I realize that the point of this film was to make Maleficent a more dynamic and relatable character, but I actually liked her better when she was just downright evil in the original Sleeping Beauty film. I wasn't really expecting this overly sentimental take on the story. The special effects were hit or miss--the tendrils of magic as she casts spells, the wings, and the wall of thorns looked great, but I'm not sure why Disney made the pixies and most of the Moor creatures so damn ugly. On a positive note, Jolie as Maleficent was flawlessly elegant and poised, and in the scene that marks her turn toward hate and malice, she's particularly captivating. I'm glad Disney did something new with a popular and well known Disney villainess, but aside from Jolie's performance, it's not all that memorable.