Maleficent (Angelina Jolie)
 

It's out TODAY, gonna go watch it!

I thought it came out on Friday? Anyway I plan on seeing this since I'm a big Disney fan.

Cool; let me know if it's any good - I haven't made up my mind on whether to see it at the cinema or wait for dvd! I love Maleficent but I haven't really enjoyed Angelina Jolie since 'Girl, Interrupted'... it kinda just felt like she stopped stretching her acting chops. I want a return to Gia-style Angelina! :ohwell:

Anyway, I'll be waiting to hear your opinions of le movie. :D

Mine is out May 29th though (today!), I better buy the tickets early, don't want to get terrible seats. :D

http://i.imgur.com/zpDtonk.jpg

it's pretty bad

but I liked Angelina

TBH, as someone who likes Maleficent a lot (though I'll be the first to admit she's not one of Disney's more interesting villains and just a tad overrated) I'm not at all impressed with what this has going for it.

Not enthralled with the'sympathetic twist, even if it's just a 'what if?' scenario and likely won't be part of Disney canon, by making Maleficent herself not a self-proclaimed Mistress of Evil, but just someone lashing out of revenge for being betrayed. It's just...really? The whole reason why she is the way she is was because she got her heart broken over some guy? Didn't they already do that in last year's Oz movie with how the Wicked Witch of the West came to be? I've already said Maleficent herself isn't that interesting outside her status as a villain, but I don't find this backstory at least one bit interesting or enlightening and more delusion of her character and overall role in the original story. Never mind the fact that this concept in general is just a big contrast to how Disney has consistently capitalized on her being one of their bigger, more malicious baddies and likely will continue to so regardless of how much this movie will make. Like, this movie could make $250 million worldwide, but not apply nothing from it when promoting anything Sleeping Beauty-related in their merchandise, theme parks, and what have you. Same will go to when they'll do Cinderella next year (no, I'm kidding about that).

Also thought the way the trailers made no hesitation to exploit the film's special effects was eye-roll inducing too. It just looked no different than what I've already seen from Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland or Oz: The Great and Powerful (funny since I later found out this being done by the same guy who got an Oscar for working on those movies's effects). It just furthers my dislike for movies that cared more about pretty look than any care put into it's substance.

Another concern was the portrayal of the three Good Fairies. Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather. Since the film was so sure of putting Maleficent in a good light, could that affect the other fairies in some way, whether positively or negatively? I'll be the first to say Maleficent wasn't the only good part about the original and that these three are underrated. They were the ones who got more screentime, dialogue and personalities to show. And the fact that they had to forbid themselves from using magic for 16 years just to protect and raise this little girl just shows that these characters, despite their 'cutesy' and overly-sweet demeanors, were competent and dedicated to their goal. Screw anyone saying Aurora was the main character (quite frankly, she was more of a plot device) it's these three who moved the plot forward and went around doing s*it. So if they were to be flanderized or portrayed badly just so Maleficent can be seen better by comparison, then that would be one big middle finger to people who think Maleficent wasn't the only good aspect from the original.

So upon viewing early scores for this movie on Rotten Tomatoes yesterday...they pretty much confirmed what I was fearing. Along with some face-palm-worthy plot points that will surely disappoint those who are/were eager to see that memorable climax from the original.

What probably frustrates me the most about this is that I have to feel so disappointed with what this film has when it sounded good on paper. A movie that's about one of my all-time favorite Disney villainesses and has a highly-esteemed actress playing her? Sounds cool. But the execution and decisions that went into this movie just turn me off as just another generic live-action 'reimagining' of a classic fairy-tale churning out the same special effect we've seen far too often now and really doesn't do much justice to the source material to respect what it actually has to offer to said material.

Just got back from watching it. I have to say I love it! :D

So here's my early thoughts (and be warned: SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!!)

I got in with an open mind and I believe that is the best way to enjoy the movie. Most people have this basic idea of what Maleficent should be (based on Sleeping Beauty film), but I treated it as separate worlds. It could have ties/connections (which how I like to perceive it) or maybe not (if you don't want to) with Sleeping Beauty.

I think it's fascinating how it depicts the fairy tale story as the altered truth of what really happened, a lie being told from generations to generations passed down till now. It relates to our own world, how some histories were told basically on the premise of lies.

But enough about philosophies, on to the movie itself.


