Maleficent

By: Cynthia Litman

Pearl of the Post:  Reconstructing "Evil" 

Disney's new spin on my sister's childhood favorite princess movie "Sleeping Beauty" (Disney 1959), tells the back story of Maleficent and shines the black pearl "evil is a choice present in each moment".

Maleficent is a culmination of over 400 years and multiple re-tellings of a classic story. It highlights the balance of light and dark, love versus evil and redemption and regret. All of us have the power to cast a powerful spell upon those in our lives.

One moment you may curse your life the other you soar with your power.

Here a magical being Maleficent (Angelina Jolie), the strongest fairy in the Moors falls under the spell of a human boy Stefan (Sharlto Copley). In a vulnerable moment, the two reveal their vulnerabilities, as love is prone to unearth. As they mature so does their bond into “true love”. 

Or so she thought. 

Ambition, power and greed fills Stefan’s heart and he breaks his bond to be anointed as the new King. Heartbroken, Maleficent is now a fallen angel.

I had hoped to see a super evil Angie gone wickedly wild which was not at all as intriguing, striking and penetrating as the multi-layered Maleficent, who does have her wicked way with you.

You fall under Angie’s spell, she is completely captivating as Maleficent (everything about the character's presence is spellbinding, especially her eyes) and you’re not sure where she will lead you.  She wields her elemental power and her loathing of men. I certainly wasn’t expecting to tear up at Maleficent’s tender side.

(spoiler alert!) Staying true to Disney's Sleeping Beauty, after Maleficent curses Stefan's newborn daughter, Aurora (Elle Fanning), to fall into an endless slumber upon her 16th birthday via a spindle prick, he places her under the care of 3 good fairies.

Regrettably, I found the fairies to be largely forgettable and affable as fish out of water mommas raising Baby Aurora in a quaint non-magical cottage in the woods. 

Woefully unprepared for the challenges of motherhood, Maleficent keeps a watchful eye on the object that will bestow her vengeance, and angelically steps in when needed to ensure Aurora grows to fulfill the curse.

Maleficent's and cannot be revoked by any power on earth, with one exception. This heeds a cautionary pearl to live with intention for once something is out there, it is out there until its fate is met.

Meanwhile, Stefan chooses a life of fear and solitude abandoning the opportunity to spend 16 years with his daughter. The years filled with an obsession with what divides humans from the magical creatures of Maleficent’s world. Fear plagues his mind.

What if anything can erase the fear of the past to move these two worlds into an age of peace and harmony?

(spoiler alert!) The beauty maleficent finds in the beast she wished to create softens her heart and is the love story here. Like Frozen, Disney recoils from the boy girl love to tell a love story of today's times and examine the true power of maternal love. It is beautiful to watch the protective nature of Maleficent unfold from frightening children to protecting them.

Eventually, Maleficent dramatically drops the King in a fear fall. Within that moment the kingdom is release from fear.

Light returns to the land and like the best Disney flicks, they lived happily ever after.

Mommas Pearls Meter: 3 Winged Pearls

MALEFICENT

Disney, Rated PG

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Images provided via Disney.

Parenting Notes: There are some dark moments in the film including a date-rape like scene (read more here), violence, fighting and dark creatures which may definitely scare some kids!!  

I was not compensated for this post, I was generously invited to an advance screening of Maleficent which i was sad to miss!! Instead I experienced a multi-generational outing at my local theatre with my daughter and parents followed by dinner on the water watching a beautiful sunset. We had some interesting commentary about the film!!