I went to see Maleficent on June 4, which happened to be Angelina Jolie’s birthday—a funny coincidence, really, since birthdays are usually a time for treats. And this was certainly one of the best I've had. There were three main reasons I was eager to see it after hearing about it for over a year: my fondness for Angelina Jolie, my love of Sleeping Beauty, and Maleficent being my favorite fairy tale villain. However, I did have some reservations regarding how they’d altered the story. I generally dislike films that try to explain away a character's wickedness by delving into their past trauma—I believe some people are simply evil. Exploring someone’s childhood to justify their actions often diminishes their impact. Surprisingly, though, the somewhat predictable tale of young Maleficent’s love and betrayal, who was once good, actually worked well. I usually dislike that kind of story, but it genuinely took me by surprise! It managed to humanize Maleficent, which was its primary goal. Ultimately, no matter what kind of story they crafted around Disney's most beloved villainess, it wouldn’t have reached a high standard without Angelina Jolie. While I might sound biased given my admiration for her, I am capable of evaluating her performances critically, and in the role of Maleficent, she was simply perfect. It's hard to imagine another actress who could have captured that combination of beauty, charisma, cruelty, and coldness—perhaps Charlize Theron comes close. She embodied everything I’d hoped for in a real-life portrayal of Maleficent, and exceeded my expectations. The other actors deserve recognition as well. Elle Fanning was convincing as the young princess Aurora, embodying her sweetness and kindness perfectly. Sam Riley was a pleasant surprise as Diaval, Maleficent's raven, in human form; I wasn’t familiar with his work before but he fit the role beautifully. And Sharlto Copley, who impressed me previously in District 9 and Elysium, certainly won me over again with his terrifying performance as Stefan. There are a few things to overlook, though. One issue is that if young Maleficent was initially good, why did she already have horns, wings, and the name “Maleficent” at just ten years old? Also, I found the three pixies unconvincing and visually jarring due to their CGI rendering; while the special effects are generally well done, these characters were an eyesore. The dragon at the end also seemed somewhat unrealistic. However, Maleficent’s costumes and makeup were absolutely stunning—I couldn't help but admire her intricate headdresses and beautiful gowns. The costume and styling departments deserve significant praise and I hope they receive awards soon. The music was also excellent, featuring a score by James Newton Howard and a wonderful rendition of "Once upon a dream" by Lana Del Rey during the credits. There were plenty of exciting battle scenes as well. I initially thought this would be an average summer movie—maybe a 6.5 or 7 out of 10. Sometimes, it's great to be wrong. Compared to X-Men and Godzilla, which I saw recently and found disappointing, Maleficent was by far the most enjoyable experience. Perhaps my low expectations played a part, or perhaps it was simply that good. A word of caution for those who prefer action films: this film is full of pixies, fairies, sparkles, and magical elements. If you go, do it for Angelina Jolie. Otherwise, avoid it entirely. For everyone else: see this film—it’s fantastic. Maleficent is magnificent.

Source on TMDB