Maleficent
A beautiful, pure-hearted young woman, Maleficent has an idyllic life growing up in a peaceable forest kingdom, until one day when an invading army threatens the harmony of the land. She rises to be the land's fiercest protector, but she ultimately suffers a ruthless betrayal – an act that begins to turn her heart into stone. Bent on revenge, Maleficent faces an epic battle with the invading King's successor and, as a result, places a curse upon his newborn infant Aurora. As the child grows, Maleficent realizes that Aurora holds the key to peace in the kingdom – and to Maleficent's true happiness as well.
Critics Sentiment
Maleficent's maternal kiss breaks Aurora's curse instead of Philip's
Stefan destroys spinning wheels and builds thorn defenses
The film jumps from Stefan's paranoid plotting (6.0) to Maleficent's iconic christening curse scene (8.1), representing the shift from mundane plot mechanics to Jolie's commanding villain performance.
Maleficent received mixed but generally positive reception, with critics consistently praising Angelina Jolie's performance and the film's visual spectacle. The sentiment peaks during the true love twist revelation and Maleficent's iconic curse scene, while dipping during plot-heavy segments and some over-reliance on CGI. Most reviewers appreciated the fresh take on the classic villain story despite some pacing and tonal inconsistencies.
Full cast
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Angelina Jolie
Maleficent
Elle Fanning
Princess Aurora
Imelda Staunton
Knotgrass
Sharlto Copley
Stefan
Lesley Manville
Flittle
Juno Temple
Thistletwit
Sam Riley
Diaval
Brenton Thwaites
Prince Phillip
Kenneth Cranham
King Henry
Sarah Flind
Princess Leila's Handmaiden
Michael Higgins
Young Stefan
Isobelle Molloy
Young Maleficent
Jackson Bews
Teen Stefan
Jamie Sives
Shepherd
Angus Wright
Advisor to King Henry
Hannah New
Princess Leila
Oliver Maltman
Advisor to King Henry
Gary Cargill
Nobleman
John O'Toole
Nobleman
Janet McTeer
Narrator (voice)
Crew
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