Angelina Jolie playing Maleficent seemed like perfect casting when it was announced several years ago. Since then, it has felt like this movie has been in production forever. When the initial teaser debuted back in November, it looked like we were in store for another ALICE IN WONDERLAND movie brimming with too much mediocre CGI. Now, a new full trailer has debuted and we get a much better look at the visuals in Robert Stromberg‘s fantasy film.
What has been billed as the origin story of Disney’s most iconic villain looks to be more of a rehash of the same SLEEPING BEAUTY we have seen before. Whether it be the animation to live action comparisons that this trailer opens with or the cliche Voice Over Guy narration, MALEFICENT doesn’t look all that original or unique. But, then the trailer starts to give a glimmer of hope that we might see some large scale battles and bizarre woodland creatures. They do look quite stunning until you realize that SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN came out last year using almost the exact same designs.
“MALEFICENT is the untold story of Disney’s most iconic villain from the 1959 classic Sleeping Beauty. A beautiful, pure-hearted young woman, Maleficent has an idyllic life growing up in a peaceable forest kingdom, until one day when an invading army threatens the harmony of the land. Maleficent rises to be the land’s fiercest protector, but she ultimately suffers a ruthless betrayal – an act that begins to turn her pure heart to stone. Bent on revenge, Maleficent faces an epic battle with the invading king’s successor and, as a result, places a curse upon his newborn infant Aurora. As the child grows, Maleficent realizes that Aurora holds the key to peace in the kingdom – and perhaps to Maleficent’s true happiness as well.”
sponsored content
Angelina Jolie looks very cold and stiff in this trailer while we do not get any dialogue from Sharlto Copley as the King and nothing new from Elle Fanning as Princess Aurora. We do see our first look at the Fairy Godmothers played by Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple, and Lesley Manville. For a troubled production that cost a ton of money and had a first time director behind the camera, MALEFICENT is beginning to look more like 47 RONIN rather that WORLD WAR Z in terms of a return on investment. Here’s hoping this is just poor trailer editing and not a sign of the finished film.
MALEFICENT hits theaters on May 30, 2014.
The comment section exists to allow readers to discuss the article constructively and respectfully, focused on the topic at hand.
What’s Not Allowed