Maleficent is a live-action reimagining of the classic fairytale Sleeping Beauty from the perspective of the villain, Maleficent. The film is directed by Robert Stromberg and stars Angelina Jolie as Maleficent, Elle Fanning as Princess Aurora, and Sharlto Copley as King Stefan.
The movie shows us Maleficent's backstory, exploring how she went from a kind and loving fairy to the notorious villain that she is known as. We see her growing up in the Moors, a magical and peaceful realm next to the human kingdom, where she befriends a human boy named Stefan. As they grow older, their friendship turns into love, but their paths diverge when Stefan's ambition leads him to betray Maleficent.
This betrayal is the start of Maleficent's descent into darkness, and she becomes a formidable force of nature protecting the Moors from the neighboring human kingdom. When Stefan becomes king, he goes to war with Maleficent's realm and in the battle, he injures her, leading her to seek revenge.
Maleficent places a curse on Stefan's newborn daughter, Princess Aurora, stating that on her sixteenth birthday, she will prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and die. However, Maleficent later regrets her actions and tries to undo the curse, but it is too late.
As Aurora grows up, Maleficent watches over her from afar, realizing that the curse might not be set in stone. She begins to see Aurora as more than just a pawn in her battle with Stefan, but rather as a chance for redemption and love.
The movie culminates in an epic battle between Maleficent and Stefan's soldiers, with Aurora caught in the middle. In the end, Maleficent saves Aurora and emerges victorious, but not without sacrifice and loss.
Maleficent is a visually stunning film with engaging performances by Jolie, Fanning, and Copley. It explores themes of love, betrayal, redemption, and forgiveness, adding depth and complexity to a well-known fairytale character.
