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Angelina Jolie's magnetic performance outshines Maleficent's dazzling special effects; unfortunately, the movie around them fails to justify all that impressive effort.
All Critics (261) | Top Critics (52) | Fresh (140) | Rotten (121) | DVD (2)
It's a splendid-looking film. The effects are striking throughout, whether they are dramatic battle confrontations between humans and the forces of the natural world, or small moments of delicate detail. Dec 13, 2018 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
It's a splendid-looking film. The effects are striking throughout, whether they are dramatic battle confrontations between humans and the forces of the natural world, or small moments of delicate detail.
Philippa Hawker
Undoubtedly, Jolie's performance will be touted as elegantly evil, but it's Elle Fanning's effervescence as Aurora that really makes this film glow. Dec 13, 2018 | Full Review…
Undoubtedly, Jolie's performance will be touted as elegantly evil, but it's Elle Fanning's effervescence as Aurora that really makes this film glow.
Maricar Estrella
Jolie's skills and range as an actress are barely tapped into in this undemanding role. Dec 12, 2018 | Full Review…
Jolie's skills and range as an actress are barely tapped into in this undemanding role.
Wendy Ide
As for the screenplay, by Linda Woolverton, it treads carefully, and all too kindly, in the footsteps of "Wicked" ... Jun 16, 2014 | Full Review…
As for the screenplay, by Linda Woolverton, it treads carefully, and all too kindly, in the footsteps of "Wicked" ...
Anthony Lane
'Maleficent' is an admittedly great-looking, sometimes creepy. Jun 2, 2014 | Rating: .5/5 | Full Review…
'Maleficent' is an admittedly great-looking, sometimes creepy.
Richard Roeper
It's a technological marvel starring the world's biggest celebrity: the full weight of Hollywood spectacle incarnate. May 31, 2014 | Rating: C+ | Full Review…
It's a technological marvel starring the world's biggest celebrity: the full weight of Hollywood spectacle incarnate.
Eric Kohn
A fundamentally misguided interpretation of the title character, one that seems to misunderstand what drew people to her in the first place. Mar 14, 2019 | Rating: 4/10 | Full Review…
A fundamentally misguided interpretation of the title character, one that seems to misunderstand what drew people to her in the first place.
Adam Lubitow
While it may in moments be a bit dark for very young ones, it is a great family film, worthy of the Disney canon. Mar 5, 2019 | Full Review…
While it may in moments be a bit dark for very young ones, it is a great family film, worthy of the Disney canon.
Paula Fleri-Soler
... my long-time worship of the character likely makes me a little extra critical-and I'm sure others will love and appreciate it just as it is (hi, Mom!). Mar 2, 2019 | Full Review…
... my long-time worship of the character likely makes me a little extra critical-and I'm sure others will love and appreciate it just as it is (hi, Mom!).
Amie Simon
This version of "Sleeping Beauty" is a snoozer, a plodding and predictable film that never recovers after a dreadful prologue. Jan 31, 2019 | Full Review…
This version of "Sleeping Beauty" is a snoozer, a plodding and predictable film that never recovers after a dreadful prologue.
Micheal Compton
Maleficent is another worthy entry in the Mouse House's catalog, proving this 91-year-old company is still a relevant, vital part of global culture. Jan 31, 2019 | Full Review…
Maleficent is another worthy entry in the Mouse House's catalog, proving this 91-year-old company is still a relevant, vital part of global culture.
Amanda Greever
For those who either enjoy seeing inventive variations on a theme and/or who can take Maleficent on its own terms -- and for anyone who likes to see Jolie playing powerful women -- this is a great time, and a rather lovely one. Jan 15, 2019 | Full Review…
For those who either enjoy seeing inventive variations on a theme and/or who can take Maleficent on its own terms -- and for anyone who likes to see Jolie playing powerful women -- this is a great time, and a rather lovely one.
Abbie Bernstein
I enjoyed Maleficent. It is easy to see how Maleficent would cast that spell on Aurora, and how she might have second thoughts later. Angelina Jolie did a bang up job playing Maleficent.
Super Reviewer
Angelina Jolie is radiant and delivers a nuanced performance in this decent retelling of the fairy tale that features dazzling visuals, a great score and a welcome modern message, even if the director tones it down to a light Disney level instead of making it more urgent and epic.
Robert Stromberg doesn't get magnificent with Maleficent. 90 minutes may seem short at first, but once the storytelling takes place, it seems fitting. There really isn't much material to indulge or amuse between the introduction and conclusion. The back story, while enough to put the pieces together, lacks sufficient background for characters. With that said, the film does have enough production value to surpass mediocrity. For the most part, the CG effects are agreeable with the film's personality. The few scenes of bright color contrast the overly dark atmosphere and tone of the picture. The film belongs to Angelina Jolie, as it should. Listening to her line delivery hits the spot. Elle Fanning has a few moments of delight herself. Maleficent never reaches the epic status, but for a family oriented fairy tale, it gets the job done.
Disney has produced a nice update to Sleeping Beauty that reflects society's more evolved value towards women. Whereas the original paints women as helpless beauty prizes for "nice" males, the updated tale envisions that a woman's power, self-worth and joy is found without need of tethering herself to any man. The contrast goes further and bravely darker, with a man's horrible treatment of a woman as the creation story of the updated tale's "villain." However, redemption for males is also found in the re-imagined prince who is confused by the notion that a woman needs a man to save her. The message is that, like adventure, love is all around and in many forms. Rather than the need to show the audience a marriage to make a happy ending, we simply see the prince and princess laugh together from across an opening in a forest. Their value and contentment is found individually, and they willfully connect through the sharing of each other's joy.
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