Maleficent: Mistress of Evil is a dark fantasy adventure film produced by Walt Disney Pictures, directed by Joachim Rønning, and written by Linda Woolverton, Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster. It is a sequel to the 2014 film Maleficent. I enjoyed this sequel and have mostly good things to say about it.
When we last left Maleficent (Angelina Jolie), she had shed her evil disposition, restored the Moors to its former light and was well on her way to being a gracious, reformed God-mother, raising Aurora (Elle Fanning) as her own. Aurora is also now the reigning Queen of the Moors and Maleficent is guardian and protector. However, in the five years since King Stefan’s death, we learn that mistrust and circumstances defined a new Maleficent as evil as the Maleficent of old. What happened to define Maleficent this unearned character judgment? What we didn’t know, was lurking in a nearby kingdom called Ulstead, lived the queen and mother Ingrith (Michelle Pfeiffer) of Prince Phillip (Harris Dickinson) who is instrumental in shaping most of our thinking about Maleficent. In this sequel, Aurora is proposed to by Prince Phillip. Little did we know, Aurora’s answer to that proposal would be the foundation for which the entire story would be based. While Phillip’s father King John (Robert Lindsay) wishes for peace, his mother Queen Ingrith has been secretly preparing for war. Many lives will change and many truths will be revealed, including a major reveal for the mysterious Maleficent. Hidden in areas of the castle, workers make weapons and ammunition out of iron, deadly to all fairies. Diaval (Sam Reily), Maleficent’s raven and confidante, overhears Phillip proposing to Aurora. When he has relayed this to Maleficent, she advises against the union, but Aurora insists she will be proven wrong.
I enjoyed Maleficent: Mistress of Evil and give kudos to Disney for their diverse employment. I especially like the message this movie sends regarding revenge, evil, gossip and faith. I think this is a good strong story and deserved more acknowledgment than it received. The film received mixed reviews from critics, with criticism aimed at the “muddled plot and overly artificial visuals”, but praise for the performances of Jolie, Fanning and Pfeiffer. The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported the film holds an approval rating of 40% based on 246 reviews, with an average rating of 5.09/10. As of January 31, 2020, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil has grossed $113.9 million in the United States and Canada, and $377.8 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $491.7 million. Check It Out!
[MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVIL is Oscar-nominated for Best Makeup and Hairstyling — Totalling 1 Oscar Nomination]
There’s been a lot of anticipation about Unbroken. My grandson told me that Unbroken was going to change his life, he called it an inspirational movie. The talk of his high school is “Unbroken will teach you courage and inspire you to new heights”. After seeing the movie, I agree it’s inspirational and much, much more. This movie didn’t get a Best Picture nod or anything that shows off the acting and director abilities. I grant you some scenes were a little drawn out but overall, Unbroken which is based on a true story, was entertaining as well as heart rinsing, interesting and intense. Unbroken was directed by Angelina Jolie who, in my opinion, did a fantastic job. Unbroken tells the story of Louis Zamperini (Jack ‘OConnell) who was an accomplished distance runner, earning him the nickname “The Torrance Tornado.” Eventually he qualified for the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany. Louis surprised everyone when he came in 8th place, setting a record for speed in the final lap of the 5000 metres race, running it in 56 seconds. After joining the Armed Forces, Louis ends up on a search and rescue mission when his plane, along with 4 other soldiers, lost 2 engines causing the plane to crash somewhere in the Pacific. After 47 days at sea, floating in a raft, only Louie and fellow soldier Phil (Domhnail Gleeson) survived the shark infested waters, with little to no food and quite weakened. However they were captured by the Japanese Navy and brought to a POW camp. Eventually, the two men were separated into different camps and Louie’s torment began. Mutsuhiro “Bird” Watanabe (Takamasa Ishihara) was in charge of the camp and was jealous of Louis because of his Olympic Athletic status. You’ll have to see the movie to learn of the hell Louis was put through. This movie is worth seeing by any means you can see it. Very well done. Kudos to Angelina Jolie for a job well done.
Disney really knows how to make movies. Maleficent was magnificent. They are the pioneers in special effects. Disney has reinvented the fairy tale known as Snow White. Maleficent (played by Angelina Jolie) was once a gracious fairy who was betrayed by some one she befriended as a child. This event changed her life and the way she perceives her world. Because her heart was good in the first place, she had a problem when she started to fall in love with the very person she cursed. The special effects are so good in this movie, I found it difficult to believe it wasn’t real. We will have a hard time breaking the reality to our young children who will grow up in a world of special effects that seem so real to them. Maleficent is a fantastic story that sends a good message. See this one in 3D and on the big screen. It’s worth you time and money. I loved it!
CAROL's WORLDS 