MALEFICENT (2014)

Genre: Fantasy/Adventure

Running Length: 1:38

Cast: Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Sharlto Copley, Lesley Manville, Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple, Sam Riley

Director: Robert Stromberg 

MALEFICENT continues the trend of Disney retelling its classic animated fairy tales with new twists to appeal to the Internet generation (everything is edgier, the villain is the victim, "what you know is wrong"). However, those expecting Sleeping Beauty told from the point of view of the villain would be disappointed. Instead, this movie pushes the feminist agenda where our “evil female” is turned into a victim because of a male. I was hoping for a more interesting motive for Maleficent to break bad but it's the same "story". I get it that men these days are not playing their role as man but do we deserve to get bashed forcefully over our heads, over and over again (in such movies) for being the true "monster"? Frozen did the same thing; Anna falls in love with a man who turns out to be taking advantage of her. I really am tired of males being continuously shamed this way. This will paint an unrealistic portrayal of boys and love relationships for our youth. That said, the visuals in this movie look great and Angelina Jolie owned the show as our deeply tragic and conflicted protagonist.   

Rating: 5/10