Director: Robert Stromberg
Cast: Angelina Jolie, Sharlto Copley, Elle Fanning, Sam Riley
Have I Seen it Before: Never.
Did I Like It: I admire the idea behind the film. Trying to tell the story of a famed villain from their perspective already offers more from a live-action Disney remake than the rest of the (largely money grabbing) genre has managed to generate so far. But there’s more to it than that. If kids can begin to grasp, even if it is on an unconscious level, that the apparent villainy of some might have their own motivations and intentions, then there might be some hope for future generations*.
The execution of the film leaves a little bit to be desired. I’m not sure if Jolie ever actually shared a scene with any of her co-stars. Especially in the early scenes, it is looking an awful lot like Jolie showed up for a few days of green screen work to glower, look bemused, and shout pronouncements to characters several hundred yards away. Things might improve a little bit as the film’s central story kicks into gear, but not a whole lot. It might be an intentional choice to make Maleficent distant from everyone else, but I can’t watch it and not think Jolie lives that distance from the rest of humanity every day.
I might be willing to call that element one of the film’s secret, if tragic, strengths, but other elements aren’t doing the film any favors. Much of the CGI already looks dodgy, further cementing the sinking realization that as time progresses, the half life of special effects only shrinks. That, too, can be forgiven, but the film also is so preposterously weighed down by endless voice over narration. I’d bet a not insignificant amount of money that the narration was added late in the production at the insistence of the studio, as it is as disconnected as Jolie is from the film it inhabits.
*That is assuming that future generations have any amount of disagreements, or even basic human society to enjoy in the years to come… Geez, that footnote got dark.