Movie Preview - Maleficent

     With Walt Disney Pictures watching over the current units under their umbrella such as Marvel Studios, LucasFilm, Pixar, and Touchstone Pictures to name a few, we keep forgetting that they have they make their own movies as well. Recently, Walt Disney has decided to revisit their classic animated heroes and bringing them to life for a new generation. Most recently, audiences have seen a retelling of Alice in Wonderland and Oz: The Great and Powerful. 

     Today, we were introduced to the retelling of another classic fairy tale; not told from the side of good, but from the dark side.

Maleficent

     From the official Disney website, the synopsis for this film: "From Disney comes 'Maleficent' - the untold story of Disney's most iconic villian from the 1959 classic "Sleeping Beauty." A beautiful, pure-hearted young woman, Maleficent has an idyllic life growing up in a peaceable forest kingdom, until one day when an invading army 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 invading king's successor 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 perhaps to Maleficent's true happiness as well." 

     Angelina Jolie plays the title role of the dark sorcerer in this remake of the animated classic, diving into her origins and what turned her to the dark side. From the synopsis, it makes me wonder if Maleficent will be seen as a heroine who was wronged and caused her fall into darkness, similar to how the Star Wars prequel trilogy did with Anakin Skywalker. Princess Aurora will be played by Elle Fanning (Super 8), Sharlto Copley (District 9) plays King Stefan. I will say that I am very interested in seeing this point of view in the retelling of this fairy tale. 

     Maleficent is scheduled to be released May 2014.