Starring: Angelina Jolie, Sharlto Copley, Elle Fanning, Sam Riley, Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple, Lesley Manville, Brenton Thwaites, Kenneth Cranham
Directed By Robert Stromberg

So where did this Robert Stromberg come from? Maleficent is his first feature, and he spent time doing visual effects on Game Of Thrones, The Hunger Games, Life Of Pi, and Boardwalk Empire. To be fair, I think Maleficent was almost churned out of a machine in some attempt to launch a franchise, or at least sell some merchandise. The result is a film that feels clean and polished, yet almost soulless.

Not to mention the fact that the special effects are questionable at best. The three fairies (Staunton, Temple, Manville) are really odd looking with their real faces run through some CGI machine and put on tiny bodies. Also, very silly tree people. Other than that, the effects are pretty solid. There’s just some that don’t really work for me.

The cast does an excellent job with their clean script. I love that they try and breathe life into roles that have none. It actually elevates the film a bit. Especially Sharlto Copley, who is insanely good at being crazy. Brenton Thwaites wasn’t really given anything to do as Prince Phillip.

The “retelling” of Maleficent is plotted well. I wish I could explain it more, this “soulless” feel, but I can’t. It’s just a feel that I have. Like… the film was so carefully plotted out, I could feel the film moving in front of me. The narrator wasn’t helping matters either. Maybe it’s because we all know the story of Sleeping Beauty, or that Disney’s attempts to have us sympathize with Maleficent felt so forced. Whatever it was, it hampered my ability to to fully enjoy the movie.

Kudos to Jolie and Copley, but Maleficent stalled for me, just short of being a really good movie. It’s just a good movie, if not somewhat stale.

FINAL GRADE: B