Sunday night at the 2014 Grammy Awards, a new 90-second teaser debuted for Disney’s Maleficent starring Angelina Jolie. The teaser features Lana Del Rey’s version of “Once Upon a Dream”, the classic song from Sleeping Beauty that will play over the end credits of the film. The official synopsis for the film is below and Maleficent will open in theaters nationwide May 2014. The synopsis has me a bit concerned that they’re going to take the edge off of Maleficent in an effort to make her sympathetic in a Wicked-esque manner. I also think this could be the defining role of Jolie’s career and something truly special. In other words, I have no idea how this is going to turn out, but it looks spectacular.
Maleficent explores the untold story of Disney’s most iconic villain from the classic “Sleeping Beauty” and the elements of her betrayal that ultimately turn her pure heart to stone. Driven by revenge and a fierce desire to protect the moors over which she presides, Maleficent cruelly places an irrevocable curse upon the human king’s newborn infant, Aurora. As the child grows, Aurora is caught in the middle of the seething conflict between the forest kingdom she has grown to love and the human kingdom that holds her legacy. Maleficent realizes that Aurora may hold the key to peace in the land and is forced to take drastic actions that will change both worlds forever.
The film stars Angelina Jolie as Maleficent, Sharlto Copley, Elle Fanning, Sam Riley, Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple and Lesley Manville and is produced by Joe Roth and directed by Robert Stromberg, with Angelina Jolie, Don Hahn, Palak Patel, Matt Smith and Sarah Bradshaw serving as executive producers. Linda Woolverton wrote the screenplay,
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Usually when you are doing a remake/reimagining it’s a bad idea to remind people of the original right there in the advertisements. But I’m going to out on a huge limb here: this new movie might actually live up to Sleeping Beauty, or perhaps even surpass it. That’s because, while Sleeping Beauty has the best visuals—by far—of any traditionally-animated Disney film, it’s also the most superficial, with the character of Maleficent representing the only real point of interest in terms of story or character. From this new trailer I’m convinced that the visuals are in place; if the story is interesting, and Maleficent is not completely defanged (I share your fears there) this will be a home run. I love Jolie, I’m frustrated that her roles have not been better, and I agree that this film might end up being the lynchpin of her entire career.
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One way or another; good or bad; this is what she’s going to be remembered for. I listened to the Lana Del Rey (who I’m not a fan of) re-recording of Once Upon a Dream and it’s good. It’s really good. Haunting and downbeat where the original is upbeat and chirpy. I really am rooting for this.
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Speaking of coming attractions, the US trailer for Zero Theorem has been released—finally. But there is no release date for the movie as of yet. You can forget Maleficent… THIS is what I’m really anticipating. What is your opinion of Terry Gilliam, if I might ask? I love most of his work beyond love; everything he did from Time Bandits through Twelve Monkeys is either a masterpiece or (at the very least) an excellent film. Also, I loved The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, I thought it was a return to his glory days. I tend to connect with his films.
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I totally want to see this movie.
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