Maleficent recently opened in cinemas nationwide with an ambitious attempt to re-invent the villain herself. Disney’s bold offering decided to take a spin on tried and tested formulas by creating a film that is seen through the eyes of its infamous villain.
Very few (young or old) can claim to be big fans of the Disney classic, Sleeping Beauty, whose princess often gets side-lined by more interesting Disney characters. Aurora (Elle Fanning) yet again gets side-lined by her larger-than-life “fairy godmother” Maleficent (Angelina Jolie) yet is nevertheless charming and likeable in her own right. The story explores the life of fairy, Maleficent and introduces the man she once loved (local born, Sharlto Copley). The bulk of the story, however, focuses on her plot to ruin the life of Princess Aurora and fulfill her place in fairy tale history. Set in a mystical wonderland filled with Avatar-worthy special effects and characters, the story of Maleficent is FAR from traditional.
It’s been a while since we’ve seen Jolie in a blockbuster. And love her or hate her, you can’t deny that she commands the screen. As much as I love supporting local talent achieving success, a part of me would rather pay to not see Copley on screen. While he does attempt to put on a non-South African accent after an awful performance in Elysium, it still does not take away from his ability to make interesting characters disturbing and one-dimensional. Yet his poor performance doesn’t deter from a captivating and sweet tale that will renew your faith in fairy tales.
To book this movie, call Ster Kinekor Ticket-line on 082 16789 or visit www.sterkinekor.com
