by Emilia Ippolito

After five years, we finally have the sequel to Maleficent (2014) on general release in the UK.
A modern fantasy film paying tribute to Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty, the sequel depicts a battle between good and evil. Mind you, it could very well make ‘abstract’ reference to political and certainly social battlefields we are witnessing right now.

Maleficent (Angelina Jolie) travels to an an old castle in a different land to celebrate Aurora’s engagement to Prince Philip. We saw Maleficent unusually getting attached to the pure and beautiful Aurora in the first feature. Little does she know that the authoritative and powerful older Queen Ingris (Michelle Pfeiffer), Philip’s mother and queen of the kingdom of humans, is determined to destroy Maleficent’s kingdom of Moors and her fairies.
Maleficent finds herself obliged to join a warrior and his army of outcast to destroy the Queen’s malevolent plans.

This is a women’s story and a women’s fight. Men are just complementary to both plot and action. Jolie (absolutely perfect both as Queen and fighter) and Pfeiffer delight us with their lion fights and professional performances, which remind us of real life. Elle Fanning’s act as Aurora is also very enjoyable, and Imelda Staunton, Leslie Manning and Juno Davies delight us with their good fairies’ punny lines; it’s a treat to watch real life Hollywood stars in this quality version of Disney’s Sleeping Beauty.

Of course special effects and a touch of CGI are inevitable protagonista of the performance

Enjoy this modern fairy tale for children and adults !