Gina Johnson
In the 2014 live-action reboot of Disney's 1959 animated classic, *Maleficent*, the story of Sleeping Beauty is retold with a focus on the origins of the charismatic sorceress, Maleficent, who is portrayed as the ultimate personification of pure evil in the original film. In this version, Maleficent is a good-hearted but tragic fairy who defends the Moors, a realm of supernatural beings, from neighbouring humans. She is wronged by King Stefan, who drugs her and cuts off her wings, which leads to her cursing his baby daughter, Aurora. However, as Aurora grows up, Maleficent becomes increasingly fond of her, and it is ultimately Maleficent's love for her goddaughter that breaks the curse, not a kiss from her true love, Prince Phillip.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Aurora's awakening | Kiss from her true love |
| Aurora's curse | To prick her finger on a spinning wheel and die before sunset on her 16th birthday |
| Aurora's fate | Put into a deep sleep-like death |
| Maleficent's role | Main antagonist |
| Maleficent's motive | Revenge for not being invited to Aurora's christening |
| Maleficent's actions | Kidnaps Prince Phillip to prevent him from waking Aurora |
| Maleficent's powers | Shapeshifting into a dragon |
| Maleficent's fate | Defeated by Prince Phillip and falls off a cliff to her death |
| Film type | Live-action reboot |
| Narrative focus | Origins and complexity of Maleficent's character |
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What You'll Learn
Maleficent's curse
Maleficent is the primary antagonist in Disney's 1959 animated film Sleeping Beauty. She is a powerful and oppressive villainess who is an incarnation of pure evil and wreaks chaos and destruction. Maleficent is a self-proclaimed "Mistress of All Evil" and is responsible for all the misfortune in King Stefan's kingdom. She is portrayed as having a fiery temper, a violent mood, and a narcissistic personality.
In the 2014 live-action reboot, Maleficent is portrayed as a more sympathetic and nuanced character. The film explores her backstory and presents her as a good-hearted but tragic fairy defending the Moors, a realm of supernatural beings, from neighbouring humans. Despite her initial curse, Maleficent develops a close connection with Aurora as she grows up and eventually wakes her with a kiss, transcending the curse with her love.
Maleficent's dragon form, which she takes on in both Sleeping Beauty and the live-action film, represents her formidable power and ominous presence. Her transformation into a dragon also signifies her manipulative nature and magical prowess. The design of Maleficent, with her elegant attire and horned headdress, anticipates this dragon form and adds to her iconic and instantly recognisable appearance.
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Aurora's hiding place
In the 1959 animated classic Sleeping Beauty, Princess Aurora is cursed by Maleficent, the self-proclaimed "Mistress of All Evil". To protect Aurora from this fate, three fairies smuggle her out of the kingdom and into the woods, where she grows up unaware of her royal heritage, believing herself to be the daughter of a woodcutter.
In the 2014 live-action reboot, Maleficent is portrayed as a tragic hero rather than a villain. She is a fierce protector of the Moors, a realm of supernatural beings, who defends them from neighbouring humans. When King Stefan and Queen Leila's newborn daughter, Aurora, is cursed by Maleficent, the three pixies, Knotgrass, Flittle, and Thistlewit, are tasked with hiding and protecting her in a forest cottage until after her sixteenth birthday. Unlike in the animated film, Maleficent is aware of Aurora's location but chooses not to reveal it, as she develops maternal feelings for the young princess.
As Aurora grows up, she forms a strong bond with Maleficent, believing her to be her fairy godmother. Maleficent, unable to bring herself to hurt Aurora, attempts to undo the curse but fails. Heartbroken, Aurora returns to her father's castle, where she is locked up by King Stefan, who is intent on killing Maleficent. Despite their efforts to keep Aurora safe, both Maleficent and the pixies are ultimately unable to prevent her from returning to the kingdom and fulfilling her destiny.
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True love's kiss
In the 1959 Disney film Sleeping Beauty, Princess Aurora is cursed by the villainous fairy Maleficent, who predicts that before sunset on her 16th birthday, Aurora will prick her finger on a spinning wheel and die. In the film Maleficent, a live-action reboot of the 1959 classic, we see a more sympathetic side of the antagonist, Maleficent, and the story is told from her perspective. In this version, Maleficent is a good-hearted but tragic fairy who defends the Moors, a realm of supernatural beings, from neighbouring humans.
In both films, Maleficent curses Aurora as an infant, and she is then raised in the woods by three fairies. In the original, Maleficent does not know where the princess is hiding, whereas in the reboot, she is aware but chooses to keep her presence hidden. In both films, Maleficent and Aurora meet when Aurora is a teenager. In the original, Prince Phillip wakes Aurora with true love's kiss, but in the reboot, it is Maleficent's kiss that awakens Aurora.
In the original Sleeping Beauty, Prince Phillip is captured by Maleficent and imprisoned in her castle in the Forbidden Mountains to prevent him from waking Aurora with true love's kiss. In the reboot, Maleficent and her goons also capture Prince Phillip, but he escapes with the help of the three fairies. Phillip then rushes to where Aurora is sleeping, hoping to wake her with true love's kiss. However, it is Maleficent's kiss that ultimately awakens Aurora.
The love that Maleficent developed for Aurora as her goddaughter is what breaks the curse in the reboot. This is a significant departure from the original fairytale, where true love's kiss is provided by Aurora's true love, Prince Phillip. In the manga series, Maleficent returns and attempts to curse Aurora again, but her plan is once again foiled by true love's kiss, this time from Prince Rei to Kilala Reno, who has shielded Aurora and fallen under the curse herself.
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Maleficent's dragon form
Maleficent is a sorceress and the main antagonist in Disney's 1959 film, Sleeping Beauty. She is usually depicted as a human but can transform into a dragon. Maleficent's dragon form is a giant black and purple dragon with glowing lime eyes, a yellow forked tongue, and the ability to breathe neon-green fire.
Maleficent's transformation into a dragon is a significant aspect of her character, adding to her popularity and iconic status as one of Disney's most well-known villains.
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Maleficent's past
Maleficent, the primary villain of the animated movie Sleeping Beauty, is the focus of the plot in the 2014 live-action film Maleficent, starring Angelina Jolie. The film serves as an origin story, exploring the past of the powerful dark fairy and revealing the events that led to her transformation into the self-proclaimed "Mistress of All Evil".
The exploration of Maleficent's past in the film serves to provide a deeper understanding of her motivations and complexities. It humanizes the character, showcasing the events that led to her descent into darkness and her eventual redemption. By delving into her backstory, the film offers a unique perspective on the traditional fairy tale, challenging the notion of good and evil and presenting a more nuanced portrayal of its titular character.
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Frequently asked questions
Maleficent is a live-action version of Sleeping Beauty, but it also makes significant changes to the original 1959 animated classic.
Maleficent curses Princess Aurora at her christening, saying that before sunset on her 16th birthday, she will prick her finger on a spinning wheel and die.
In Maleficent, Princess Aurora wakes up from the curse through a kiss from Maleficent, whose love for Aurora as her goddaughter transcends the curse.
In Maleficent, King Stefan is a peasant who drugs and hacks off Maleficent's wings to get to the throne. Maleficent was once friends with King Stefan, and their bond evolved into a romantic relationship. However, his power-hungry nature and relentless pursuit to destroy her turned her into a villain.
Maleficent is the primary antagonist and villain in Sleeping Beauty. She is an incarnation of pure evil and is responsible for all the misfortunes in King Stefan's kingdom.
