Starring: Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Sharlto Copley, Lesley Manville, Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple, Sam Riley, Brenton Thwaites, Isobelle Molloy, Michael Higgins.

Rated: PG.   Action/Adventure/Fantasy.  Running Time: 1 hour 37 minutes.

Maria and I are getting married in two months.  As a result, her two sisters and three of her closest friends have come to Florida this weekend to have her bachelorette party.  They’ve driven to the Keys and are having/have had a fantastic time.  With her gone, Ethan and I went to see Maleficent today without her, and he is going to be a guest reviewer on MRSRAG today, a first!  Let me begin by saying Maleficent, the story formerly known as Sleeping Beauty, is going to make you rethink everything you know about that fairy tale. Two kingdoms, one full of fantastical beings, the other of man; adjoin each other.  Their cohabitation is not copasetic, though we’re not sure why or how bad it is.  The story begins with Maleficent as a child (Molloy) and future King Stefan as a boy (Higgins). meeting and getting along quite well.  We follow the relationship through the years between the human and the fairy through montage, and everything appears like they will have a bright future.  What fun would that be though?  Soon there is a horrible betrayal, which sets events in motion, and the movie begins in earnest. 

I know that my dad and Maria talk about me all the time.  We certainly missed Maria today at the movie, but I’m excited to tell you what I thought about Maleficent.  In the beginning I thought this movie was going to be a love story, but I was quickly proven wrong.  Dad said we shouldn’t tell you too many spoilers, but I don’t think it’ll ruin anything if I tell you that Stefan (Copley) is a big fat butt nugget.  This movie is not only a remake of the classic story of Sleeping Beauty, but it also tells the origin of Maleficent (Jolie).  It truly shows how Maleficent feels as you see the world through her eyes.  Her character is made by the things good and bad that she has happen to her.  Maleficent may seem like a hollow shell but there’s more under that black cloak than you think.

Pretty good for a ten year old on his first try, don’t you think?  I love the recent trend of changing up our age old fairy tales, with some new and inventive plots.  Think Snow White and the Huntsman, Jack the Giant Slayer to name a couple.  Maleficent is the best of the bunch IMO.  Angelina Jolie is very good as the conflicted title character and Dakota Fanning’s little sister Elle, is perfectly cast as the wide-eyed, wonderfully pure Aurora, AKA Miss Beauty.  Another highlight for me were the three small winged creatures (fairies? pixies?) that were charged with raising Aurora.  Played by Manville, Temple and Staunton, their interactions provide all of the film’s comic relief.  They’re noteworthy for one more reason; as Imelda Staunton is best known for her portrayal of  the vile Delores Umbridge from the Harry Potter movies, probably my favorite (least favorite?) villain of all time.  I HATED her.  She plays the opposite here, very sweet and caring, and like Ethan said to me, “Maybe this will make me feel better about Delores Umbridge.  No, probably not.”  Probably not indeed.  I give Maleficent, a better than average thumbs up.  It has many attributes that are “all Ross”, but in the spirit of not being a spoiler, I’ll keep those tidbits to myself.  So take your kids, but a word of advice, just see it in regular form, the 3D is a waste of time and money.

Maleficent gave me many chills and thrills.  It was interesting to see how Maleficent became how she was.  The movie was very good and I recommend it highly.  I would mention one thing about the PG rating though, the blood curdling screams, the fairly severe injuries maybe too much for kids ages 6 and under.  I’m not saying you shouldn’t take them, just wouldn’t recommend it.  It’s been fun sharing my thoughts on this movie with you, hope you have a Maleficent (magnificent) day!

Ross’ Rating: 3.75 Gummy Bears out of 5.

Ethan’s Rating: 4 Gummies.