MALEFICENT

[J-Kay-2]

The untold story of Disney's most iconic villain from the 1959 classic "Sleeping Beauty." A beautiful, pure-hearted young woman with stunning black wings, Maleficent has an idyllic life growing up in a peaceable forest kingdom, until one day when an invading army of humans threatens the harmony of the land. Maleficent rises to be the land's fiercest protector, but she ultimately suffers a ruthless betrayal - an act that begins to turn her pure heart to stone. Bent on revenge, Maleficent faces an epic battle with the king of the humans and, as a result, places a curse upon his newborn infant Aurora. As the child grows, Maleficent realizes that Aurora holds the key to peace in the kingdom - and to Maleficent's true happiness as well.

 

[J-Kay-2]

The untold story of Disney's most iconic villain from the 1959 classic "Sleeping Beauty." A beautiful, pure-hearted young woman with stunning black wings, Maleficent has an idyllic life growing up in a peaceable forest kingdom, until one day when an invading army of humans threatens the harmony of the land. Maleficent rises to be the land's fiercest protector, but she ultimately suffers a ruthless betrayal - an act that begins to turn her pure heart to stone. Bent on revenge, Maleficent faces an epic battle with the king of the humans and, as a result, places a curse upon his newborn infant Aurora. As the child grows, Maleficent realizes that Aurora holds the key to peace in the kingdom - and to Maleficent's true happiness as well.

Here is what I see. I see EVIL. The story is Disney ? Does that sound
evil ? If your child came to you and said, I want to see a Disney Movie
with my friend. Wouldn't you say, okay ? I mean it is DISNEY after all.

But wait.... read the trailer, and see what it is about.
Let's see... she is a pure hearted woman...
Her heart turns to stone. She suffers betrayal.
Bent on revenge, Maleficent faces an epic battle with the king of the humans and, as a result, places a curse upon his newborn infant Aurora. As the child grows, Maleficent realizes that Aurora holds the key to peace in the kingdom - and to Maleficent's true happiness as well.

The images are so dark and demonic. What really caught my attention is
Aurora holds the key to peace .....Does that sound familiar ?

 

[Nautilus]

Instead of seeing evil, I see you jumping at shadows and an overactive desire to find evil. Im completely unsure what part of this plot is evil instead of just good storytelling. OK so basically, the girls homeland gets invaded and she fights back. She gets betrayed and seeks revenge. She then realizes that oops maybe I made a mistake.

Yep definitely evil. Wow, better not let kids see this one. They might go worship satan afterwards or something nonsensical thats not even related to the movie at all.

 

[Tintin]

I'm not going to see the movie. Sure, the tone may be dark but it doesn't look demonic. That said, it's from Maleficent's perspective so it will be different to the original. Still, it's not for children but teenagers and adults. Hence the mature rating it received in Australia (the same rating that The Lord of the Rings, The Matrix, and Noah received, for comparison).

 

[Nautilus]

Its PG here in the states which is only one step above G(Appropriate for general audiences)

 

[mystdancer50]

Maleficent is my favorite villain. I am planning on seeing this movie for many reasons, the main ones of which are that, as I stated, Maleficent is my favorite villain, Disney made this movie, and I really enjoy the fantasy genre.

That being said, I am not allowing my 4 year old and 9 year old foster children to see it and I may not even allow my soon to be 14 year old foster child to see it...the Christian movie reviewer gave it 3 and a half stars for older kids, teens and adults.

My thoughts.

 

[Tintin]

Its PG here in the states which is only one step above G(Appropriate for general audiences)

Australian ratings are usually common sense but sometimes they're weird. For example: Ice Age received a G rating, Independence Day received a PG rating and The Ring remake received an MA15+ (strictly mature audiences) rating.

 

[ThomistColin]

Let's be honest, this has nothing to do with evil and everything to do with money. Have you seen the money made on Wicked? It's a musical and book about the Wizard of Oz from the Wicked Witch's perspective. So then comes Once Upon a Time the tv series on ABC which is owned by Disney. Now, Disney is making a movie about Maleficent. It's about money and following the attention of the American consumer.

 

[Nautilus]

Australian ratings are usually common sense but sometimes they're weird. For example: Ice Age received a G rating, Independence Day received a PG rating and The Ring remake received an MA15+ (strictly mature audiences) rating.

Those are about inline with US ratings though I think Independnece Day got a PG-13 here(not for audiences under 13). We go G, PG, PG-13, R(no one under 17 without parent/guardian), NC-17(not for children under 17 no matter what)

 

[Tintin]

Okay. We have G, PG, M (generally equivalent to your PG-13 or low-level R), MA15+ (equivalent to your moderate R) and R (restricted to adults, probably your high-end R).

 

[Ecclesiastik]

I saw it this weekend. I too was concerned with the overall theme of magic. In the end, though, it seemed to be more of a fantasy movie than a movie about a evil sorceress. At the same time, even having magic and pagan-ish themes leaves a world open to your children that you shouldn't want to open to them...especially with the growth of pagan religions.

I think this is one I would probably only recommend to adults who are able to discern between good and evil. Even with Disney or any other company that is not based on godly values, you are going to have problems. You are going to have your suggestive themes and hidden messages in the stuff that you give to your kids and to yourself. In the end, I think it would probably be best if we avoided secular movies altogether. Godlessness is to increase, not decrease. Yet, I wouldn't condemn anybody for watching this film. I would just say you best use caution and be willing to give something up if the Spirit and/or Scripture is leading you to it.

 

[Desdichado]

You could say that the synopsis mentioned above comes at human nature from a Christian perspective. Sometimes villains have legitimate grievances that they were never able to move past with wisdom, maturity, and the recognition that the world is larger than whatever happened to them.

Their willfulness is something to be occasionally admired, but always condemned and pitied.

 

[Nautilus]

Magneto is probably my favorite comic character

 

[shrimp]

I agree with Jay K 2. Most things with demonic themes and effects have a sugar coating to make it seem either normal or wonderful.

 

[Angela53510]

How is this news??

 

[Desdichado]

Magneto is probably my favorite comic character

Same here.

 

[Loveneverfails]

I saw it yesterday and liked it. It's a fictional work and I thought the storytelling was good. I liked the different perspective on a familiar tale, and it was thought-provoking. I have great nostalgia for certain fairy tales and It's actually interesting to consider why the villain is so...villainous. It can be an opportunity to reflect on human nature.

It wasn't a stellar cinematic masterpiece but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

 

[Tintin]

Those are about inline with US ratings though I think Independnece Day got a PG-13 here(not for audiences under 13). We go G, PG, PG-13, R(no one under 17 without parent/guardian), NC-17(not for children under 17 no matter what)

I thought, that in the US, Ice Age received a PG rating and Independence Day a PG-13 rating but so did The Ring (I don't understand that!)

 

[faroukfarouk]

I saw it yesterday and liked it. It's a fictional work and I thought the storytelling was good. I liked the different perspective on a familiar tale, and it was thought-provoking. I have great nostalgia for certain fairy tales and It's actually interesting to consider why the villain is so...villainous. It can be an opportunity to reflect on human nature.

It wasn't a stellar cinematic masterpiece but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

So it's all clean and good?

I never saw the film yet.

 

[Loveneverfails]

Personally, I'd call it a clean film. Even the few kiss scenes are mere pecks and come off as innocent affection rather than steamy passion. There was violence (not excessive) but that was clearly depicted as being an unfortunate reality of war, not something fun or cool.
Its not for everyone but if you are fond of the original tale and are open to seeing it from a new perspective I think you may well enjoy it.