Disney has just released the official trailer for “Maleficent,” a dark retelling of the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale starring Angelina Jolie as the villain. I personally think it looks pretty darn awesome… but I’ve been disappointed in the past.
As an action movie fanatic, this new trend sets me all atwitter. I think showing the fairy tales from the villain’s point of view is a fantastic idea — one that promises action, suspense, and a healthy tinkering of how we view the “good” and the “bad.”
But while 2011’s “Red Riding Hood” had its moments, 2012’s “Snow White and the Huntsman” was borderline unwatchable (thank you, Kristen Stewart). It’s tough to strike a perfect balance when dealing with stories we’ve loved (or hated) for years, but with more live-action retellings coming down the pipeline (Cinderella and Cruella de Vil, to name a few), I certainly hope Hollywood figures a few things out.
“Maleficent” looks like pretty darn good start, and I’m betting on Angelina Jolie being a brilliant choice. But Charlize Theron was pretty brilliant in “Huntsman” too, and look where that got her…
What do you think of the new trailer? Will “Maleficent” cast a spell or flop?
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I saw the trailer the other night. To be honest, I was impressed with the cinematography and Jolie as Maleficent is brilliant casting. The one thing that was missing was a connection with the heroine. I’m on the fence with this one, hoping not to slip and hurt something.
You make a good point. The heroine doesn’t stand out much in the trailer, but Jolie commands attention and Elle Fanning was very good in Super 8. She already shows more promise than Kristen Stewart!
Haha! Without question Fanning will be great.
And for the record, my yogurt conveys more emotional content than Kristen Stewart 😉
She makes faces. I think that’s the extent of it.
Yes, but she does both of them — boredom and disinterest — really well.