Maleficent

Hello again!

We continue with some reflections on the movies that I have seen recently.

This time it is a quite old production, as it is the “Maleficent” movie from the year 2014.

I remember that I was very excited when it was going to be released, at that time I could not go to the cinema the day of its premiere and I was very anxious to see it.

The film tells a story that is related to the story of "Sleeping beauty". The original Disney movie is one of the many Disney movies that formed a very important part of my childhood, so I think you can understand the illusion that I had when they were to release this new production.

I think that most of us know at least a little about Aurora's history, that is, the "sleeping beauty", but I do not think that everyone knows the history of Maleficent.

Let's see what Wikipedia tells us:

Maleficent is a fictional character who appears in Walt Disney Pictures' 16th animated feature film, Sleeping Beauty (1959). She is an evil fairy and the self-proclaimed "Mistress of All Evil" who, after not being invited to a christening, curses the infant Princess Aurora to "prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and die" before the sun sets on Aurora's sixteenth birthday.

The image of Maleficent is, one might say, quite different if we compare the film of 1959 with that of 2014.

In “Sleeping beauty” Maleficent arrives at King Stefan and Queen Leah's castle during the christening of their newborn daughter, the Princess Aurora. She expresses displeasure about not receiving an invitation, to which one of the good fairies Merryweather replies that she was unwanted. Angered, she prepares to leave. Queen Leah asks her if she is offended, causing Maleficent to deny her rage, and subsequently offers to bestow a "gift" on Aurora to show that she "bears no ill will". Maleficent confirms that Aurora will grow in grace and beauty, "beloved by all who know her", but as revenge for not being invited, she places a curse on Aurora so that before the sun sets on her sixteenth birthday, she will prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and die.

As you can see in the film of 1959 it seems that Maleficent decides to do something terrible just because they had not invited her to the Castle to celebrate the christening of the princess. The wickedness of this fairy is explained with great simplicity: she is bad, it does not matter why.

However in the 2014 film, Maleficent is a good-hearted but tragic fairy who protects the Moors, a realm of supernatural beings, from the neighboring human kingdom. She is played by Angelina Jolie.

Here I want to say that Angelina Jolie is for me the strongest point of this movie. If in some moments the film had seemed to me to have some boring scenes, Angelina always saved them. I am totally convinced that this actress has been the best choice for the role of Maleficent.

Let´s continue with the story about her:

Being a young fairy, Maleficent befriends and falls in love with a young peasant boy named Stefan. As an adult, Maleficent is betrayed by Stefan, who uses iron to burn off his wings so that he can ascend the throne of the human kingdom, as per a bounty declared by the dying King Henry. After these events, the character totally changes his personality and begins to lead a life directed towards hatred and revenge. Just like in the 1959 film, Maleficent curses the infant Princess Aurora to "prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and die" before the sun sets on Aurora's sixteenth birthday.

However, this time the reason is different. Although we know that we should not support evil, this time we know the reason, we know that the character is not simply a bad person but feels betrayed, deceived...  Maleficent begins to realize her plan and observe how the young Aurora is growing. Along with his new servant Diaval (in this role Sam Riley, which in my opinion makes an extraordinary couple with Angelina Jolie), Maleficent follows the footsteps of the young princess, thus creating a kind of bond between them.

To finish, I think the 2014 movie is much better than the one in 1959. Of course I do not want to compare the animated version with a movie with actors, but the story itself.

In the movie "Maleficent" we have the opportunity to know better the characters, their motives, their personality. We have the opportunity to see that nobody is born being good or bad. Throughout our lives can happen things that  sometimes make us change.

I really liked this movie, not only for the extension of the story of Maleficent but also for its vision of love. That true love that is so much talked about in the Disney movies. I think you will be surprised when you see how strong is the love repressed in "Maleficent".

I truly recommend this movie. It is a real pleasure to enjoy the special effects of this movie, the magic and of course the love story that hides behind all this.

Love,

Natalia