Maleficent Film Review

Mitchell Stein- We know the classic story of Sleeping Beauty, and the curse she was thrust upon as a new-born child, citing that on her sixteenth birthday, she will touch the spindle of a spinning wheel and die. The wicked fairy Maleficent cast this spell on her (for reasons unknown, but assumed at the time because she was not invited to the celebration) but Disney’s latest summer blockbuster Maleficent tells us the magnificent story we don’t know, and what you didn't think you needed to know.

The film takes us on a really exciting journey which by far was probably highly unnecessary, but entertaining regardless. The story shines much light on the wicked villainous Maleficent, giving us light on what series of events really caused her to “turn to the dark side” and become the wicked villainous person as she was seen in the events of Sleeping Beauty. I won’t go in-depth on any details in the story for this one, as there’s just an enormous amount of things to spoil in this one.

Angelina Jolie returns to the big-screen after a four year hiatus taking on the lead title role of the film, and she does an incredible job. Maleficent is by far one of the strongest villains in Disney cinematic history, so if there were any villain to deserve a film spin-off, she would win almost instantly. Jolie takes on the wicked role and plays her character so incredibly fantastic. She becomes the character you can’t decide whether you love or hate, (or both) creating such a complex character and pulling you in to find yourself actually caring for a Disney villain. Elle Fanning (Super 8) joins the cast as sixteen-year old Aurora which I thought was flawless. Aurora was a pretty boring one-dimensional character and Fanning really does a great job of playing this character a little better and what she should have been in the film. Keep in mind that this is a movie about Maleficent, and will therefore spotlight Aurora a lot less than in the 1959 film.

I found myself incredibly annoyed by Flora, Fauna and Merryweather in this film, who buzz around most scenes like a fly waiting to be swatted. In Sleeping Beauty the characters are goofy and slightly boring to watch, but in Maleficent they are just plain annoying. I really could not handle the high-pitched sounds of their voice which made them sound pretty ridiculous. There was nothing redeeming to be found in the case of the fairies, so I was pretty happy that they weren’t the main spotlight of the story.

The story is well handled. It begins with an interesting narrative that establishes some facts of the film, possibly a call-back to the 1959 film. It gives us a bit of a backstory of Maleficent’s previous history before meeting up with the events of Sleeping Beauty. There’s lots of story-changes along the way with twists on the classic story, mostly for the better sake of story and filmmaking, but I can totally see some major fans go up in arms about these changes. Don’t be fooled thinking you already know how the movie ends if you’ve seen Sleeping Beauty. There’s still a large amount of story much different from the original story and much of it was not expected.

But perhaps the most impressive feat of Maleficent was its incredible set design and cinematography. Throughout the entire film, beautiful and vibrant colors sparkle and shine, capturing every scene which had me floored the entire film. These designs are little bit reminiscent of James Cameron’s Avatar, in slight comparison, such as in the use of its lens flares and in its creatures. It doesn’t quite rank up there next to Avatar in all its filmmaking aspects, but in some of its designs.

Besides the cinematography, this film soars far above Disney previous two fairy-tale “spin-off” films, Alice in Wonderland and Oz: The Great and Powerful. Luckily, this movie manages to stay on course throughout the entire story and never falls short in its 97 minute run, which I felt can’t really be said about the former two, which felt weak to me at a certain point and they fall apart halfway through the film. If the fairy-tale remakes continue to be like this film, than I don't see myself having much of a problem with them. The trailers are extremely misleading to the movie aside from the story, but in terms of how dark this film really is and how friendly it will be for kids. It’s tamer than Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland remake/sequel, so if you felt that might be okay for your kids, I don’t think you have much to worry for this movie.

Overall, I really enjoyed Maleficent. It was a fun, exciting, and charming (and maybe a bit emotional) journey which was really well-done. I feel that this movie redeems the 1959 film which I always found to be rather boring (I’m going to get major backlash from the Disney fan community for saying that) but this is a more fresh take on the movie with better improvements to it, for the most part. I’d recommend it to most Disney fans, and especially fans of Sleeping Beauty. 

3.5/5 Spinning Wheels

Maleficent opens in North America today. Rated PG. 

The Mickey Mindset: mickeymindset@gmail.com

Chase Beecher Reviews...Muppets Most Wanted!

