A Review Of Maleficent By Ashley Wyman

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Recommended: Feminism theory and movies

The 2014 motion picture film Maleficent has been widely praised, as well as harshly critiqued, in Ashley Wyman’s article, Maleficent (2014). Maleficent was seen as “…the most evil Disney villain for over 50 years…” until this movie appeared, reducing a villain to a woman who acted out of revenge (weebly.com). Even though the actors portrayed their characters very well, the original storyline and purpose of showing the backstory of a villain was lost in poor visual effects, new driving forces, and twisted morals.

I agree with many of the critiques that the author has mentioned, but specifically the contradicting storyline, and the maternal relationship between Maleficent and Aurora. The film has a very contradicting storyline, especially since it is based off the original film, Sleeping Beauty. When the author is explaining this, she goes into great detail about Maleficent’s magic and what she is capable of. Her magic astounds the audience in the original film, yet in the 2014 film, …show more content…

But she didn’t do any of that in this movie… (weebly.com).
Maleficent and Aurora also have a unique relationship that is different from anything that Disney has done before. Maleficent’s maternal impulses towards Aurora strengthen as the movie progresses. The audience doesn’t fully comprehend this until the end of the movie, where Maleficent saves Aurora with true love’s kiss. Their relationship differs completely from what Disney has done in the past, “which replaces the age old solution of a man being the one delivering the kiss of true love…”

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