By MISSY CHAPMAN
Cataloging Supervisor Warsaw Community Public Library

I was apprehensive about watching the Disney film “Maleficent” for two reasons, one “Sleeping Beauty” was one of my favorite films as a child and I didn’t want that memory tarnished and two, I am not a fan of Angelina Jolie who plays Maleficent. I am not one to like films that are remade. The remake never seems quite as good as the original.

“Maleficent” is a cinematic masterpiece of visual beauty and fantasy. It incorporates all the “Sleeping Beauty” elements, even a dragon, and radically changes them, including the meaning of “true love’s kiss.” While the film is dark and brooding and at times full of aggression, the overall message of Maleficent is about redemption and love!

The visuals are appealing, especially in the forest. Angelina Jolie, who plays Maleficent did an outstanding job. She rolls with the emotional changes quite well, turning what we’ve only known as a cruel character into one that we can sympathize with easily as the gaps in her storyline are filled in. The plot for this movie fits into the current trend of exploring the anti-hero, and turning he/she into a person who is like we are deep inside.

Without giving any spoilers away, this redux film tells Maleficent’s story. She is a fairy from the Moors who loses her wings through deceit and betrayal. This loss leads her to become a misunderstood villain. The film takes liberties by altering some of the storyline that was in the original “Sleeping Beauty.” I think these noticeable differences make the story just a little bit better.

Maleficent is not without its flaws (The over use of montages and the inevitable big, drawn-out action sequence at the end). These flaws don’t stand in the way of this being a well-executed idea that is sure to delight fans of the original Disney masterpiece.

If you need a day away from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, come into the Warsaw Community Public Library and get this title or some similar genre movies like Disney’s “Frozen,” “Sleeping Beauty,” “Tangled” and “Brave,” the TV series “Grimm” and “Once upon a Time” or perhaps “Enchanted,” “The Princess Bride” and “Hansel & Gretel.”

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