Opening this week is Disney’s dark fantasy film Maleficent, which is a re-imagining of their timeless classic, Sleeping Beauty. The only differences here are that firstly, it’s live-action, and secondly, this time the story is told from the perspective of the titular iconic villain, which certainly puts an interesting spin on things.
Angelina Jolie takes the lead role here as Maleficent, who we learn was not always so evil. The film explores her origins and takes us back to a time when she was a “beautiful and pure-hearted young fairy” living an idyllic life. I don’t want to spoil too much, but let’s just say that she has good reasons for being the way she is in Sleeping Beauty, as she suffers a ruthless betrayal that sets her down a path of revenge and wickedness.
Boasting some excellent production design, dazzling effects, a magnetic performance from Jolie and a wickedly fun story, Maleficent is a nice change of pace from the typical summer blockbusters that are currently invading theatres and is an absolute blast from start to finish. It should be one of the first real surprises of the summer and anyone who has even a passing interest in embarking on an enchanting and inventive adventure will want to check this one out.
Last week in Los Angeles, we sat down with director Robert Stromberg and the cast of Maleficent (minus Jolie) to talk about their new film. Speaking with Elle Fanning, Sharlto Copley and Sam Riley (along with Stromberg), we discussed what it was like working with an iconic actress such as Angelina Jolie, what it means to be in a Disney movie, nailing the right tone for their performances, and much more.
Check it all out in the video below and be sure to catch Maleficent when it opens in theatres this Friday!