Maleficent adapted by Elizabeth Rudnick (Book Review)

"This is the story of the faerie Maleficent. Not the story you think you know. Not the one that starts with a curse and ends with a dragon. No. This is what really happened. And while it may have a curse and a dragon, it has much more. For it is a story of lost love, found friendships, and, ultimately, the power of a single kiss..."

Review: First of all let me say how much I love this movie. The proof is in the 4 times I saw it in the movie theater! It is taking everything within me NOT to see it again! I'm patiently waiting for it to come out on Blu Ray! I hope it's soon because the itch for me to see it again is steadily increasing. In the meantime, I picked up the book, and as you may have expected, I devoured every sentence in a matter of days!

To start, I did no background history on the book except to say that in my estimation I assume it was written AFTER the movie was made, taking its storyline from the script? However, I will tell you, there are distinct additions and subtractions between the two. Probably because what works on screen might not work in book form and visa versa? Or because the movie was already almost 2 hours long and so the director left a few things out, like scenes and characters?

In the book there is more back story to Maleficent. We find out about her parents in the first few pages since it starts with her as a new born faerie. Then it steadily continues to the part where the movie begins, with Maleficent as a pre-teen.

Having seen the movie 4 times it was easy for me to incorporate the characters looks while reading the book. I also did the same for their voices as well. It made the book come alive even more for me and it's definitely one that I recommend parents read to their children. It would interest both boys and girls. Similar to the movie, it's not as graphic in its descriptions of certain scenes and there is nothing in there a child of 7 or older couldn't comprehend.

I'm leaving this review short because I think I've made you, my avid readers, suffer enough with my (probably unhealthy) admiration of everything Maleficent related!

Have you seen the movie yet? Did you know Disney made a book to go along with it?

Synopsis: A deluxe novelization of the Walt Disney Studios film Maleficent, starring Angelina Jolie.

This visually dazzling live action film explores the origins of one of the most iconic Disney villains: Maleficent, the infamous fairy who curses Princess Aurora in Disney's animated classic Sleeping Beauty. This "origin" story is told from Maleficent's perspective, intersecting with the classic in both familiar and unexpected ways.

Maleficent

by Elizabeth Rudnick

272 pages

Disney Press, 2014

Fantasy

Read in 2 days

Rating: ★★★★★

Amazon | BN

Read of the Town: Maleficent (Adaptation) by Elizabeth Rudnick

It cannot be denied, I absolutely L-O-V-E the movie Maleficent! I can prove it since I've already seen in 4 times in the movie theater. After the 4th time however, I promised myself I would refrain from seeing it again. I need to hold onto my finances to purchase the Blu Ray when it is released! Then a miracle happened. I call it a miracle because I honestly was browsing the YA section (as I often do) not looking for anything in particular. Suddenly, out the corner of my eye I saw the face of Maleficent and I'm almost positive my whole face lit up! At first I thought it might have been just a book of color pictures from the movie like I've seen done so often. But honestly I wouldn't have cared and would have bought it regardless.

Upon holding it though, I could tell by it's dimensions that it was not what I thought it was. Then I saw the black binding, to match the black cover, and I knew I had to have it. What I was holding in my hand was the book form of the movie I had just seen 4 times and could probably recite word-for-word already. Did I need to give yet more money than I already had to this movie? Probably not. But it will certainly hold me off from seeing it on the big screen again.

Normally I write these about a book I have heard of or seen but haven't purchased yet. Sometimes the book isn't even out yet. But I felt I needed to mention this book because parents might not know about it. Or adults who are still on the fence about seeing it themselves, let alone taking their children to see it, are wondering how they can prepare? This seems like as good a place as any to start. Or you can read my review of the movie, which does have a few major spoilers.

I'm not sure how much longer Maleficent will be on the big screen. I'd love for it to be there longer so it can make more money, hopefully catapulting a whole new style of movie making capabilities. At the same time the quicker it's off the big screen the quicker I can get my hands on the Blu Ray! But I digress! The book, which I'm about 3/4 done with, so look for a review very quickly, follows the movie fairly closely. I'd say about 85% of what happens in the book happens in the movie. The differences would be in the characters (some new that aren't in the movie) and the dialogue as well as some added scenes that aren't in the movie. I'd say it only serves to enhance the movie which probably cut a lot of scenes they felt made the movie longer than necessary? Personally, I don't mind a 2 1/2 hour long movie if it means it left nothing from the book out.

