Name: Maleficent
Genre: Action, Adventure, Kids & Family, Fantasy, Romance
Released: 2014
Duration: T1H37M
Cast: Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Sharlto Copley, Lesley Manville, Imelda Staunton

Trailer

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Angelina Jolie is the villainous Maleficent in this dark retelling of Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty. Follows the fairytale from the titular witch's perspective, depicting the events that hardened Maleficent's heart and drove her to curse young Princess Aurora (Elle Fanning), the living subject of the witch's hatred.

A beautiful, pure-hearted woman, Maleficent has an idyllic life growing up in a peaceable forest kingdom, until one day when an invading army threatens the harmony of the land. Maleficent rises to be the land's fiercest protector, but she ultimately suffers a ruthless betrayal. Bent on revenge, she faces an epic battle with the invading king's successor and, as a result, places a curse upon his newborn infant Aurora. As the child grows, Maleficent realises that Aurora holds the key to peace in the kingdom...

The character of Maleficent is a Disney creation, who appeared in Sleeping Beauty (1959), the animator's version of the Grimm Brothers' wicked fairy godmother. This movie marks the feature directorial debut of Oscar-winning visual effects designer Robert Stromberg (Avatar, Alice in Wonderland).

2014Rating: M, Fantasy themes and violence97 minsUSA

ActionAdventureKids & FamilyFantasyRomance

All Reviews (7)

Director:: Robert Stromberg (feature debut)
Writer:: Paul DiniLinda WoolvertonJohn Lee Hancock
Cast:: Angelina JolieElle FanningSharlto CopleyLesley ManvilleImelda StauntonJuno TempleSam RileyBrendon ThwaitesKenneth Cranham

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Maleficent / Reviews

Flicks, Liam Maguren

There must have been a deafening awkward silence within Disney studio’s screening room recently, given how Maleficent shares the exact same message as another contemporary Disney-made fable. Unfortunately, you’ve probably seen that other film, so the moral in this Sleeping Beauty revision will feel sadly deflated. It’s not the film’s fault, but it will cause many eyes to roll, which is a shame, because Angelina Jolie’s return to Hollywood status is a rather good one.

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Variety

Uncertain of tone, and bearing visible scarring from what one imagines were multiple rewrites... but it sure is nice to look at for 97 minutes.

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Total Film

Magical but modern, family-friendly but feisty and a feast for the eyes. Maleficent doesn't entirely reinvent the (spindle) wheel, but certainly provoke thought with its (ahem) prick teasing.

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Time Out

If you go into Maleficent expecting Jolie to be the badass of Sleeping Beauty, you’re going to get burned.

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The New York Times

At least nobody here is warbling about what she wants before hitting the road to self-actualization.

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Hollywood Reporter

With a dynamic blend of live action and effects, this is a dark, dazzling and psychologically nuanced fairy-tale reinvention.

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Empire Magazine

If this tiresome yarn is the 'true' story of one of Disney's most popular villains then, please, give us colourful lies and happy ignorance.

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