Maleficent (movie)
Maleficent is an American live-action dark fantasy Disney movie. The film is based on Sleeping Beauty but changes the story to have Maleficent be a tragic character. It stars Angelina Jolie and Elle Fanning. It was released on May 30, 2014. The film has a sequel titled Maleficent: Mistress of Evil.
| Maleficent | |
|---|---|
 Title logo | |
| Directed by | Robert Stromberg |
| Produced by | Joe Roth |
| Written by | Linda Woolverton |
| Starring | Angelina Jolie Elle Fanning |
| Music by | James Newton Howard |
| Cinematography | Dean Semler |
| Distributed by | Walt Disney Studios |
Release date | May 28, 2014 |
Running time | 97 minutes (1 hour and 37 minutes) |
Story
Maleficent is a young fairy living in the Moors, a magical forest realm bordering a human kingdom. As a child, she meets a human boy named Stefan, and they both fall in love with each other. King Henry, the ruler of the humans, tries to invade the Moors but Maleficent attacks him. Henry decides that whoever kills Maleficent will be named his successor and marry his daughter Leila.
Stefan visits Maleficent in the Moors and drugs her, but cannot bring himself to kill her. He instead cuts off her wings, presenting them to Henry as "proof" of her death. Henry believes him. Stefan marries Leila and becomes king after Henry dies. As revenge, many years later, Maleficent arrives at the christening of Stefan's baby daughter Aurora. She puts a curse on Aurora saying that she will prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and fall into a sleep forever.
King Stefan orders three pixies (Knotgrass, Flittle and Thistlewit) to hide and protect Aurora in a forest cottage until her 16th birthday. Over the years, Aurora meets Maleficent several times because she travels into the Moors secretly. Maleficent regrets her curse but cannot undo it. Aurora meets Prince Phillip who is from a nearby kingdom. On the day of her 16th birthdy, the pixies tell Aurora that she is a princess and that Maleficent cursed her. Aurora runs back to Stefan's castle. The curse's power magically draws Aurora to prick her finger and fall into a sleep.
Knowing that only love can save her, Maleficent tries to get Prince Phillip to kiss her but it does not work. However, Maleficent's maternal love for Aurora that developed over the years is enough to awake Aurora. King Stefan attacks Maleficent, whose wings return. Stefan tries to tackle Maleficent but she uses her wings to save herself and he falls off a tower and to his death. Aurora is named Queen of both the Moors and the Human Kingdom. She falls in love with Prince Phillip.
Cast
- Angelina Jolie as Maleficent
- Elle Fanning as Aurora
- Sharlto Copley as King Stefan
- Brenton Thwaites as Prince Phillip
- Imelda Staunton as Knotgrass
- Juno Temple as Thistlewit
- Lesley Manville as Flittle
- Sam Riley as Diaval
- Kenneth Cranham as King Henry
- Hannah New as Princess/Queen Leila