MALEFICENT (2014)

Though I've never been a particular fan of Angelina Jolie's (neither liking nor disliking her work), her as Maleficent - one of Disney's most iconic villains, and a personal favorite of mine - was something worth checking out.  And she's great in the role; sadly, it's Disney who screwed things up a bit.  The story purports to tell you the "real" story of Maleficent, and in doing so pretty much strips the character of all the wickedness that made her so enthralling in the first place.  She even wimps out on her own curse, in cursing Aurora with the sleep curse, taming it down to "true love's kiss" being the solution instead of the third good fairy changing her curse - and the three fairies themselves, here, come off as bumbling fools who only raise Aurora out of duty and intimidation, not love.  Well-acted, well-made, and nice to look at - entertaining - but turning Maleficent from evil fairy to fairy godmother to tell her tale was just a bit too much of a stab in the back to the character, for me. (rated PG)  ***

MALEFICIENT trailer