This article includes minor spoilers. 

Chase Beecher- They've got another go to show. They've ordered a sequel. The studio thinks they're a viable franchise. Yes, friends, this is how the Muppets open their movie. Well, this movie. Yes, the Muppets.... again. No, that's not the name of the film.

 

"Muppets Most Wanted" is the film's title. You will want to see it. Not only is it a funny madcap caper following the Muppets on a worldwide tour of "The Muppet Show" it's a tale of a pig and a frog,and another frog.

Our beloved Kermit is frognapped and replaced by the world's number one frog and criminal, Constantine. He is a dead ringer for Kermit. Almost. He has a mole on his upper lip that he paints green and has a terrible 80's movie Russian movie villain accent. Constantine is brilliantly performed by Matt Vogel, who is the MVP of this film. Of course, The Muppets have not noticed Kermit has been replaced, all except Animal. ( no one believes or understands him.)

Kermit ends up in a Russian gulag ran by the ruthless Nadia (Tina Fey-- who can sing!) and filled with cameos. (Seriously, don't blink during this film. You will miss a big star with a one liner cameo.)

As the film paces on (at a breakneck speed) more and more crimes are being committed at the same time and place The Muppets are performing. (Berlin, Dublin, Spain) Ricky Gervais, who plays Constantine's number two, and the evil little frog are committing and stealing things galore. Gervais is hilarious as a tour manager for our fuzzy group, who secretly is trying to frame them for all this mischief. 

Ty Burrell as an Interpol agent, and Sam (the American) Eagle as a CIA agent, join forces and bump heads the entire film to find out "who did it." Burrell is great as an Inspector Clouseau-type. Sam is great as a bird.

In the mean time, Piggy gets one of her biggest dreams to come true: to sing a ballad with Celine Dion. (Which I'm sure we will hear at the Oscars next year.) Rizzo and Robin walk away with the biggest laughs in the film. (People applauded at my screening after hearing his line.)  More classic Muppet gags are found and callbacks to their other movies are had too. 

The film's climax takes place in London and is suspenseful. It's the most action I've ever seen in a Muppet movie. (Kermit dangling from a helicopter?! A wedding?! Fozzie poses as a bearskin rug?!) The film ends happily and everyone is together again.  Again. 

This film is the funniest Muppet film I have seen to date. 2011's " The Muppets" was funny and full of nostalgia to remind people of these characters while introducing them to new fans. Now that we have that out of the way, let's cut the Muppets loose and let them do what they do best: put on a show. The rip roaring, laugh out load fest is just under 2 hours, but it flies by. 

Director James Bobin knows exactly how to treat these characters as does screenwriter Nicholas Stoller. I consider "The Great Muppet Caper" to be "the crown jewel" of Muppet films. This comes very close. This film has Jim Henson's texture and feel all over it. I wouldn't be surprised to learn he came back and made it himself.

If you're having doubts about seeing this consider this: I was seated next to another blogger complaining that Muppets were too "cute" and "not very funny" and he didn't want to be there. By the film's second act he was laughing so hard he was crying and snorting. That was not "cute."

I give it 4 1/2 out of 5 stars. Now, hurry up. Go see it. They've made a sequel. 

Looking Ahead to 2014

Mitchell Stein- As we prepare to close 2013 and now look ahead to 2014, instead of taking a look back at the year that was 2013 like most Disney fan sites are doing, we decided to go the other way and look ahead to what we're most looking forward to and hoping for in the coming year in no particular order at all.

Muppets Most Wanted: 

The Muppets (2011) was awesome. It had great humor, story and some really touching scenes that brought the Muppets back together after a long 12-year hiatus with a brand new movie that completely re-launched the franchise. It only made sense that another (and many more!) Muppet movie should be produced, and Disney jumped right on that only four months after the last one came out. 

Now that there are posters and trailers and all, we know this movie is going to be incredible, and maybe even better than the first one. Plus, our site's co-runner Ryan attended a filming for the movie which he said was incredible, and guaranteed this movie will be awesome, and that's all he'll tell us. 

If you've been behind on news, we've been talking about it like crazy on our sister site The Muppet Mindset. Check it out here!    

