Maleficent

[Drunk Monk]

You will like this movie if you like Angelina. It's all about her really, vamping it up wonderfully with enhanced cheekbones and glowing eyes (as if she didn't already have that). There must have been other actors, but all I can remember is Angie with those spectacular horns and wings. If you dislike Angelina, don't go and don't read any further.

I like Angie. She is so statuesque - her features are so caricature and severe. Angie as a Maleficent superhero works for me, but I can totally see why many find her annoying.

This follows suit with Disney's redemption of villainesses. Like the Ice Queen in Frozen, we discover the back story and behold, the villainess is not so villainous and true love's kiss is not what it seems. The magical world is in the fashion of Brian Froud. Angie is spectacular as Maleficent, who remains one of my fav Disney villainesses. HP factor of 1 (Umbrage). Some sword swinging. Some logic flaws but it's the magical world so who cares? Fanning is disappointing as Aurora - she's way too gleeful - but she's such a minor character compared to Angie. The best scenes are between Angie and the baby or pre-teen Aurora.

I always loved the style of the original Disney cartoon - it looked like art from a classic deck of cards, over-elongated figures, which made Aurora a little too tall, too Barbie-esque for 16, but still very elegant. I wish they copied a little more of that, and that the pink vs. blue fight was carried out. Nevertheless, the nods to the original are clever enough to leave us all stuck with a deeply embedded Once Upon a Dream earworm.

T & Mrs. Dm approved.

[Greg_phpbb3_import1]

Wow. What a piece of crap. This was terrible. It's only saving grace was that it's short. Could you have assembled an uglier cast? Sharlto Copley makes a living at being unattractive so I couldn't understand the attraction between him and Angie. Elle Fanning was the opposite of beautiful. And Prince Charming looked like Harry Stiles from One Direction. What gives. Were all the pretty people working?

Boring and dull.

The only good scene which had any dynamism in it was the three blessing scenes where we got to see a little of maleficent Maleficent.

If you like songs that are only one note, this is the film for you.

[Drunk Monk]

The sequel has one scene - Michelle Pfeiffer v Maleficent. Most of that is in the trailer. There's more backstory as if we didn't get enough already. Turns out Maleficent comes from a whole fay species, including Skrein and Ejiofor. And they're not dragons, they're phoenixes. Oh whatev. HP factor 2 Umbridge & Griphook. I kinda forgot the first live action take and hopefully will forget this second one. 

No sword fight even though everyone is walking around with swords. They draw them and point them at each other but no stabbing. What is the point of that? Not DOOM recommended. 'cept for Greg. Fanning is much cuter in this one. Really she is.

[King Bob]

First movie was better. Second one dragged.

[Drunk Monk]

First movie was better. Second one dragged.

reaffirming...i think. 

[King Bob]

Final battle was also better in the first one