Synopsis
Maleficent is a dark fantasy film reinterpreting the Disney classic sleeping beauty through the perspective of its nefarious villain and was released in 2014. It was directed by Robert Stromberg and starred Angelina Jolie as the titular character. Jolie’s performance in the film gave life to a character that has traditionally abused evil credulity woods of a fairytale. Rather than a wicked sorceress, this interpretation turns her into a tormented anti-hero whose villainy springs from betrayal, anguish, and, quite simply, the desire for justice.
The film opens in the tranquil and enchanted region called the Moors, which is ruled by nature instead of a monarch. Magic creatures inhabit the Moors. Maleficent is a powerful fairy who features enormous wings and a kind heart. She guards the Moors and brings harmony among its inhabitants and also, all living creatures on earth. She protects the Thicket region from Stefan and other humans who intend devastation, and as children, he and Stefan shared a harmonious companionship, which in due time flourished into a youthful infatuation.
Stefan’s ambition leads him into the human kingdom which seeks to exploit the Moors’ wealth, importantly diverging the paths of both characters. In a deeply disappointing turn of fate, Stefan betrays Maleficent’s trust when he drugs her during the king’s celebration and delivers her wings to Henry as proof of her death. This seemingly simple act was one of great betrayal and marked the beginning of Maleficent’s metamorphosis into the much dreaded figure she became known to be throughout history.
Stefan sets out to build a dark kingdom of his own and in doing so adopts the mantle of a dark and vengeful protector. The now King Stefan and his queen have a daughter named Aurora. During her celebration, Maleficent hurls herself into the celebration and places a curse on the newborn saying that on her 16th birthday she shall prick her finger on a spinning wheel which shall leave her in a death like state, only to be awaken by true love.
The king’s decision to hide Aurora for her protection leads him to send her to be raised by three pixies who can barely look after themselves. From a distance, Maleficent keeps a watchful eye on the princess. To her surprise, she grows fonder of her, who is now a teen played by Elle Fanning. As a kind and gentle young woman, Aurora begins to redeem Maleficent and regret the curse she placed on her in anger, softening her heart in the process.
Maleficent struggles to change the unrevokable curse. When each attempt fails, she decides to bring the cursed-sleeping Aurora Prince Phillip, hoping one kiss could rouse her. Unfortunately, it is Phillip’s kiss that does not awaken her, but rather Maleficent’s remorseful maternal kiss placed on the young princess’ forehead shatters the spell, traditionally associating “true love” with the fairy tale.
Maleficent ends the story having reclaimed her wings and ousting the brutal King Stefan. With peace restored in the Moors, she leaves the task of unifying both kingdoms to Aurora. The once-evil fairy finds redemption not through the forgiveness of others, but in her actions and her change of heart—through self-love.
Cast and Crew
As Maleficent, Angelina Jolie is nothing short of commanding and theatrical; deeply emotional at the same time. She captures all the grandness and the sinister part of her character but at the same time, shows her vulnerabilities and internal struggles. It is said that Jolie’s portrayal was the very heart and soul of the film that brought life to a character that was perceived to be overly evil without any redeeming qualities.
Aurora is played by Elle Fanning who is equally full of innocence and sincerity. Fanning’s performance stands in stark contrast with the intensity of Jolie and the relationship they build over time is what anchors the film’s emotional storyline.
Sharlto Copley portrays the role of the King Stefan who has a backstory of a peasant turned into a king. His drastic fall into madness is rampant with paranoia and obsession. Although he delivers the madness with intensity, some critics thought he lacked depth when compared to Maleficent.
Other roles are taken on by Sam Riley, Diaval, Maleficent’s loyal confidant, and shapeshifting raven. Riley brings to the character loyalty and comic relief while serving as a moral compass to the tale. Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple, Lesley Manville play the three pixies tasked with Aurora’s guardianship. Intended to be humorous, their performance of over-the-top silliness was met with mixed reactions.
Rooted in the production background of Robert Stromberg, the film marks his debut as a director. Stromberg contributed to Avatar and Alice in Wonderland, which means that he is bringing to Maleficent, at least one prior experience of working on a richly fantastical world.
Like many Disney movies, the screenplay for Maleficent was written by Linda Woolverton. She had previously written Beauty and the Beast (1991) and The Lion King (1994). With her unique perspective, Woolverton adds a different storyline of betrayal and empowerment for the Disney Princess motif, action-packed yet contemporary feminist revisionist tale.
The deeply haunting and suspenseful musical score came from the talented composer, James Newton Howard. Apart from adding to the emotional undercurrents of the film, Howard’s music builds the atmosphere throughout the Maleficent. A song in the movie was re-recorded by Lana Del Rey. “Once Upon a Dream”, now in a hauntingly gloomy tone, seems to capture the themes of Maleficent.
Ratings and Reviews:
Maleficent has a 6.9/10 score on IMDb, which indicates that the film is mainly appreciated. In terms of audience reaction, the film was appreciated for its stunning visuals alongside Angie’s central performance and the reimagining of a well-known fairy tale. Critics, as before, continued to be wowed by Angie’s commanding, subtle and stunning performance.
While cinematic themes such as betrayal, revenge, and redemption were relatable to many, some critics took issue with the supporting characters being bland and the overall pacing of the narrative. Nonetheless, portraying Maleficent as a tragic heroine rather than a one-dimensional villain was a bold—and much needed—move within the framework of the Disney canon.
The film did exceptionally well commercially, surpassing $750 million in revenue worldwide. This proved the audience’s readiness to accept dark, character-driven adaptations of well-known tales. Moreover, it set the precedent for other live-action Disney remakes like Cinderella (2015), Beauty and the Beast (2017), and Aladdin (2019).
Conclusion
Maleficent effortlessly brings new life to a well-known fairy tale by reimagining the infamous villain in the form of a layered, tragic, and ultimately heroic figure. The film combines stunning visual effects along with a headstrong performance by Angelina Jolie to tell a tale of betrayal and emotional metamorphosis, and in doing so provides a contemporary, feminist perspective on classic tales.
Maleficent does not simply reinforce age-old archetypes of good and evil, but rather adds complexity to the notions of love and vengeance, trust and betrayal, innocence and experience. This not only deepens the lore of Sleeping Beauty, but challenges viewers to reexamine the essence of villains and the true meaning of love.
Amid the onslaught of cookie-cutter reboots that saturate today’s cinematic landscape, Maleficent distinguishes itself with ambition, heart, and a redefined approach to a legacy character. It demonstrates that even the darkest fairy tales can contain a flicker of hope, revealing that the most unexpected sources can offer the deepest redemption.
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