Maladjusted Malady let down by malnourished script

Thundering into cinemas this week is the latest in a recent trend of live-action ‘reimagined’ fairy-tales that come brimming with CGI and apparently seek to emulate Lord Of The Rings -type battle scenes, replete with armour and medieval weaponry (see Hansel & Gretel or Snow White and The Huntsmen). 

Maleficent has many things going for it – primarily Jolie, whose striking, unearthly features are perfectly cast and beyond that, a beloved narrative base upon which to build and, consequently, a ready-made audience. 

The VFX and animation are of course first rate, yet all of these elements struggle to cohere, failing to settle into an aesthetic and dramatic uniformity. 

Benificent?
When we first meet Maleficent, the memorable embodiment of feminine evil from Disney’s animated feature Sleeping Beauty (1959), she is not yet the menace we expect. 

In fact, she’s been retconned as a sweet-faced fairy, all wide-eyed and full of curiosity. 

She was, in her formative years, also the proud owner of a pair of feathered wings that enabled her to soar over her domain and create a sonic boom to strike fear into the hearts of men. 

Before such measures became necessary however, there came a young prince who had strayed from the world of men into that of the fairies and thus alerted Maleficent of his presence. 

Kings vs fairies
Maleficent and the prince become fast friends and predictably fall in love. His royal duties come between the pair, but they never forget each other. 

Years later, when the boy’s father, the king of men, attempts an invasion of the fairies domain, Maleficent successfully defends her home but makes herself the king’s sworn enemy. 

The king then promises that the man who slays this fairy shall become his heir. The prince finds himself in an impossible situation, suddenly having to compete for his rightful place on the throne. 

Without alluding to the outcome of this first narrative pinch, it is, of course, that same prince who later becomes king and fathers a daughter – Aurora, known to us as Sleeping Beauty. 

Trying to do too much
Jolie’s physical appearance, of near-preternatural refinement is often tempered by an air of femme fatale, and this qualifies her ten-fold for this kind of role – it’s hard to think of anyone capable of filling her shoes. 

Less strong is her voice-work. Her menacing RP English is convincing enough, but it differs distractedly from scene to scene. 

There’s also something inconsistent about that lithe, graceful, malevolent presence from Sleeping Beauty suddenly yelling war-cries (‘ye shall not pass!’ etc) at the armies of men – the tone seems off. 

Similarly her spells are often bellowed. Shouldn’t the breathy menace simply purr and be heard by all?

There’s certainly enjoyment to be derived from the way our expectations of this familiar tale are constantly bested by a new perspective on this old icon. 

Sadly though, by the time the credits roll, we’re left with a frustrating sense of what might have been: a likely stellar story pitch and a potentially timeless central performance have both been thwarted by clumsy, uninspired direction (of actors in particular) and a lacklustre script, full of yawning holes.


Maleficent
★★★☆☆☆

Dir: Robert Stromberg
US, Fantasy, 2014, 97 mins

Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Sharlto Copley, Imelda Staunton, Sam Riley

Premiered May 29
Playing nationwide

 




  • Ryanair cancels all flights to and from Billund 

    Ryanair cancels all flights to and from Billund 

    Ryanair has increased its cuts from the Billund-Aalborg route to encompass its entire operation to and from Billund Airport. The airline’s scarce communication is leaving both the airport and passengers scrambling for answers.

  • What do Danes do for “Vinterferie”?

    What do Danes do for “Vinterferie”?

    As tradition has it, many Danes take a week off for Vinterferie next week. Or the week after. It’s a bit confusing, especially since Christmas and New Year’s Holiday are not far away. What’s going on?

  • The educational options for internationals in Denmark

    The educational options for internationals in Denmark

    Denmark offers free public education, but private schools and universities for non-EU students require tuition. Language is a barrier, with international schools available for children and limited English-taught university programs. In 2024, Denmark expanded university seats for internationals and introduced an HF-international program in Aarhus.

  • Aarhus Gymnasium is launching Denmark’s first HF program for internationals

    Aarhus Gymnasium is launching Denmark’s first HF program for internationals

    Aarhus Gymnasium is launching Denmark’s first HF-international program in August, offering young adult internationals an alternative to IB programs with a focus on career-oriented education and Danish language learning. Unlike IB, it reduces academic pressure while providing access to vocational schools and professional bachelor’s degrees

  • Top Danish companies report strong financial performance

    Top Danish companies report strong financial performance

    Some of Denmark’s leading companies reported solid financial results for 2024, with Lundbeck, Demant, and Vestas seeing growth, while Pandora tackled rising production costs with price increases and cost-saving measures.

  • Greenland restricts foreign property purchases and election donations

    Greenland restricts foreign property purchases and election donations

    These days, the Greenlandic institutions are approving two new norms to restrict, reduce, or ban the possibility for foreign citizens to buy real estate on the island, as well as for political parties to receive large amounts of money from foreign donors.