Review: ‘Maleficent’ proves once again Disney is the king of fairy tales

Posted on June 6, 2014

So, after letting the other studios try their hand at adapting the fairy tales, Disney has once again stepped in to show everyone else just how it is done with “Maleficent,” a re-imagining of the classic tale of “Sleeping Beauty.”

With first-time director Robert Stromberg at the helm, the film tells the “true” story of Maleficent and the curse she placed on newborn princess Aurora foretelling that upon her 16th birthday she would prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and fall into an endless sleep.
Stromberg has had a long career in special effects as well as art direction, winning two Academy Awards in the latter field for “Avatar” and “Alice in Wonderland,” and he brings a visual quality to this film that provides both wonder and and a few frights.

“Maleficent” is a compelling film with wonderful visuals and a story that takes a classic tale and gives us an entirely new adventure, proving once again that Disney knows what it’s doing when it comes to fairy tales.

The film is rated PG for sequences of fantasy action and violence, including frightening images.

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