Lego Maleficent

Finally! The release of Maleficent. Since the pre-production announcement back in 2012, I've been eagerly awaiting the release. Not only has Sleeping Beauty remained one of Disney's highest rating films, but it also remains very dear to my heart. I first received the original film in the form of a limited edition DVD nearly ten years ago when I was nine. I immediately grew an attachment to the story and the magic within it - the fairies being my favourite characters to this day! So as you can imagine, I was pretty excited to book my tickets for the new Angelina Jolie interpretation.

I went to see the 2D 18:45 screening, and although I probably would have preferred 3D, that was the only showing both me and my date could make it to. But regardless, the film was stunning. The special effects, in their truck load, effectively created a new world of mystical beings. I particularly enjoyed the subtle nod to Tolkien and the Ents through the warrior-like tree creatures. Maleficent's character was suddenly given more depth and was portrayed as a misunderstood villain much like Elphaba in Wicked. It seems like these days we are heart set on discovering the deeper meaning behind our baddies! Why MUST the actions of our antagonist be explained? Why are we no longer satisfied with evil just being evil? Although I love seeing how writers and producers interpret a story and a character, sometimes I'm happy just leaving the plot alone.
The film wasn't what I expected. From day one, I thought that it would act as a prequel, again much like Wicked was, but instead it turned out to be a total retelling of the classic with little hints of the original. Cleverly changing the outcome worked in the films favour, as it is now one of the few Disney creations that challenge the idea of a male hero. However, I will add that I felt like the voice over (particularly at the end) cheapened the movie slightly. Whilst I understand the basic idea behind it, old fashioned fairy tales being narrated, I felt that the segment at the end was too cheesy and left the film on a sour note. Having said that, Maleficent was wonderful. With its epic fight scenes, interesting special effects and elaborate theatre style acting, this wont be a film I forget anytime soon.

One last thing. As it's a Disney film, there is an increased chance of younger viewers in the audience. Don't make the mistake I did by sitting next to a young girl and her mother. The child asked questions throughout and was relentless with her 'oohs' and 'aahs'. It very nearly ruined the experience for me!

This weeks date night consisted of movies and snacks, perfect for me because I love films and I love food! Since both of us had missed it during its run at the cinema, we decided on The Lego Movie, for a light hearted night of laughs. I enjoyed the basic premise of the movie and 90% of the jokes had us both laughing aloud. The humour seemed to surround and acknowledge the fact that the characters are made of Lego blocks which helped to distance the film from other animated flicks. Some of the jokes had us pausing the video so that we could laugh louder and longer, for example, the mispronunciation of Nail Polish Remover had us in stitches. No doubt this will be a film that leaves a lasting impression on those who see it. Whether that be in the form of a particularly hilarious joke or in the form of a song... The 'Everything is Awesome' song will be stuck in my head forever along with comedian Rob Deering's 'Coffee' song which I had the pleasure of hearing twice this May thanks to Gilded Balloon's third annual Happyness Comedy Festival in Inverness (Yes, that was a plug for where I work).

It's easy to forget how successful a family friendly film can be these days. I recently wrote a report for university that detailed the rise in violent animation in an attempt to attract a disappearing audience. But The Lego Movie proves that as long as the idea is solid and the animation is well executed, the audiences will be there. Emmett, our lovable protagonist, is the typical hero. The film follows basic hero/villain guidelines in a very obvious way without the story feeling familiar. Showing how writers these days do not need to rewrite the laws of story telling to create film history. And with the arrival and parody of classic film characters like Batman, Gandalf and Han Solo the film appeals to several demographics at once.

However, the whole idea of the film got me thinking. Since when was being a toy not enough? Why has the Lego franchise grown so unnecessarily over the last decade? First come the blocks representing a popular film, then a video game of said blocks, and then a cartoon based on the game which was based on the blocks which was based on a film. And now, even that is not enough. Now the company has produced its very own film with new and semi original characters that it will no doubt be selling by the truck load this year.

Protip: Dates that consist of laughing for two hours, whether they lead to anything serious or not, will always be worth the time.