Sleeping Beauty (A or 4/4 stars)
In 1959, Disney produced this lavish, dare I say "perfect" animated faerie tale, the most expensive cartoon ever made up to that point (budgeted at $6 million). But no matter, it went on to make over $21 million; becoming the 2nd highest grosser of the year, behind Ben Hur. So let's review the plot. The King & Queen of a faraway land happily celebrate the birth of their 1st & only daughter, Princess Aurora. The young Prince Phillip, who is betrothed to the baby, and 3 good faeries (Flora, Fauna, & Merryweather) join the lavish celebration. But when wicked faerie Maleficent finds out that she wasn't included in the ceremony, she blasts into the castle & angrily casts a spell on the baby Princess. The spell: when she turns 16, she'll prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel ... and die.
The 3 good faeries - try as they might - can't remove the spell, but they change it from 'death' to a deep sleep from which Aurora can only be awakened by true love's 1st kiss. For her optimal protection, Aurora is sent to live with the 3 good faeries deep in the woods in a cottage 'til her 16th birthday. The faeries swear-off of using magic because that would lead the evil Maleficent straight to the princess. Aurora (called Briar Rose, not knowing who she really is) grows up comfortably, meets the Prince by chance and, well, they fall in love. The 3 faeries can't believe that they met; and work hard to prevent the prophecy from following through.
But just as ordained ... Aurora can't escape the spell. Though the King & Queen had banished every spinning wheel from their kingdom, Maleficent conjures one, lures Aurora in, she pricks her finger, & falls into the deep slumber that can last 100 yrs. Maleficent, with aid from her pet raven, also captures the prince, but the faeries launch an all-out plan to help him escape {great scene!}. But in one last ditch effort, Maleficent turns herself into a fire-breathing dragon; setting out to stop the Prince from reaching Aurora for good. Phillip is forced to defeat her in one-on-one combat ... if he can.
This Disney animated feature is a classic. I am an adult. I loved the movie as a child. I love it as an adult. And I don't know many adults who don't love it. Whether it's enjoying the little squabbles btwn. the 3 good faeries, or ooh-ing & ahh-ing at the GORGEOUS eye-popping colors and details of in the animation; or cowering in fear at annnngry Maleficent (with her creepily horned attire); or swooning at the romance elements ... there is something for everyone. I also like that the movie smartly, smoothly handles the theme of a young girl transitioning into adulthood. And, of course, there's the timeless theme of love conquering all.
The film doesn't take a wrong step. Funny enough, for all the beautiful images, iconic music (adapted from Tchaikovsky's exquisite ballet), & the pyrotechnic climax with the dragon ... I think my favorite scene is one of the smaller, quaint ones: watching the 3 faeries bustle & bicker while trying to bake a cake & make a cohesive uni-colored dress for Aurora. It's just a wonderful scene. Another great follow-up scene to that: one where Aurora's dress keeps changing color due to each of the good faeries wanting it to be the color that THEY love {haha}. 'Sleeping Beauty' also contains several memorable original songs that sound lovely to the ear. Ummm, haha, what more can I say? I could go on & on about the charms, intelligence, beauty, & magic that is on display in 'Sleeping Beauty'. But I'll stop here.
The 3 good faeries - try as they might - can't remove the spell, but they change it from 'death' to a deep sleep from which Aurora can only be awakened by true love's 1st kiss. For her optimal protection, Aurora is sent to live with the 3 good faeries deep in the woods in a cottage 'til her 16th birthday. The faeries swear-off of using magic because that would lead the evil Maleficent straight to the princess. Aurora (called Briar Rose, not knowing who she really is) grows up comfortably, meets the Prince by chance and, well, they fall in love. The 3 faeries can't believe that they met; and work hard to prevent the prophecy from following through.
But just as ordained ... Aurora can't escape the spell. Though the King & Queen had banished every spinning wheel from their kingdom, Maleficent conjures one, lures Aurora in, she pricks her finger, & falls into the deep slumber that can last 100 yrs. Maleficent, with aid from her pet raven, also captures the prince, but the faeries launch an all-out plan to help him escape {great scene!}. But in one last ditch effort, Maleficent turns herself into a fire-breathing dragon; setting out to stop the Prince from reaching Aurora for good. Phillip is forced to defeat her in one-on-one combat ... if he can.
This Disney animated feature is a classic. I am an adult. I loved the movie as a child. I love it as an adult. And I don't know many adults who don't love it. Whether it's enjoying the little squabbles btwn. the 3 good faeries, or ooh-ing & ahh-ing at the GORGEOUS eye-popping colors and details of in the animation; or cowering in fear at annnngry Maleficent (with her creepily horned attire); or swooning at the romance elements ... there is something for everyone. I also like that the movie smartly, smoothly handles the theme of a young girl transitioning into adulthood. And, of course, there's the timeless theme of love conquering all.
The film doesn't take a wrong step. Funny enough, for all the beautiful images, iconic music (adapted from Tchaikovsky's exquisite ballet), & the pyrotechnic climax with the dragon ... I think my favorite scene is one of the smaller, quaint ones: watching the 3 faeries bustle & bicker while trying to bake a cake & make a cohesive uni-colored dress for Aurora. It's just a wonderful scene. Another great follow-up scene to that: one where Aurora's dress keeps changing color due to each of the good faeries wanting it to be the color that THEY love {haha}. 'Sleeping Beauty' also contains several memorable original songs that sound lovely to the ear. Ummm, haha, what more can I say? I could go on & on about the charms, intelligence, beauty, & magic that is on display in 'Sleeping Beauty'. But I'll stop here.