Movie Review 95: Maleficent

Hello y'all!

So I'm foregoing my normal long drawling intro that I usually force you all to read before getting into the actual review.

I'll probably post an actual update about whats up with me soon. but until then, I have a Maleficent (and later a Machete Kills) review for you.

as with most of my reviews I'm filling it with spoilers, so warned be thee.

Movie Review: Maleficent

Pros:
First off this whole movie feels like an art department and creature designer had hot passionate sex and out popped this movie. The whole thing was absolutely beautiful, from the meticulously made armor, and horse armor, to every single one of the creatures in the Moors. some of which looked like leveled up versions of the weird ass things in Alice in wonderland. the whole way through I was in awe of the cool creatures.

Angelina Jolie perfectly captures the look of Maleficent, she did a really good job being both intriguing and horrible at the same time. but to me she was overshadowed by her younger self. the young maleficent was very well done.

I don't know his name but I really liked the crow. Whether he was originally a human or not I'm not sure, but I found myself more and More intrigued just be him alone, I wish he'd have his own movie.

Cons:
The director used to be a production designer, and it shows, but it also shows that this is his first movie. There are beautiful images but barely any substance behind them. cool green flames and flashy visuals, just to put up a wall of thorns.

Now I've never been that huge of a fan of sleeping beauty, but I was at least expecting to remember it a bit. This felt like they wanted a vehicle for Jolie and Disney wanted a Wicked rip off, and we get this. It felt like they wrote a back story to the character then forgot to actually write where it connects to the original. the last hour or so was jumbled and ended up just being Jolie sitting watching aurora growing up, which is totally not creepy at all. then the inevitable sleeping spell. a shoehorned in Prince Charming. then ultimately the Frozen twist of it not being a lover but being someone who loves her...

The whole ending of the movie felt like it was reworked last minute to be more like Disney's huge Frozen success.

Ok, so while we're on what this movie Rips off, how can I not mention the fact that the castle just looks like Hogwarts, and a lot of the creatures looked like either ents or Balrog ents. then there's the fact that it's just wicked mixed with sleeping beauty and a dose of frozen. oh, and Smaug.

Final Notes:
Overall I enjoyed the visuals of the movie but the last hour felt bland compared to the first half. It's another 'realistic Disney remake' like Snow White and the Huntsman. I just don't care about watching them again, I've seen the originals and that's enough for me.

Final Verdict: 51
Beautiful Visuals, Bland second act.


so now to play some games!

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