Maleficent – A Feminist Take on a Non-Feminist Classic

 Disney takes their old classic Sleeping Beauty and gives it a welcomed twist to the original story. Maleficent (Angelina Jolie) takes on the role of both hero and villain. [But I mean who didn’t see that coming since the title of the movie is Maleficent.] Directed by Robert Stromberg, the movie follows her story of first living a life of curiosity and love to a life of hatred and scorn after a man, Stefan (Sharito Copley), she loved broke her heart so he could become king of the mankind kingdom. For revenge, she curses his first-born child, Aurora (Ellie Fanning), to fall into a deep sleep on her 16^th birthday but could only be awaken by true love’s kiss. She created this stipulation with the belief that true love doesn’t exist. However, watching Aurora grow, love returned to heart once again. I was ecstatic that they kept the lines of the classic curse scene from the original cartoon movie! Jolie even copied some of her the cartoon Maleficent’s gestures!

First off, the visuals of this movie were AMAZING!!! I would even go so far as saying the visuals and special effects where Oscar worthy! All the creatures were amazing! Maleficent’s makeup and wardrobe was amazing! The prosthetics were applied so cleanly. They gave Maleficent a sort of couture look, but it kept with her classic style. The special effects of this movie were seamlessly blended into the movie. Because in some movies with special effects, you can clearly define where the filmed portion of the scene is and the special effects are. Aurora’s guardian fairies, Flittle (Lesley Manville), Knotgrass (Imelda Staunton), and Thistleetwit (Juno Temple), were all CGI characters. The special effects artists were able to perfectly recreate the actresses’ faces to put on their small characters’ bodies. However, my one critique is that the sizing of the heads didn’t always match the bodies.

Disney movies lately have been revamping the damsel in distress stories with Tangled, Frozen, and now Maleficent. Prince Phillip (Brenton Thwaites) really has no role in this movie. I believe he shows up just so that the audience doesn’t question why he never showed up to wake up Aurora. This definitely was more a heroine-driven movie, or as my brother states, a feminist movie. It gives a more humane approach to villains showing that villains aren’t always evil. Sometimes there’s a reason their heart turns cold. It brought on themes of motherly love and, of course, true love, but what qualifies as true love.

The men of this movie were characterized by stupidity, greed, or blind ambition. Prince Phillip, as stated before, is not given a chance to think or play a huge role in the story’s progression. He just played the placeholder of Prince. King Stefan takes on the classic Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein theme of blind ambition, and how it affects you and everyone around you. He chooses power over love and friendship, and becomes consumed by paranoia that his power will be taken away.

In terms of casting, I’m glad that 16-year-old Aurora was played by an actress who was quite similar in age to the character. Many teenage roles are played by 20 year old actors, convincing teenagers, this is what teenagers should look like at that age. Standing next to Jolie, emphasized Fanning’s youth and naivety. Jolie was wonderful in the role of Maleficent. She played a strong woman who defended those she loved. Her daughter, Vivienne, was even able to make a cameo as young Aurora. Although, in the movie, there is a point in the story where Maleficent and Stefan are around their 20s, but they are played by Jolie and Copley. Jolie and Copley are obviously not in their 20s. They are both wonderful beautiful people, but they are obviously not in their 20s. I think they should have casted one more actor pair to play this age group and then bring in Jolie and Copley. This is my one gripe about the movie.

So if you love Disney movies, go watch this movie! If you love the Disney Princess movies, go watch this movie! If you’re pro-Girl Power, go watch this movie! Bottom line, go watch this movie!!!