Pros
- Angelina's acting is A++. Everytime she's on screen, she holds the audiece's attention. She portrays emotions greatly (be it reservation, doubt, vengeful, remorse, pain, betrayed, etc)
- Aurora is very likeable and sweet. And I like how she didn't fell in love with the prince at first sight, bravo. (Seriously. You just met 2 minutes and now it's true love? Please, that's so obsolete way of thinking. It made sense why Aurora loves Maleficent since she knows she's under her protection since very young)
- Pet raven has a purpose. "I want you to be my wings" after hers was taken.
- So many references to Sleeping Beauty film, be it King Henry, corridors when Aurora was hypnotized, cottage in the woods, dragon, several similarities in script, the 3 fairies, etc
- Awesome outfit, particularly Maleficent of course
- Not recycling the same story plot. They made it their own.

Cons
- I absolutely detest the overly cute and disney looking forest creatures. They look kinda out of place and mere nuisance. If I were Maleficent, I wiped them all out with painful death and just leave the cool looking creatures to live.

Overall, 8/10 from me.

I for one liked it. I thought it was a fun family film. Sure it got a bit predictable near the end but all in all a good film.

I got back from my second viewing and still love it. :tlove:

Ah, maybe I should go again. Can't wait. <3 And I love hearing the people's commenting in the cinema, all were very positive and immersed in the movie.

Oh dude, seriously? That's... disappointing to hear, I've never enjoyed that trope.

I know my kid sister's been hanging out to see it; I'll probably check it out with her when it's out on dvd.

So between this and Charlize Theron's role in Snow White, I wonder if we're going to see a bit more of a trend towards Disney villains getting more of the spotlight? Which would be cool, because I've always enjoyed Disney's villains better than the heroes. :D

Well TBF, there is more to it than that.

He also cut off her wings just so he could become king. He was tasked to just kill her since she was kind of a big pain for the dying king's desire to conquer over the Moors, where she and the other fairies reside. But since he couldn't find it in him to kill his childhood friend, he just cuts off her wings and claimed she's dead when he came back.

As for why I'm not spoiling that, because it practically happens in the 1st Act.

I saw it today, it was really good.

All good, spoilers never bother me. Still seems kind of wishy-washy IMO but I will still end up watching it at some stage in the future.

I really want to see this one. She's always been one of my favorite Disney villains, too, and this take looks really interesting!

Box office results :D

USA: strong opening worth 70 million dollars

Foreign: 100 million dollars

It is very good news i am so happy for these results

So far in my country reviews are all very good.

i liked this argument someone said on TV:


this movie is Maleficent and not Sleeping Beauty

The producers and the studio have been very clear since the begining that this movie will have a twist to how the events happen so what some of you are arguing about.

If you are not happy then one day become a movie producer and give us a new version by you .

I don't need to be a movie producer to make my issues with this movie more valid. So don't you dare give me that condescending bulls*it on how I'm wrong for giving an opposite opinion. If you liked it, cool for you, I'm happy you saw something in this movie that I didn't. Just don't dismiss people who weren't as enthralled with it as you were and give the ol' "WELL LET'S SEE U DO BETTER!" card as if what they have to say has no importance.

Again, I hold no ill will towards anyone who likes this movie. Just don't try to twist my disappointment around as being a "hater" because I had worries about it from the get-go. I wanted to be proven wrong about this movie but unfortunately my fears were prove to be true and chose to skip it as a result.

im with darklightdragon on this. maleficent is probably my favorite disney villain and sleeping beauty is among the top of all my fave disney animated features. i certainly get that this is not sleeping beauty and that there was going to be a twist to the story. that said, they could've done so much more with the character and much much better with the plot in general. i must also say, though...angelina jolie brought it! she didnt have a lot to work with, but she still managed to shine as the character (in the moments where they werent pushing her as the emo kid with a heart of gold). and i usually dont like angelina jolie flicks. :/

i wish disney had treated this movie with the same respect as their animated features. the last 3 disney animated flicks have been great...princess and the frog, tangled and frozen. why not treat this (based off an OG classic) with that type of care? or at least with the amount of care they gave to flicks like tron:legacy or the first pirates of the carribean. sadly, the whole thing just seemed kinda phoned in...

Maleficent has passed $600 millions! :teek:

http://variety.com/2014/film/news/ma...ce-1201257126/

Amazing!

I was disappointed. She was effectively neutered, any trace of malevolent intent wiped from her so having a name that sounds like "malevolent" seemed pointless.

I wanted to see what made her tick as an antagonist and why she did the things she did but the writers just seemed to have copped-out and made her an embittered woman who was betrayed by twoo luuuv - I thought it was a crappy and unimaginative motive to give her.