Review Film Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019) BluRay 1080p 720p 480p

Director: Joachim Rřnning
Writers: Linda Woolverton, Noah Harpster, Micah Fitzerman-Blue
Starring: Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sam Riley, Ed Skrein, Imelda Staunton
Producers: Joe Roth, Angelina Jolie, Duncan Henderson, Matt Smith (XCVI), Jeff Kirschenbaum, Michael Vieira

Years after peace was established by Queen Aurora (Elle Fanning), the creatures of the Moors remain distant from humans, allowing the land to thrive, while Maleficent (Angelina Jolie) watches over her daughter as she grows into a powerful figure. When Prince Phillip (Harris Dickinson) proposes to his love, Aurora accepts and implores Maleficent to play nice as they attend a special dinner to meet future in-laws King John (Robert Lindsay) and Queen Ingrith (Michelle Pfeiffer). The evening is thrown into chaos when Ingrith questions Maleficent’s ability to control herself and the Moors, while King John is cursed with eternal slumber. Framed for the crime, Maleficent tries to escape, only to be wounded and rescued by others of her kind, with these Dark Feys taking refuge underground, trying to survive. Meeting with Conall (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and Borra (Ed Skrein), Maleficent’s eyes are opened to her power and her heritage, while Ingrith assembles her armies for war against the Moors, manufacturing a secret weapon to destroy all woodland creatures.

Disney was in a special position many years ago. The release of 2010’s “Alice in Wonderland” went wonderfully, grossing over a billion dollars, but audience reaction was mixed. They marched ahead with a sequel, finally coming up with 2016’s “Alice Through the Looking Glass,” and the expensive feature failed spectacularly. With “Maleficent,” the situation is similar, as the studio managed to make a giant hit out of their reworking of “Sleeping Beauty” characters, delivering a CGI-heavy fantasy experience that pulled in audiences, but didn’t leave a lasting impression for many. Gambling on ticket-buyer loyalty once again, Disney offers “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil,” which brings back Angelina Jolie and big visuals to wow the crowds once again, this time betting on the Halloween season to stimulate box office interest. Much like “Alice Through the Looking Glass,” “Mistress of Evil” doesn’t do anything different, once again providing a numbing viewing experience that’s mostly about creating noise and limp mythos to expand on a world that wasn’t very interesting in the first place.

After surviving the troubled production of “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales,” director Joachim Ronning returns to the realm of expensive Disney fantasy with “Mistress of Evil.” He certainly has experience with all manner of greenscreen cinematography and elaborate displays of CGI, constructing a giant digital realm for the characters, with the story returning to the world of the Moors, which is populated with all sorts of fairies and monsters, surrounded by deep forests and mountain ranges. Working with a flying creature such as the titular matriarch, the helmer is permitted time to arrange soaring shots of the land, noting the divide between the Moors and the humans, who remain behind walls in a large castle. There’s plenty of eye candy on display, and perhaps the picture is better off as a silent movie, giving pure cinematic wizardry a chance to be appreciated without the burden of a plot that doesn’t amount to anything.

The screenplay (by Linda Woolverton, Noah Harpster, and Micah Fitzerman-Blue) shows initial promise with the “Meet the Parents” situation for Aurora and Phillip, finding Maleficent forced to play nice with King John, even taking some time to practice her smile for the big dinner. Such a moment permits Jolie a chance to play with such a severe character, but lightness is fleeting in “Mistress of Evil,” as the meeting of the guardians soon turns into a nightmare for all. The writing doesn’t hide the identity of the person behind the scenes stirring up trouble for the Moors, which seems like a missed opportunity, as establishing the threat early on robs the feature of any surprises, which it sorely needs. Instead of wicked manipulations, “Mistress of Evil” divides into two subplots, tracking Maleficent’s awakening with the Dark Feys and their desperate situation of survival and resentment. And there’s Ingrith and her rise to power, in charge of a kingdom after her husband is cursed, ready to use everything she’s got to wipe out the Moors, armed with special magic capable of completing the job.

Themes on identity and tolerance are noted, but “Mistress of Evil” offers feeble dramatics. And when all that fails to hold attention, Ronning brings the boom in the last act, turning to war to dazzle viewers as the Moors and the humans face off, showcasing all manner of roaring creatures and smashed stone. It gets old in a hurry, especially when action grows deafening and repetitive. Much like the original “Maleficent,” there’s no charm to savor or even emotion. It’s all cold, hollow filmmaking, and while Jolie looks the part, there’s little for her to play for her second at-bat. Pfeiffer has the juicier role and does very well, giving Ingrith real presence, making one wish she was the lead character. The production was smart to bring in a pro like Pfeiffer to liven up the proceedings, but she’s often the only entertaining aspect of the picture, and that’s not enough to support a second trip into this tedious fantasy land.