Captain America 2: The Winter Soldier

Continuing in the Avengers saga is the avenger Captain America, continuing right where The Avengers (2012) left off. The last Captain America movie was awesome, and it's another prep for The Avengers: Days of Ultron which is coming to theaters May 2015.


Phineas and Ferb Star Wars Special: 
While the Marvel/Phineas and Ferb special could've been better, I have high hopes for this one. It should be fun, exciting and maybe even take a look at Star Wars Episode 7, coming out in the far, far away date of December 2015.

More ARGs from Disney: 

This summer Disney launched the greatest thing ever. They called it The Optimist. 

The Optimist was an 'alternate reality game' (or ARG for short) that took Disney fans on adventures through the actual Disney park and online world and uncovering many Disney secrets and visiting other legendary locations in promotion for their upcoming movie, Tomorrowland. Tomorrowland's release date has been pushed off to May 2015, but writer Damon Lindelof promised Optimists that more ARGs would be coming before the movie's release. 

The Optimist was not only a lot of fun, but it created many friendships and spawned a fantastic close-knit community of fans. I hope more ARGs will be made in the future, whether connected to The Optimist or not, it was a lot of fun. 

(Visit the official main website: http://optimist.disney.com/ and read some more about it: http://www.wired.com/magazine/2013/07/disney-the-optimist-arg/) 

Guardians of The Galaxy: 

Another Marvel movie, but this will mark the first time to make a superhero film not related to The Avengers since being bought out by Disney. It's a little unclear as to what the movie will be about, or if it will have any connection/reference to The Avengers. But, it is the last Marvel movie until The Avengers: Days of Ultron in May 2015. It opens on August 1st, 2014. 

More Roger Rabbit Appearances: 

Seriously, whenever this guy makes an appearance in the parks, the Disney fan community goes crazy.                            There's a major demand for more Roger and other characters from the film in the parks, so whenever he finally does make an appearance, the lines can be over three hours long to meet Roger.                                                                 C'mon Disney! Make these meet-and-greets a regular thing! It only makes sense that Roger should be hanging out by his own ride in Toontown, and give him a spot at Walt Disney World as well. 

Also, once you're at it, give Sweetums a meet and greet at Muppet-Vision 3D as well! There would be a major demand for that! 

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Opens in Magic Kingdom: 

There's no official date, but it's set to open sometime in 2014. 

The last stage in the New Fantasyland expansion will finally open this upcoming year, and being placed half in the spot of it's preceding ride Snow White's Scary Adventures. It looks like it's a super fun ride, so we're super excited. 

Star Wars Rebels: 

Another attempt at a Star Wars TV show. After The Clone Wars ended earlier this year, Disney/Lucasfilm is producing another series, this time based on the timeline in-between Episode 3-4 as the Sith hunts down the final living Jedi in the world. It sounds like a much darker, less kid-friendly and more intense series. You had us at 'Star Wars'. 

Into the Woods: 

Looks like Disney is continuing in their fairy-tale reboots since the success of Once Upon a Time on ABC, but this movie looks somewhat different. This story is actually based off the 1987 Tony Award winning Broadway musical of the same name.
The film centers on a baker and his wife's quest to break a witch's curse in order to start a family.
On the way, they encounter many fairy-tale characters including Red Riding Hood, the Big Bad Wolf, Rapunzel, Cinderella, and many more.

The movie stars Meryl Streep (pictured), Johnny Depp, Emily Blunt, James Cordon and many more. Film opens December 25th 2014.

Three Disney Channel Shows Ending: 
If there's anything I mock Disney for, it's for their current Disney Channel shows. Some of them are bland and un-enjoyable, especially compared to what Disney Channel and Disney Afternoon would produce years ago.
I'm excited for Fish Hooks, A.N.T. Farm and Good Luck Charlie to air their series finales. I'm starting to get tired of all three of them. I don't know if there's a big fan-base for these things, but I personally just can't stand them anymore. Hopefully we can start getting some better shows on the channel, it's too bad Tron: Uprising didn't work out.


Big Hero 6: 
The next animated feature from Disney is a Marvel crossover, but not technically a Marvel film. It will focus on a group of six heroes protecting a fictional city of San Fransyoko (a mix of San Francisco and Tokyo). It looks like lots of fun is to be had around.

The movie opens November 7th.






That's it folks! Have a Happy New Year!