Walt Disney Pictures’ Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil (dubbed from the Hollywood film of the same name) is a sequel to Maleficent.
Maleficent (Angelina Jolie) and her god-daughter, Aurora (Elle Fanning), are forced to question their complex family ties and bonds as they find themselves on two different sides by impending nuptials, unexpected allies, and dark new forces at play.
Aurora reigns as the queen of Moors while Maleficent is its protector. Aurora takes Maleficent with her when she goes to meet Prince Philip’s (Harris Dickinson) parents, King John (Robert Lindsay) and Queen Ingrith (Michelle Pfeiffer). Tension erupts between the Queen and Maleficent.
Maleficent puts the King to endless slumber and escapes, but falls into the ocean. She is rescued from the ocean by Connall (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a fairy leader. Connall introduces Maleficent to other fairies living in exile because of their conflict with humans. In the fight that ensues between Maleficent and the Queen, Connall dies while saving Maleficent. There’s another fairy leader, Borra (Ed Skrein), who collaborates with Maleficent to lead the Moors forces and the Dark Feys against the human kingdom. Maleficent attacks the Queen but is ultimately reduced to ashes while saving Aurora from the Queen’s arrow. Aurora’s tears fall onto the ashes and resurrect Maleficent into a giant phoenix. What happens thereafter?
Lindo Woolverton’s story is complex and although it has many layers, it holds very limited appeal for the Hindi film-going audiences. The screenplay, written by Micah Fitzerman-Blue, Noah Harpster and Linda Woolverton, is interesting but not very engaging. The story about fairies etc. does not hold much appeal for the Hindi film-going public which is unable to connect emotionally with the characters and the screenplay.
Angelina Jolie does a fine job in the title role. Her Hindi dubbing by Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is impactful. Elle Fanning is good as Aurora. Harris Dickinson has his moments as Prince Philip. Michelle Pfeiffer makes her presence felt as Queen Ingrith. Chiwetel Ejiofor has his moments as Connall. Ed Skrein is effective as Borra. Robert Lindsay is alright as King John. Sam Riley (as Diaval) is okay. Others are good.
Joachim Rønning’s direction is so-so. Geoff Zanelli’s background music is decent. Harry Braham’s cinematography is of a fine standard. Production designing (by Patrick Tatapoulous) is nice. Editing (by Laura Jennings and Craig Wood) could have been better. Dubbing is good.
On the whole, Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil is a very ordinary fare which will not do anything spectacular at the box-office. Its release this pre-Diwali week will add to its tale of woes.
Released on 18-10-’19 at Maratha Mandir (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay by UTV Software Communications Ltd. Publicity & opening: dull. …….Also released all over.