By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
Angelina Jolie shines in the dark and enchanting Disney, fantasy adventure
?Maleficent: Mistress of Evil.?
Directed by
Joachim R?nning (?Pirates of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales?), from a script by Linda Woolverton, Noah Harpster and Micah Fitzerman-Blue, this follow-up to the 2014 blockbuster ?Maleficent,? is a spirited revenge thriller.
With her ruby red lips, wolf eyes and razor-sharp cheekbones, those ornate horns and killer outfits, Maleficent can still cast a spell.
However, this time, the horned fairy (Jolie) discovers she may not be the most evil or powerful one of all and faces her biggest challenge yet.
It all begins with Queen Aurora (Elle Fanning, ?The Beguiled?) aka ?Sleeping Beauty.? She?s now the ruler of fairies, pixies (Imelda Staunton, Lesley Manville and Juno Temple) and other odd-looking big and small creatures in The Moors, a Skittles colored forest kingdom.
Queen Aurora?s long-time love interest, Prince Phillip (Harris Dickinson, replacing Brenton Thwaites) is eager to marry her. When Maleficent learns of their upcoming nuptials, she nearly blows a horn.
Maleficent has plenty of reasons for not trusting humans. Hooking up with the Moors and the Kingdom of Ulstead has far-reaching implications.
But sometimes you must go along to get along and Maleficent attempts to do just that. Her trusty assistant Diaval, (Sam Riley, ?Maleficent?) even gives her a few lessons on social etiquette which she?ll need for a celebratory dinner at the castle with her future in-laws, Prince Phillip?s parents, King John (Robert Lindsay, TV?s ?Plebs?) and Queen Ingrith (a striking Michelle Pfeiffer, ?Avengers: Endgame?).
Over dinner, Queen Ingrith makes her hatred of Moors and her disapproval of the wedding known. With all those icy glares being cut between the Queen and Maleficent you know something is about to go down. When the zingers begin to really fly, King John suddenly becomes cursed and Maleficent is blamed for the sudden turn of events.
Maleficent attempts to fly away but she?s injured by one of Queen Ingrith?s guards and presumed dead.
She?s rescued by a few ?Dark Fae? leaders (Chiwetel Ejiofor, ?The Lion King?) and Ed Skrein (?If Beale Street Could Talk?) who have been excommunicated too and now have some scores they want to settle.
A few additional plot twists keep the story moving at a steady clip. Ultimately, it all leads to a battle royale between Maleficent and Queen Ingrith.
The stunning visuals and special effects throughout ?Maleficent: Mistress of Evil,? particularly Pfeiffer?s and Jolie?s beautiful and elaborate costumes from Emmy award winning designer Ellen Mirojnick, adds to this magical and wildly enjoyable adventure.
Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays now at 6:20 p.m. on radio station KFBK 1530 AM and 93.1 FM.
Check Out This Trailer For
"MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVIL"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics? Association (BFCA), The Black Film Critics Circle (BFCC), The Alliance Of Women Film Journalists (AWFJ) and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.
