You Only Think You Know the Fairy Tale-Disney's Maleficent
“Let
us tell you an old story anew and see how well you know it” and so the newly released,
much anticipated live action version of Disney’s Sleeping Beauty, Maleficentbegins.
Everybody knows the story of Aurora, the sweet
fairy tale princess cursed by an “evil” fairy that with the prick of a finger
on her 16th
birthday fell into a deep, deep sleep that could only be
undone from a true love’s kiss, but how many know the real story of the
much-maligned Maleficent? Now playing in theaters everywhere, Walt Disney Motion Picturesdoes what Disney does best-bring the iconic animated story to life and
at the same time put a fresh and unexpected twist to the tale. Starring Angelina Jolie as
Maleficent, Jolie’s portrayal of the much-heralded villain Maleficent
is so
spot on that to see her in all of her deliciously and delectably evil self, (or
is she) is worth the price of admission all on its own. With the glance of an
eye, the raising of one eyebrow or the delivery of the simplest of words, Jolie
totally says more with a single look than any hundreds of pages of scripted
dialogue could ever do. Add in the brilliance of Stefan, played as
an adult by South African actor Sharito Copley who shows
us just what greed and lust for
power can do and counter that with the
sweetness and pure joy that Elle Fanning brings to the screen from the moment
she appears as the beloved Aurora and you have you know you quickly realize
that you are about to be a part of something very special. Combine this with
amazing but not overdone special effects throughout the movie and the comedic
genius of Imelda Staunton as Knotgrass,
Juno Temple as Thistlewit and Lesley Manville as Flittle, the pixies in charged
with keeping young Aurora safe until her 16th birthday
(think 3
Stooges) and you have movie magic at its best. Without divulging too much of this enchanted
tale,Maleficent explores the untold story of
Disney’s most iconic villain from the classic Sleeping Beauty
and the elements of her betrayal that ultimately turn her pure heart to stone.
Driven by revenge and a fierce desire to protect the moors over which she
presides, Maleficent cruelly places an irrevocable curse upon the human king’s
newborn infant Aurora. As the child grows, Aurora is caught in the middle of
the seething conflict between the forest kingdom she has grown to love and the
human kingdom that holds her legacy. Maleficent realizes that Aurora may hold
the key to peace in the land and is forced to take drastic actions that will
change both worlds forever.We all know
that somewhere, somehow “ Evil has a beginning” but now it’s up to you to see
how well you really know the fairy tale. After all, visions are seldom what
they seem. See for yourself this weekend-Disney’s Maleficentnow playing in theaters everywhere.
Join in the fun of Maleficent by uploading your favorite Maleficent selfie to Instagram #Malefiselfie
#Malefiselfie
Keep
the fun and the magic of the movie alive with these easy to use activities from
our Kid's Korner
section.
Gayle
is a lifelong educator by day and avid blogger by night and is the owner and
cofounder of the Disney Gals, one of the most popular Disney blogs
around! Proud mommy to 5, Grammy to 4 she is blessed to share her life with
amazing family and friends who encourage her to chase her dreams no matter
where they may lead. When not in the classroom, she can be found
following her son as he dances his way through life, or working with young
performers in free nationally recognized after school children’s theater
program that she founded 13 years ago. On any given day you will find Gayle
skipping her way through life with a giggle and a smile knowing that today is
meant to be lived and enjoyed. To learn more about Gayle, click here
I have not had the chance to see Maleficent yet, but really want to. Disney just does everything better!
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