Maleficent (2014)

A young fairy (Isobelle Molloy) meets a young thief (Michael Higgins) and they become friends and as they grow up, they fall in love. But as adults, he (Sharlto Copley, DISTRICT 9) becomes greedy and ambitious and betrays her (Angelina Jolie). Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned so she places a curse on his daughter that when she turns 16 (by which time she's Elle Fanning), she will prick her finger on a spindle and fall into a deep sleep until she receives a true love's kiss. Yet another revisionist fairy tale (Snow White's already had two and Cinderella has her turn soon), this one based on Charles Perrault's THE BEAUTY SLEEPING IN THE WOOD or more commonly known as Sleeping Beauty. I can't imagine this movie without Angelina Jolie. She's never been more of a Movie Star and she attacks the role as if she were playing Lady MacBeth. Her compelling presence drives the movie forward. Without her, it's another CGI laden extravaganza with perhaps a little more heart than the usual blockbuster. The script is by a woman (Linda Woolverton) and there's more than a casual dose of feminist rhetoric in the film. It's not Prince Charming who saves the day and perhaps it's about time little girls found that out! I enjoyed it but the film doesn't live up to its Star. With Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple and Lesley Manville, Sam Riley and Brenton Thwaites.