but I hope you would still enjoy it.
P.S kind of like the name Aurora for a child….just to be clear I am not with a child but I just think it’s a cute name. Do you think I may be judged if I do?