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Maleficent, a review by Dragonfire

Maleficent

I actually saw this one twice in the theater and almost went a third time.  I will definitely be getting it once it is out on Blu-ray.

The movie starts showing Maleficent as a young fairy and she becomes friends with a young boy named Stefan.  When she is older, is a protector to The Moors, the magical land where she lives.  The King of the human land next to The Moors feels threatened by Maleficent.  Stefan betrays Maleficent so he can become the next king.  Maleficent changes because of the betrayal which also causes changes to The Moors.  When she hears that Stefan and his wife have a daughter, Maleficent turns up and curses the baby Aurora.

I really liked this movie.  I know that some people have complained about it changing Maleficent too much from the animated movie version of the character.  I did see that some claimed this movie made the character weak.  I don't feel that way at all.  This version of the character is different which will disappoint or bother some people.  I choose to look at it as an alternate version of the story that doesn't ...ummm...diminish or negate the animated version of the story.  Other characters are a bit different as well.  I think the differences are interesting and make for an entertaining movie.  There are dark moments in it that may upset or scare younger children. 

I saw both the 3D and the 2D version of the movie.  The 3D added depth to scenes, especially those in The Moors.  I did notice things, but there really weren't any images coming out of the screen.

I loved Angelina Jolie as Maleficent.  She was perfect in the part.  There are times when she looks like the animated character come to life.  She is deliciously wicked in some scenes.  It is a very powerful performance, especially when Maleficent realizes how Stefan has betrayed her.  None of the other characters receive as much attention as Maleficent.  The other characters are interesting and all the cast does a good job.  Imelda Stanton plays one of the pixies that looks over Aurora.  I didn't fully recognize her at first since some kind of special effect was done to make her look smaller.  She, and the other pixies, get bigger for part of the movie.  Once I realized who she was, I did think Umbridge is a pixie. 

Maleficent is a wonderful entertaining movie with a magnificent performance from Angelina Jolie.  It is one of the best movies I've seen this year.  It is definitely worth checking out.

5 out of 5 stars

I did post a longer review to my movie blog.

Maleficent
   

(From Maleficent on August 3rd, 2014)

Remember the Titans, a review by RossRoy

Original Title: Remember the Titans Year: 2000 Country: United States Director: Boaz Yakin Rating: PG Length: 114 Min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35:1 Audio: English: DTS 5.1, English: Dolby Digital 5.1, French: Dolby Digital 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital Stereo, Commentary: Dolby Digital Stereo Subtitles: English

What they say
History is written by the winners.

Academy Award winner Denzel Washington (The Hurricane) gives a victorious performance in this stirring and uplifting film. Based on a real-life drama, Remember The Titans is a rousing celebration of how a town torn apart by resentment, friction and mistrust comes together in triumphant harmony. The year is 1971. After leading his team to fifteen winning seasons, football coach Bill Yoast (Will Patton) is demoted and replaced by Herman Boone (Washington), tough, opinionated and as different from the beloved Yoast as he could be. How these two men overcome their differences, and turn a group of hostile young men into champions, plays out in a remarkable and triumphant story full of soul and spirit. You and your family will never forget the Titans. 

My Thoughts
In one word: Wow! I was taken aback. I wasn't expecting to be moved by this movie. I was expecting a standard story about two different factions of teens getting together and winning football games. I didn't expect the metaphor about racial segregation, much less the fact that it's a true story. I always thought of sports movies as a great medium to tell very human stories. Well, you don't get much more "human" than the end of segregation. All the hatred, the irrational fear of the other "race". They're all depicted very well in the movie. I especially like the scene between team captain Gerry Bertier (the white guy) and Julius Campbell (the black guy) where they basically tell each other that they're liars and no truth will ever be said by either "race", which then leads the them telling each other the whole truth, which happens the be pretty much the same thing: I will not risk my hide for the opposite race. After that scene, they start getting  together and actually forming a team. Becoming friends, getting to know each other, and actually bonding.

The football scenes in the movie are nice, but they're really a means to an end. A way to show the kids (and coach, as well a townspeople) getting to know each other, realizing they like the same things, live the same lives, root for the same teams, etc. Of course, for some it's harder than others, and it's showcased well in the final game.

Again, this movie is great at showing that prejudice and mistrust only lead to more prejudice and mistrust. Get to know some members of "that other race" whatever it is (be it color based, religion/belief based, or even political based). You'll find that their preoccupations are not all that far from yours. You may even find some great friend in the process. That's what this movie is all about. That's what being human is all about.

Rating:

(From RossRoy's Random Viewings on November 4th, 2008)

Angel Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Synopsis: After Angel has slept with Darla it becomes clear that he hasn't lost his soul and he has got an epiphany. It is now obvious to him which road he has gone down and why. It also becomes obvious to him that he can't go any further this way. But it will be hard to return to his friends because they will soon be dead.

My Opinion: Can't Angel have normal sex like everyone else? At least he has left his warpath. And it seems that the makers of "Angel" actually don't intend to create a season enemy and to defeat him in the end. But I like that, it makes it more unpredictable.

Synopsis: Harmony (who was turned into a vampire in Sunnydale) comes to L.A., to visit Cordelia. While she is staying Cordelia gets a vision of a vampire cult that is growing in numbers.

My Opinion: A very good fun episode with many moments where I had to laugh. It's good to see such an episode once in a while.

Synopsis: Wolfram & Hart gives Lindsey a new human hand. But something is wrong with it. The hand has a life of its own and Lindsey tries to find out where this hand came from. During his investigation he runs across Angel.

My Opinion: Lindsey seems to leave L.A.. Let's see if this is permanent, I am not yet willing to believe that. I also wouldn't like it because I think he is a good enemy.

Synopsis: After Cordelia got a vision she accidentally opens a portal and pulls a demon into our dimension. But this demon is a cousin of Lorne's. He helps the three to hunt down another demon that came through a similar portal. Gunn on the other hand has to pay his last respects to a good friend.

My Opinion: It's hard to have to choose between two groups, I know the feeling and it's a total lose-lose situation. But now I have to continue watching, I want to know where Cordelia went.

(From Angel Marathon on February 17th, 2008)