by Michelle Willson, Feature/Entertainment Editor
“Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” is a dark fantasy/action movie that premiered October 18. Walt Disney Pictures produced the movie and Joachim Rønning directed it. Ronning has directed many movies including Doomsday and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.
The movie stars Angelina Jolie as Maleficent, Elle Fanning as Aurora, Harris Dickinson as Prince Philip and Michelle Pfeiffer as Queen Ingrith.
“Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” is a continuation of Maleficent’s story that is based on Disney’s Sleeping Beauty. Even though Maleficent was a hero at the end of the first movie things have turned on her again. Though the movie is a sequel, I do not think that you have to have seen the first movie to follow the second one.
The story unfolds with Aurora as she reigns as the Queen of the Moors. Meanwhile, Maleficent remains the strongest fairy and protector of the realm. Prince Philip proposes to Aurora and she accepts. She warns Aurora against marrying him, believing their romance will end badly.
Queen Ingrith invited Aurora and Maleficent to dine with Philip’s family in their castle. The Queen starts to recount the numerous things that have gone wrong in the Moor and the situation that happened to Aurora’s birth parents. A castle guard shoots Maleficent as she storms out ,but she is saved by a mysterious winged creature.
She wakes up to find she is in a hideaway with other Dark Feys like her. They are talking about war with the humans. Though the humans outnumber them they believe her powers could lead them to victory. Maleficent gets a strange feeling something is wrong with the more after a branch she is holding dies. She along with Borra, fly to the Moor and discover the humans have picked all of the tune bloom that grows from fairy graves.
As they stare at the fields where the flowers used to grow. They are attacked by soldiers but are saved when Connal gives his life to protect them. He takes the iron bullets that the soldiers are shooting and falls. This cause the Dark Feys to attack.
Meanwhile back in the kingdom. They are planning the wedding for Aurora and Philip. They invite every person and beast from both kingdoms, but Aurora soon realizes that something is up. Is this a beautiful wedding or something more?
The subplots in the movie related to the main plot really well and did not divert attention from the main concepts of the plot. The attention to detail on the side characters and creatures that were not on screen very long made the whole story look concise. The costumes were intricate Angelina Jolie had at least five costume changes of different exquisite dresses.
I feel that the character’s arches were pretty prevalent and balanced. I do not think that Queen Ingrith had a good character arch nor did she have any purpose behind her actions. In the movie it said that her brother had went into the Moor and never returned. I feel like the writers could have done better or gone farther with her development and backstory giving her more reason to have such strong feelings towards the moors.
I give this movie 4.5 out of 5 stars. The casting was phenomenal. Jolie and Fanning have good chemistry, which helps viewers stay connected to the stories meaning. The film touched on subjects of motherly love, protection and doing things for the good of your people. The story makes you realize who the real “Mistress of Evil” is.