"Maleficent (who cares, 2014)" Fri May-30-14 07:20 PM by Frank Longo
Everything I've seen looks good and I plan on seeing it when it comes out. That being said I'm an adult with no kids yet. (one on the way). I wonder with this even being a Disney movie how this will do in the box office and if parents are going to take their kids to go see this. I love the marketing for this movie, the trailers look great, and Angelina Jolie looks hauntingly beautiful on the posters. But it's almost like this it's being marketed or it comes across like a horror movie. I'm sure the story is a little more complex than your average Disney plot but I'm just curious to what the reaction will be when it's released.
I haven't heard any rumblings yet, probably too early but I would imagine that some parents might start coming forward soon or after it's released talking about how their child was traumatized by it.
___
And who are you; the proud lord said, that I must bow so low?
Frank Longo Member since Nov 18th 2003 86673 posts
Fri May-09-14 01:25 PM
1. "I expect it to make money." In response to Reply # 0 Fri May-09-14 01:26 PM by Frank Longo
It's ultimately rated PG if I'm not mistaken, with a female lead and a fairy-tale story. Even with the stylish and dark execution, I'd be surprised if it makes under 150 mil at the domestic box office, with much more international.
I wouldn't be surprised, additionally, if they start releasing trailers that are more Sleeping Beauty oriented, that emphasize the relationship between the women, in order to really put the female butts in seats.
Regarding the quality, I'm nervous with what I believe is a first-time feature director (someone can correct me if I'm wrong on that) and a big budget. That didn't work out great for Snow White and the Huntsman. However, this has the benefit of the Disney machine at its disposal, so I doubt its basement is terribly low-- it will ultimately be a gorgeous product, regardless of story content.
And Sharlto Copley hamming it up aggressively. Nothing wrong with that.
Frank Longo Member since Nov 18th 2003 86673 posts
Fri May-09-14 01:43 PM
3. "Have you seen this trailer?" In response to Reply # 2
He looks like he's trying to make him in Oldboy look like him in Europa Report (his only post-District 9 performance that felt grounded in reality at all). Cranking it up to 1000% in this. Only villain performance that looks hammier this summer is Eddie Redmayne in Jupiter Ascending.
I don't know whether he's choosing the roles because he likes going this far or if he's being cast because they need someone to chew scenery and they know he's capable. Either way, he's definitely given us the most outrageous scenery-chewing performance of the last several years in Oldboy, and he was definitely battling Jodie Foster in Elysium for biggest ham on screen. It was obviously appropriate in The A-Team... but yeah, sort of a disturbing trend for people who thought he was great in District 9.
Europa Report is a nice little sci-fi found footage joint, nothing mind-blowing, but a pleasant enough watch for genre fans. He's good in it.
Seemed to be a version of Wicked Ie story about a traditionally evil character
Maybe it will make up for the disappointment that was mirror mirro ~~~~ When you are born, you cry, and the world rejoices. Live so that when you die, you rejoice, and the world cries. ~~~~ You cannot hate people for their own good.
5. "It appears to be trying to hit the same audience appeal" In response to Reply # 0
as "Alice in Wonderland" - i.e. a more grown-up version of a classic children's story already adapted by Disney in animation.
"Alice" made a billion dollars. "Maleficent" could do just as well.
Personally, from the day this was announced three or so years ago, I've looked at it with a giant question mark on my head. Even though I like Disney's 1959 version of "Sleeping Beauty", I have no initial desire to see a live-action prequel (the main reason I even like "Sleeping Beauty" is the design work - the story and characters themselves are rather boring).
10. "it was a real slog." In response to Reply # 7
the bright spot (for me) of "snow white and the huntsman" was charlize theron really just going for the gusto with her evil character....and angelina jolie, surprisingly, never gets to go full-on crazy like that in this movie....which is what i was counting on to enjoy this movie.
as a reviewer pointed out, there is WAY too much narration in this movie. every time something interesting might happen, the narrator steps in and tells you that it happened, instead of showing us.
unfortunately the movie refuses to commit to either camp ridiculousness or a darker overall tone. and the supporting characters, particularly, shockingly, sharlto copley, are absolutely awful.
overall, it was a disappointment and it's not something i would bother watching again except for some of the campier, sillier moments. strong thumbs down.
Go Smack yourself and then apologize to your hand for looking stupid - Case_One
12. "Jolie was excellent, the rest was such a disappointment " In response to Reply # 0
The pacing was like being stuck in 2x ffwd due to all the narration, none of the character changes or relationships were earned, and the tonality was all over the place....the 'dark' maleficent was on screen for like 5 mins total. Outside of Jolie, completely forgettable.
--------------------------------- <--The drought is over
"have fun reveling in your pettiness tho" (C) Dula summing up 98% of OKS
"I didnt finish a damn thing...matter of fact I jerked off after she left." -Kobe speaking to investigators
>The pacing was like being stuck in 2x ffwd due to all the >narration
as a review i read noted, there must be a lot of scenes that were left on the cutting room floor, because they filled in way too many gaps with the narration. it was such a short movie by today's standards -- 96 minutes -- that they easily could've spent another half hour fleshing out the story and characters more.
Go Smack yourself and then apologize to your hand for looking stupid - Case_One
Frank Longo Member since Nov 18th 2003 86673 posts
Mon Jun-02-14 10:41 AM
19. "Sure. But I still enjoy movies for kids and/or girls that aren't shitty." In response to Reply # 18
This one was. Figured it needed to be said.