Then again, I have to remember (or at least I assume) the movie came first then the book. Hence why it was adapted? I think that's what that means...

So, watch the movie! Take your kids because it really is OKAY for children, and go see it yourself! While you're at it, find this book and add it to the many fairy tales you may already have read to your kids. And if you haven't read them any fairy tales, don't you think it's time you started?

Summary:

A deluxe novelization of the Walt Disney Studios film Maleficent, starring Angelina Jolie.

This visually dazzling live action film explores the origins of one of the most iconic Disney villains: Maleficent, the infamous fairy who curses Princess Aurora in Disney's animated classic Sleeping Beauty. This "origin" story is told from Maleficent's perspective, intersecting with the classic in both familiar and unexpected ways.

Maleficent (Movie Review)

This is my review after seeing this movie TWICE over the weekend. Actually, because I live in NYC I was able to see this movie on the evening of May 29th! I loved it SO much (as I knew I would before even seeing it) that I went with a friend to see it on Saturday, May 31st. I will be seeing it a third time, this Friday, June 6th, with another friend who wants to see it. If you haven't seen it yet, or your wondering about how good it is, OR even if you have a child younger than teenage years and your wondering if it's something you can take them to see? This review will answer all those questions (and more).

I'm writing this review from the point of view who has had the opportunity of seeing it twice, meaning the first time I was in awe of the acting and the cinematography. But if you've ever seen a movie more than once you know that every time you see it you find something new you didn't notice the first time. And when you do it's like seeing it all over again for the first time. Even if what you notice is small and probably insignificant to most.

Let me start by discussing the fight scenes, which, unfortunately, were at the forefront of most of the trailers for this movie. I understand the studio wanting to entice people to see this movie, and with a few minutes at their disposal, they went with showing the fight scenes, but don't let that dissuade you from going or taking your pre-teen. This movie has all of 3 major fight sequences but there is NO blood or any real "violence" beyond people being tossed around a lot. Most of it is so quick and blurry you don't see much real fighting anyway. There is also no bad language whatsoever.

Now, what I love about this movie (without giving away any spoilers):

1. It humanizes Maleficent and turns her from this villain we all knew her to be in the Disney movie Sleeping Beauty and makes you realize that her evil ways were simply because she was a victim of circumstance. Nothing more.

2. I think Elle Fanning is one of those diamond in the rough actresses who is awkward to look at at times, but the fact that she is being cast in age appropriate roles is great. She's being asked to actually act her age and it comes off so believable because...well because it is!

3. I know Angelina Jolie has done some great action movies, I will not deny that or argue the point, but THIS has got to be one of the best bit of acting she has done since Changeling in 2008. Don't get me wrong, Salt and Wanted were both great in their own right. But they were both heavily reliant upon action and CGI stuff. This movie obviously did A LOT of CGI animation but you can tell a lot more went into her acting part, and let's face it, she was born to play Maleficent.

4. This story of Maleficent, while dramatically different than Sleeping Beauty, I feel improves upon the story tremendously. I don't want to spoil it for you, but just know it's got an even happier ending than the animated Disney version. I actually prefer this version of the story than its predecessor.

In the end I'm still struggling with whether or not this movie should even be compared with the animated Sleeping Beauty? Not just because one is animated and the other isn't, but because they are very different. I'm still surprised that Disney took the bold step of "un-Disney-fying" they own movie! I hope they take as bold a step in some of their other movies?

And if I may highlight one of the (in my opinion) unsung hero's of this story, Diaval, the Raven, played by Sam Riley. He was pretty freaking awesome in this movie and I just want to point him out because he might get lost in the shuffle of other critics who might mention the 3 fairies or King Stefan over him.

Plot: A vindictive fairy is driven to curse an infant princess only to realize the child may be the only one who can restore peace.

As an added bonus, here is the iconic song from Sleeping Beauty "Once Upon a Dream," done in an extra creepy way. When I first heard it I thought it was Angelina Jolie singing it. But nope, it's Lana del Rey! Enjoy!