Once upon a time in a land far away, there lived a maleficent witch who had terrorized the villagers for decades. She was notorious for her wicked spells and curse casting, leaving a trail of misery and despair wherever she went. The people of the land lived in constant fear, uncertain of when the witch would strike next. However, as the saying goes, "every dog has its day." The villagers had grown tired of living in fear and decided that enough was enough. They banded together, armed with courage and determination, to put an end to the reign of darkness that the witch had brought upon them.
Will is still spending most of his time lurking around. Other than his new relationship with Belle he hasn’t had much of a reason to be there, though it’s been hinted that his presence is supposed to be limited for a reason.
Other than his new relationship with Belle he hasn t had much of a reason to be there, though it s been hinted that his presence is supposed to be limited for a reason. Updated for the 2023 spooky season, the following collection of the best witch movies reflects the most iconic witches and witchcraft stories of the big screen, from 90s fantasy comedies to chilling 60s historical horrors.
They banded together, armed with courage and determination, to put an end to the reign of darkness that the witch had brought upon them. Led by their fearless young leader, the villagers embarked on a perilous journey to hunt down the witch. They navigated through treacherous forests, crossed raging rivers, and scaled daunting mountains.
The maleficent witch is six feet under
Visually stunning but more than a little unfocused, Maleficent is a beautiful way to spend an afternoon, but not much more. (A spoiler free review)
Disney has never and will never be accused of under-utilizing a brand. Why go to the trouble of creating something brand new when you can take something old and make money off it? Sleeping Beauty is one of Disney’s oldest franchises (the original, animated movie came out in 1959) and is also one with the most untapped potential. It doesn’t even have a direct to DVD sequel! And so Sleeping Beauty becomes the latest victim participant in Disney’s let’s take a popular animated film and make it live action endeavor. Following the truly terrible 101 Dalmations in 1996 and Tim Burton’s bizarre take on Alice in Wonderland (2010), all Maleficent had to do to please me was to not be terrible. Mission definitely accomplished. Fingers crossed for Cinderella, out next spring.
The film spans the time from Maleficent’s childhood until the end of the classic Sleeping Beauty tale. That’s a lot of material to go through in a relatively short time, which is probably why there are parts of the movie that feel as though they’ve been ripped apart and stitched back together a dozen times. This is particularly problem in the beginning; once Aurora grows into Elle Fanning, the movie becomes much more cohesive.
I really appreciated that the movie provided reasoning for Maleficent’s actions without excusing them. The film shows quite clearly that cursing Aurora was The Wrong Thing To Do. I was a little afraid the movie would just make up a whiny backstory and turn one of Disney’s greatest villains into an overly tropey tragically misunderstood victim. Nope. Instead, she’s a complex character who makes mistakes. Bravo, Disney.
While it is a beautiful experience, the movie lacks thematic direction. Is it about the nature of love? The strength of redemption and change? The power hatred and fear can hold over us? Or is it just about enjoying some popcorn and Angelina Jolie’s razor cheekbones?
In terms of appropriate age range, again, I have to say Maleficent is somewhat unfocused. Parts seemed geared toward a young audience (i.e. the antics of the fairies, the sing-songy female narrator), while other facets of the movie are decidedly more grown-up in tone. I can’t be the only one who saw the taking of Maleficent’s wings as an allegory for rape, can I? In addition, some of the visuals are decidedly dark and scary. Older kids should be fine, but this movie would’ve terrified me when I was little. Then again, Fraggle Rock terrified me, so maybe I’m not the best metric.
Jolie gives the role her all, truly. She revels in her evil smiles, which she has down pat. This movie has flaws, but Jolie is not for a second one of them. She managed to portray a complicated character while wearing prosthetic cheekbones, crazy contacts, and horns. And she did her own stunts. And she helped design Maleficent’s look. And she handpicked Lana Del Rey to sing the theme. I’ll stop fangirling now.
I will say Young Aurora is played by Vivienne Jolie-Pitt, which takes you a bit out of the movie. There’s no mistaking those lips. Also taking you out of the movie is Angelina Maleficent declaring that she doesn’t like children. To one of her six real life kids. Making cameos in the movie are Pax and Zahara (spot them as the only non-white children in the christening scene).
