Maleficent: Mistress of Evil

I honestly don't think the people leaving reviews watched the same movie. First and foremost, it's a kids movie. As far as kids movies go, it's pretty intense. There are some interesting themes that can be difficult to explain or aren't usually explained to children (ie life is not black and white, it's grey), which I was happy to see my daughter's (age 9) reaction to at the appropriate times. This was my favorite AJ movie I've ever seen. I don't remember her having many lines, but you feel her emotions throughout (especially maternal ones). There are definitely some weird story holes...and the ending was a little too "and everyone lived happily ever after". But...it's a kid's movie and that's ok.

It was kinda predictable, but in a nice, Disney-way... There was a sense of humor, action, fantasy and drama... I really love that Maleficent is more than just the villain,it shows that people have more layers... Also Angelina Jolie and Michelle Pfeiffer in one movie, haven't we all been waiting for that? And upcoming star Elle Fanning showed a soft nevertheless badass Aurora... It's just a shame Brenton Thwaites (prince Philip) couldn't be in it...

The first Maleficent was interesting because it provided a new spin to the tale of Sleeping Beauty by making Maleficent the protagonist. In the sequel, the mother-daughter relationship between Angelina Jolie's Maleficent and Elle Fanning's Aurora is tested as they end up in opposing sides of the war between faer folk and humans. This CGI-filled spectacle does not sound very interesting but the movie is saved by earnest performances of the cast. Jolie is majestic and menacing as Maleficent. Her nemesis, played my Michelle Pfeiffer is no less regal. They elevate the material, and their face off is almost like a scene from Game of Thrones. In fact, there are many parallels to Game of Thrones. Fanning's Aurora and The Prince are as clueless and idealistic as Jon Snow. Maleficent is almost like a horned Danaerys. Another parallel is to Avatar. The faery world is almost like the planet in Avatar. Similarly, their resources are exploited by humans. It helps that Ed Skrein is in the movie, and he chews every scene he is in. All in all, there is no complaint on the acting department. However, the pacing is uneven, and some scenes drag too long. The emotional scenes are their but lack impact. But the climactic battle is worth the wait. There are even some deaths. In other words, Maleficent is a fun cross between Game of Thrones and Avatar. Definitely worth your time

The cinematography was spot on as well as sounds and visual effects. There are also many iconic scenes which are straight out of the original classic animated movie which greatly impressed me. Overall, I enjoyed watching it. It's a fun-to-watch movie. The narrative of the film can easily appeal to the young audience. However, it is best to watch the 2014 Maleficent film before watching this movie so that you will understand its story better.

The characters are perfect in terms of acting and emotion. The audience can touch the feelings what the characters are sending through the dialog. The computer graphics and sound are created which incredibly make the audience impressed and happy. Throughout the movie, the didactics are seen through the relationship between Maleficent and Aurora loving as a true love. Overall, the movie is better than expected.

Narong Suwannasaeng Mahasakham University, Thailand