‘Maleficent: Mistress of Evil’ – Movie Review

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Kari Eickholdt, Editor-In-Chief

A classic fairy tale: “Once upon a time,” good vs. evil, fantasy, enchantment, a happy ending. It’s all the same. Yes, those elements may all be present in a fairy tale, however, the ideas are twisted and tangled in the Disney live-action remake “Maleficent” (2014). 

The perspective of the movie is based off of the emotions of the evil villain, Maleficent (Angelina Jolie), from Disney’s retelling of “Sleeping Beauty.” All the same, Princess Aurora (Elle Fanning) is cursed to a lifelong slumber by the prick of her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel, encouraged by Maleficent of course. Though, Maleficent surprisingly takes Aurora under her wing (literally) and raises the young princess as her own in the Kingdom of the Moors, full of fairies and enchanted forest creatures. All in all, Maleficent’s character goes against most of the traditional evil characteristics. 

The sequel released five years later, ‘Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” (2019), visually captures the fractured fairy tale elements in a nail-biting, heart-wrenching plot full of adventure, war, and everlasting peace. A true emotional roller-coaster. 

Aurora, crowned queen of the Moors, is harmoniously living among tree warriors and trolls until her life is twirling in troubles. And it all starts with her betrothed Prince Philip (Harris Dickinson) of Ulstead. Maleficent, now godmother of Aurora, is faced with an unexpected greater evil which is centered around the unification among the kingdom of Ulstead and the kingdom of the Moors. 

Full-circle, the movie was focused on the saying, “It doesn’t matter where you come from, it matters who you love.” This sort of inclusion is seen in multiple scenes throughout the movie infused with expressions of true love, anger, betrayal, and unity. 

“Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” received a 40% rotten tomato rating and brought in $36 million into the box office that was well expected.