Have I mentioned how ridiculously beautiful the movie was? It honestly might be the straight up prettiest live action movie I’ve ever seen. They did a great job of matching Disney’s original Sleeping Beauty which is particularly impressive, given how stylized that movie is. A lot of the dialogue in the christening scene is taken directly from the animated film. Jolie even managed to match Eleanor Audley’s tone. Sorry I’m really stopping now.
Fairytale Bits and Pieces
The fairies have inexplicably been renamed Knotgrass, Thistlewit, and Flittle. Was that necessary? (No, no it was not.)
Knotgrass is played by Imelda Staunton, who still looks like Dolores Umbridge in all that pink.
In the original Disney movie, Princess Aurora gets the gift of beauty and the gift of song. Here, song is replaced by the much more sensible gift of happiness.
The song that plays over the credits is a cover of “Once Upon A Dream” sung by the aforementioned Lana Del Rey. It’s a hauntingly beautiful update to the Disney classic. I’ve been listening to it for months.
Maleficent has a buddy cop sort of thing going on with her raven, Diaval, which is quite amusing.
two and a half out of three once upon a dreams
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What makes these characters compelling isn’t their sentient spell books, flying broomsticks, or poisonous apples. No, witches endure because they channel an unceasing appetite for cruelty: a willingness to destroy whatever stands in the way of their desire and an eagerness to sacrifice whomever it takes to prove undying devotion to their own wickedness.
Along the way, they faced numerous challenges and setbacks, but their unwavering spirit kept them going. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, they reached the witch's lair deep in the heart of an eerie forest. The air was thick with anticipation as they prepared for the final showdown. With hearts pounding, they burst into the witch's lair, ready to face their fears head-on. The battle was fierce and intense. Spells were cast, potions were thrown, and swords clashed. The villagers fought with all their might, fueled by a burning desire for freedom and relief from the witch's malevolence. Finally, after a grueling struggle, the witch was overpowered and brought to her knees. As the villagers finally began to breathe a sigh of relief, they knew that their lives would never be the same again. The maleficent witch, who had haunted their nightmares for years, was finally defeated. The dark cloud that had hung over their land had lifted, and a newfound sense of peace and hope enveloped the village. Years later, in the very spot where the witch had met her demise, a beautiful garden bloomed. The villagers had turned the once-dreaded lair into a place of tranquility and harmony. The memory of the maleficent witch began to fade away, replaced by a gratefulness for the courage and unity that had led to her downfall. The tale of the maleficent witch serves as a reminder that no matter how powerful evil may seem, it can be conquered. It takes bravery, determination, and the strength of a united community to overcome the darkest forces. And so, in the land far away, the maleficent witch is six feet under, her reign of terror a thing of the past..
Reviews for "Farewell to Darkness: The Maleficent Witch's Funeral"
- John Doe - ★☆☆☆☆
"The Maleficent Witch is Six Feet Under" was a complete disappointment for me. The story lacked depth and was filled with clichés. The characters were one-dimensional and their actions were predictable. The writing style was also very bland and unengaging. Overall, I found this book to be a waste of time and money.
- Jane Smith - ★★☆☆☆
I had high hopes for "The Maleficent Witch is Six Feet Under" but it fell short of my expectations. The plot had potential, but the execution was lacking. The pacing was slow and there were too many unnecessary subplots that didn't add much to the overall story. Additionally, the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. It's a shame because with better editing and development, this could have been a much better read.
- Samantha Johnson - ★★☆☆☆
I couldn't get into "The Maleficent Witch is Six Feet Under" at all. The characters were flat and unrelatable, and their motivations were unclear. The writing style was also monotonous and didn't grip my attention. The two-dimensional worldbuilding left much to be desired, and the plot twists were predictable. Overall, I found this book to be uninspiring and forgettable.
- Michael Thompson - ★☆☆☆☆
"The Maleficent Witch is Six Feet Under" was a complete letdown. The story was disjointed and confusing, making it difficult to follow. The characters were poorly developed and their actions didn't always make sense. The pacing was also inconsistent, with slow parts that dragged on and rushed parts that left me feeling lost. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a well-crafted and engaging fantasy read.