Maleficent Review

Grade: C+
One-Liner: Too much fairy dust, not enough red lipstick.

Truth be told, this was the summer blockbuster I have been most looking forward to. Some people anxiously await superhero films (which I've clearly done too), but I prefer a good villain. Growing up Sleeping Beauty was definitely a classic, but I never connected with the ditzy, snoozefest that was Princess Aurora. It was the wickedness of Maleficent and the quirkiness of the three fairies who raised the girl that always drew me in. Sadly, this film mostly took both of those elements out.

Naturally, it started by giving Maleficent a more fleshed-out backstory, thus making her a more sympathetic character. She essentially had a rape-like experience from a man she once loved, who ends up being the king and Aurora's father. It was certainly traumatic enough to trigger her deliciously evil streak, but unfortunately, her vile nature truly only lasted the length of one christening scene (which was mostly covered in the film's trailers).

I don't want to speak for all people, but I certainly wanted more screentime from the badass Maleficent. Instead, the film decided to follow her relationship with Aurora, shaping the pair to be like mother and daughter, and cutting out the quirky fairies (who were mysteriously renamed...why? what? just, why?). In a matter of minutes, Maleficent transforms from being repulsed by the "beastie" baby to immediately feeling affection for the teenage princess.

Angelina Jolie certainly looks the part — her cheekbones are a thing of wonder — but it's hard to tell how much of her performance was just excellent makeup and withering stares. Her affected voice was best in the iconic christening scene, but failed to have quite the same air for dramatics throughout the rest of the film. Perhaps it was her party voice?

And maybe I'm getting old, but I always pictured Aurora as looking much older and more womanly. Granted, she's supposed to be 16 throughout much of the film, so Elle Fanning does make sense in that regard, but her One Direction-wannabe Prince Phillip was a bit too much to handle.

The added character of Diaval (pictured) — Maleficent's loyal raven who transformed from bird to human to whatever creature she desired — was a nice bonus. He served as a quiet conscious for the revenge-smitten sorcerous. Not that she really needed one. Falling in love with Aurora, Maleficent seemed to lose some of her strength and command.

There was an enemy to fight and an epic battle at the end, but without enough time for her to sharpen her horns, there was little growth and far too much Disney "magic."