Frozen is roughly 500 times better than this. Wicked the musical is roughly 500 times better than this. This movie could have borrowed heavily from those and been good while also aimed at its target audience.
This one instead borrowed more heavily from Snow White and the Huntsman and Oz: The Great and Powerful. So it's aimed at its target audience, but it's a shitty slog.
Obviously not for me. But I usually dig Disney fare. So.
Frank Longo Member since Nov 18th 2003 86673 posts
Mon Jun-02-14 12:24 PM
22. "You're right. I am missing the point." In response to Reply # 20 Mon Jun-02-14 12:28 PM by Frank Longo
Unless the point is "don't form negative opinions of films for which you aren't the target audience," in which case I should just delete this post, as none of the target audience posts here.
I could phrase my review to more clearly take note of the target audience: "in its desire to placate its target audience, Maleficent effectively removes any semblance of character, story, pacing, and strips the film down to a series of fancy costumes, stagy sets, and a few moments of patronizing bullshit, thus meeting its goal of fooling young women into believing this is a worthwhile investment of 95 minutes." That way, people know that young girls who don't know how to be discerning yet will enjoy themselves, even as they also know the adults will fall asleep or wish they could as their kids stare vacantly towards the moving pictures.
Frank Longo Member since Nov 18th 2003 86673 posts
Mon Jun-02-14 05:02 PM
24. "If you think me not liking the movie is film crit masturbation..." In response to Reply # 23
... then fine. It's funny, as usually everyone here gets on me for liking things other people don't instead of vice versa, and I love 95% of Disney movies released. But it's fine.
I still think the film is a piece of shit. A shitty shitty piece of shit. That's as un-masturbatory as I can put it.
25. "it's not about not liking the movie" In response to Reply # 24
it's just lazy and ineffective criticism
I have not watched Frozen, but I saw five minutes of snow white and the huntsman, and it wasn't as good as any five minute segment of Maleficent in pretty much any way
27. "Sorry to butt in, but I'm pretty sure the target audience" In response to Reply # 22 Wed Jun-04-14 12:50 AM by b.Touch
for a movie like this is "everyone with a pulse".
As with "Alice" and :Oz", this seems like it was really pushed to be a four-quadrant, multinational hit appealing to everyone. The trailer certainly doesn't play up young girl appeal - maybe teenage/tweenage "Hunger Games" fan type girl, but it's aggressively "hey! There's action and adventure and war! See, guys? You'll like it too!"
Personally, the movie just always looked and sounded - from the day it was announced three years ago - as a transparent, uninspired cash grab. I'm sure the "creative" meeting where it was born went womethign like this:
Exec 1: "Alice in Wonderland" is doing excellent business! We got any more of those...waddaya call'em? Assistant 1: Animated movies, sir. Exec 1: Yeah, laminated movies...we own any more of those? *blank silence* Assistant 2: Here, I found this on Google - I'm guessing it's accurate. It's on Wikipedia. *they read this article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Walt_Disney_Animation_Studios_films * Exec 2: Hmmm...Sleeping Beauty. I remember that one. Exec 3: We own that movie? Assistant 2: It's on the list. Exec 1: Excellent! Let's remake it!
Frank Longo Member since Nov 18th 2003 86673 posts
Wed Jun-04-14 01:17 AM
28. "I mean, as someone who loves most all Disney movies..." In response to Reply # 27
... and is in general a huge Angelina Jolie fan...
... and loves Sleeping Beauty...
... and even loves when Sharlto Copley hams like a maniac...
... I would have assumed, if not being the specific target audience, the movie should still be good enough to the point where I, with all of those factors hard wired into my system, wouldn't have loathed it.
30. "who said young girls?" In response to Reply # 27 Tue Jul-08-14 11:46 AM by Rjcc
I'm talking about 20 - 40 year old women.
also, everyone with a pulse is just fucking wrong.
I don't think it's unpossible for young single men to watch a movie w/ a female lead.
I think it is absolutely out of the realm of possibility in our current that massive amounts of young and/or old men will watch a movie about a Disney fairytale done the most vaguely grown-up style, ESPECIALLY when it's centered around the platonic interactions of two women.
the target audience of this is the people who are watching the fairytale show on ABC, and this is exactly what those people wanted.
15. "They're missing the point by a country mile" In response to Reply # 13
>the fans I know who were waiting for this movie loved it. >like. repeat viewing loved it. > >I thought it was alright, but I had no expectations really. > >http://card.mygamercard.net/lastgame/rjcc.png > >www.engadgethd.com - the other stuff i'm looking at
Just go watch it with your lady friend and stfu y'all. It's just fluff with a good lead performance
17. "yea my friend explained it to me pretty well" In response to Reply # 13
the "morals" of the movie are pretty tight, i.e., even if you do something wrong, you can go back and try to make it right, and women don't need a man to be powerful/successful/happy. there was a third one that i forget right now. on that level i can see why it's enjoyable to people. me, i probably never want to see it again.
Go Smack yourself and then apologize to your hand for looking stupid - Case_One
~~~~ When you are born, you cry, and the world rejoices. Live so that when you die, you rejoice, and the world cries. ~~~~ You cannot hate people for their own good.
34. "It was okay, but I didn't have any real expectations for it" In response to Reply # 0
It did seem kinda "rushed"and they telegraphed the hell outta her and Stefan's conflict. There also could've been more about why the original king wanted her dead and more of evil Maleficent.
It was an interesting take on an uninteresting story.
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