But all the necessary buildup to the clash
(including Chiwetel Ejiofor as among an
exiled group of winged creatures called the
dark fey) robs us of enough screen time with
Jolie’s Maleficent.
The plot in “Maleficent” drew largely from
its inventive redemption of a classic Disney
villain. But it didn’t really follow through on the
possibilities of fairy tale revisionism. It simply
offered up another villain (Aurora’s father King
Stefan), just as “Mistress of Evil” does with its
dastardly Queen Ingrith. A better film would
have kept playing with inverted archetypes.
What saves “Mistress of Evil” from a worse fate,
in the end, is Fanning. Aurora, like many of
Fanning’s performances, is a welcome dash of
naturalism amid all the CGI action. She’s such an
innocent and wholesome young bride, though,
that perhaps she’s ripe for reconsideration, too.
Next time, maybe Beauty breaks bad.
“Maleficent: Mistress of Evil,” a Walt Disney
Co. release, is rated PG by the Motion Picture
Association of America for intense sequences of
fantasy action/violence and brief scary images.
Running time: 118 minutes. Two stars out of four.
MPAA Definition of PG: Parental guidance suggested. Some material
may not be suitable for children.