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A Review of 'Maleficent'

 A Review of 'Maleficent'

- Aditi Sawant

I'm sure that those of us who are fans of the beautiful and extremely talented Angelina Jolie or were fans of ‘Brangelina’ (Brad Pitt- Angelina Jolie) or are just lovers of fairy tales or just lovers of strong women characters, must have watched the highly celebrated film – Maleficent. The film at first glance can seem to be a sort of a fairy tale, but it isn’t and to tries its very best in proving this point till the very end. Fortunately, it does so. The themes explored in this film are patriarchal habits, human greed, true love and its irony, womanhood, motherhood, the facts and beliefs about fairyland, societal laws and rules, unconventionality, the difference between truth and lies and last but not the least, rebelliousness.


In the very first half of the film, I was filled with utter happiness and awe seeing Maleficent in love with a human and was restoring my faith in humanity by the boundless love which was showered by Stephan to Maleficent. The true love's kiss on her 16th birthday acted like the cherry on the cake.

Maleficent, as a fairy and a superhuman being, is shown very unconventional in the film, unlike our Disney princesses. She has mysteries in her eyes and love too. She has vengeance and care too. Her attire in itself stands as testimony to her personality.  Her wings act like a gateway to freedom but her horns symbolize dominance and authority.  Stephan’s breaking his promise and destroying Maleficent’s personality and identity does have far reaching effects on her. We get to see this overt other side of hers which is really undeniably enchanting and mystifying at the same time. Her want for revenge is justified and very articulately shown in the film. She does also have a very motherly touch to her as we see when Stephan’s daughter is in her shelter and care. She doesn’t hurt the child of her disgraceful lover. She knows the difference between revenge and unscathed atrocity.


She cares for her and loves her, which we also see in the climax as the true love’s kiss. It’s not the Prince but Maleficent kissing her God-daughter Aurora to break the curse given by her for Stephan’s wrong doings. She realizes her mistake towards Aurora but like the vengeful one she is she does have her revenge from Stephan.


Fairy tales are sometimes not meant to realize love but meant to realize what kind of love one deserves at a certain time, mostly at the right time!


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