In the sequel to the 2014 Maleficent, Angelina Jolie reprises her role as the notorious fae whose relationship with her goddaughter and the sleeping beauty Aurora (Elle Fanning) has flourished.
While close, both characters often butt heads and together appear slightly dysfunctional, and in Maleficent: Mistress of Evil together they question the family ties that bind them as they are pulled in different directions following impending nuptials between Aurora and Prince Philip (Harris Dickinson).
Naturally, things fall apart in spectacular fashion, and a war erupts between the humans and the fae-kind, started by Prince Philip’s mother Queen Ingrith (Michelle Pfeiffer) leaving Aurora caught in the middle.
What follows is stunning visual effects and a trio of powerful performances through Jolie, Fanning and Pfeiffer. But let’s face it – we are there to see Jolie portray the villain with her extraordinary cheekbones, mischievous smile, and icy sense of humour that reigns supreme amongst audiences.
Director Joachim Rønning did a stellar job with Maleficent: Mistress of Evil and orchestrating the tremendous fight scenes, certainly a step up from his Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales days back in 2017 whilst Sam Riley’s character Diaval, Maleficent’s right-hand crowman, stood on his own two feet to cement his place in the story.
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil might be far from magnificent, but it gets the job done – and done well – as a strong sequel.
Review: 4 out of 5
Rating: PG
Production: Walt Disney Pictures
Out in Cinemas Now
