Disney's "Maleficent"

[Jimmy Pierce]

Anyone excited about the live action "Maleficent" film?

It's certainly got the dark Brothers Grimm fairy tales look down very well, perhaps not as dark as Pan's Labyrinth, but down that path. Angelina Jolie looks seductive and so evil as the lead. Disney seems to be keeping the stark but fantastic atmosphere of the animated Sleeping Beauty and other early classic Disney films.

 

[drapeama]

Anyone excited about the live action "Maleficent" film?

I'm not a fan of Jolie, but this one seems quite well done, for a Disney movie.

perhaps not as dark as Pan's Labyrinth, but down that path.

Of course not, but I enjoyed the take on the last adaptation of Snow White. I think the tales from Disney would deserve a "true" adaptation, and something dark like Pan's Labyrinth would fit quite well.
The Sleeping Beauty is a tale that would truly benefit from awesome Cinematography, dark mood/atmosphere and a little violence, to separate from the "Disney" tag a bit.
Let's see what they come up with. The idea of having the story from the point of view of Maleficent is a good thing though. Something new at least.

 

[Gillvane]

It looks good. I want to see it.

 

[Ryan Farnes]

I see they've departed from having Elle Fanning talk much in these new trailers. The original teaser they released was underwhelming with her fake British accent.

 

[Ryan Farnes]

Technically competent, charming little story...but, probably best to not re-write "Disney canon."

It was startlingly similar to Oz, The Great and Powerful, both in its revisionism (or at least backstory liberties), and in its visual style. Looks like it was produced by the same person. (in fact they were)

It was bold to try to remake such an iconic and classic character...and not just a character, but a villain. I feel like this film might have a more cohesive storyline than the original Sleeping Beauty, but the memorable and iconic scenes from Sleeping Beauty far, far, far exceed this film's attempts. Perhaps not a knock on Jolie, and more a testament to the staying power and timelessness of Disney's golden era of animation, but the performance of an animated character (Maleficent) in 1959 exceeds this remake. The same holds true in some of the scenes they sort of reenact, but seem to fail to capture the magic of the original animated film, let alone exceed it.

Worth catching if you're curious.

 

[Jimmy Pierce]

Well, it had a few good moments, mostly in the third act I think, but the script skipped through the story leaving little plot holes along the way. It was also disappointing to find that Maleficent was not pure evil like she always has been. One point in particular was that King Stefan stole her wings to keep the king's men from murdering her, but yet never even tried to explain that to her, and so she never figured out why he did it in the first place, and for some reason he has hatred for her. For what? For not appreciating his cruel act to save her? Becoming king made him grow to hate the Moor?

The delivery of the line "she will prick her finger and die" being changed to "and fall into a sleep like death" just didn't play out right, regardless of whether that line stayed true to the original line.

That dream trailer just gives the film a relentlessly dark tone that just wasn't there.

 

[Leon Bailey]

This movie actually had me intrigued once I saw the trailer before Captain America 2. Then I found out more of the back story. I will wait until the Blu-ray is released.

 

[Ryan Farnes]

One point in particular was that King Stefan stole her wings to keep the king's men from murdering her, but yet never even tried to explain that to her, and so she never figured out why he did it in the first place, and for some reason he has hatred for her. For what? For not appreciating his cruel act to save her? Becoming king made him grow to hate the Moor?

I felt that Stefan's character was a bit empty. There was little to no basis for much of his actions. I think this might be a large reason why this movie fails to deliver is that they strip the original villain of her evil, and tried to shove it somewhere else. I'm not sure that is even possible, but if it is, it needs to be more cohesive and logical.

That actor that plays him though (Sharlto Copley) seems soooooo capable. He is in Elysium as the really diabolical mercenary. I think he could have been more compelling had they really constructed a reasonable descent into madness.

But it still would have been blasphemy. :smile: