What I've seen is disappointment that she doesn't get to be just a woman who did bad from her own reasons. She has to have an angsty backstory and a Man Who Done Her Wrong.
As Willow goes, so goes my nation.
Oz ,'Selfless'
Buffista Movies 7: Brides for 7 Samurai
A place to talk about movies--old and new, good and bad, high art and high cheese. It's the place to place your kittens on the award winners, gossip about upcoming fims and discuss DVD releases and extras. Spoiler policy: White font all plot-related discussion until a movie's been in wide release two weeks, and keep the major HSQ in white font until two weeks after the video/DVD release.
Connie Neil - Jun 03, 2014 5:32:41 pm PDT #27004 of 30000
brillig
beekaytee - Jun 03, 2014 6:09:44 pm PDT #27005 of 30000
Compassionately intolerant
I really, truly enjoyed Maleficent.
It was GORGEOUS in every way.
I think the creature design was heavily influenced by Brian Froud.
The themes of betrayal, cruelty and the tendency for some people to simply refuse to arrest their downward spiral...out of cowardice or inability...I don't know which.
I was amazed by how much of the film was dialog-free, and super atmospheric.
The only quibble my young companions (by young, I mean mid-30s) had was that the narration was not well voiced and pretty flat, writing-wise.
I can't dispute that at all, but it also seemed classically, old-school British. So, not necessarily a flaw.
shrift - Jun 03, 2014 6:30:54 pm PDT #27006 of 30000
"You can't put a price on the joy of not giving a shit." -Zenkitty
IO9 reviews it as disappointingly anti-feminist, FTR
I don't feel like anyone has to agree with me on that point. To me, it's similar to Orphan Black in how it's intentional that the women have the most screen time and character development, and the men are on the side and not terribly useful.
tommyrot - Jun 04, 2014 4:48:10 am PDT #27007 of 30000
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.
I loved Angelina Jolie in Maleficent but I found the story disappointing.
the women have the most screen time and character development, and the men are on the side and not terribly useful.
Yes, that was cool.
Jessica - Jun 04, 2014 4:26:44 pm PDT #27008 of 30000
And then Ortus came and said "It's Ortin' time" and they all Orted off into the sunset
I can't agree with that io9 article - I thought the movie was great. Calling it a revenge story against A Man is a vast oversimplification and honestly not the point.
Jessica - Jun 04, 2014 4:26:47 pm PDT #27009 of 30000
And then Ortus came and said "It's Ortin' time" and they all Orted off into the sunset
Atropa - Jun 04, 2014 5:02:17 pm PDT #27010 of 30000
The artist formerly associated with cupcakes.
Is Maleficent going to make me seethe with anger? Many people I know have thought it was great, but I'm very devoted to the idea of Maleficent being capriciously evil because she CAN be, not out of revenge. So, should I brace myself to go see it just for the pretty?
chrismg - Jun 04, 2014 5:51:48 pm PDT #27011 of 30000
"...and then Legolas and the Hulk destroy the entire Greek army." - Penny Arcade
Jilli, I just saw it, and I think Connie's comment above covers my opinion. But it is VERY pretty.
A few more things:
1. Someone needed to tell the screenwriter it wasn't a good idea to give ALL the character beats and ALL the agency to one character.
2. The raven is cool.
3. Not a movie for people who want Prince Philip and/or the Fairy Trio to have good, meaty roles.
4. If there isn't a wave of dubcon femslash coming on the Disney kink meme, I will drop dead from shock.
5. There were at least two scenes towards the end where they could have put an Asian woman in among the soldier extras and apparently nobody thought of it. I am SO DISAPPOINT.
SuziQ - Jun 04, 2014 6:14:58 pm PDT #27012 of 30000
Back tattoos of the mother is that you are absolutely right - Ame
I enjoyed the movie. I didn't expect the Fairy Trio to have a meaty role but I hated how they were handled. Minor adjustments could have made me love them.
The rest - very pretty.
Atropa - Jun 04, 2014 9:10:13 pm PDT #27013 of 30000
The artist formerly associated with cupcakes.
I guess I'll catch a matinee, but put a third viewing of Only Lovers Left Alive as higher priority, then.
Speaking tangentially of Only Lovers Left Alive - Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab posted a teaser for the upcoming line of scents, which means I can FINALLY start talking about them. Blood Popsicle is possibly my all-time favorite scent from them, and that is saying a lot.