On Friday morning I went to go see the latest Angelina Jolie movie Maleficent. It turns so did all of Phoenix because the parking lot was packed and all the people in front of me were purchasing tickets for the film. I decided to go to the next showing instead but there was still a crowd and two lines just to get a seat. I’m going to go out on a limb and say Ms. Jolie will have a very successful opening weekend.
The start of the movie portraying a child Maleficent was a bit corny but it is Disney, so some cheese is to be expected. However once Jolie makes her appearance lingering doubts about the film fade away and the fun begins.
Maleficent is given a more fleshed background and motivations, and one can sympathize with her anger at King Stefan. Her relationship to Aurora was well done, and Elle Fanning is a believe puppy dog to Jolie’s hissing cat.
The ending is not the Sleeping Beauty you remember which was a nice surprise. It’s not a ten out of ten but is very solid and the Lana Del Ray version of “Once Upon A Dream” is perfection.