Angelina Jolie makes a classic Disney Villain a little more human in the live -action "Sleeping Beauty" remake, "Maleficent."
The film isn't a live-action adaptation of the classic Disney tale. "Maleficent" tells the story of the strongest of all fairies who was betrayed by her only human friend. "Maleficent" is out playing in theaters now. Check out what reviewers had to say about the film below.
The Chicago Tribune gives the film 2.5 out of 4 stars:
"The formula works. It worked with 'Wicked' on stage and it worked with 'Frozen' on film - tilting the storytelling prism so that a new angle on a well-known fairy tale appears in the light. The strategy depends on humanizing characters formerly known as evil, so that another tale of conflicted impulses emerges from the story we know, driven by female antagonist/protagonist hybrids who aren't bad, just misunderstood."
IGN calls the film "okay" with a 6 out of 10 rating:
"The best thing about Maleficent is the actress playing the titular character. Angelina Jolie is captivating, funny, grounded yet appropriately theatrical, and entirely appealing as the dark and misunderstood fairy. Unfortunately, the world she inhabits in this film is inconsistent at best and frustratingly silly and manufactured at its worst. The final lesson's not a bad one. In fact, the film finds a way to give a modern spin to the moral of the story. It's a solid and valuable takeaway. A bit predictable perhaps, but nice, and certainly meatier than it could be. The road to get there is just far too bumpy."
Rotten Tomatoes audience viewers certify the film fresh with a 75 percent rating:
"As a huge Maleficent/Disney fan I enjoyed the movie. Angelina Jolie did an excellent job at portraying the 'Mistress of All Evil'. My only complaint was that I wish there were more scenes with her villainous side. It would have made the film that much better. For those who saw the trailers time and time again and are hoping to see Maleficent be pure evil throughout the film, you'll most definitely be disappointed. This is not Sleeping Beauty redone, this is a new story redeeming Maleficent's 'evil' actions."
