Maleficent

Hearing the king’s promise, Stefan returns to Maleficent only in order to betray her, his desire for power darkening his heart. He takes her wings to the king, receiving the crown in return. A few years later, Maleficent, overcome by her hatred of Stefan and her desire for revenge, curses Stefan’s newborn daughter to an eternal sleep that will begin on her sixteenth birthday.

This death-like sleep can only end if the princess receives true love’s kiss—something that Maleficent knows does not exist. But, as Maleficent watches this young princess grow, she realizes that she made a terrible mistake: Aurora’s gentle and joyful spirit may have been the only thing that could unite the kingdom of the fairies and the kingdom of humans. Maleficent must undo the evil that she caused.

There is no profanity to speak of in this movie, and the romance goes no further than a couple of innocent kisses. This flick’s biggest concern for families is certainly the violence. Although bloodless, there are two main battles in this film that are relatively intense for a PG film. The battle scenes are comparable to the battles in Disney’s 2008 film, “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian,” only a bit darker and a bit more intense.

This movie also has a smattering of magic throughout, which can only be expected in a Disney fantasy movie. Although you could consider the magic to be “dark” at times—especially Maleficent’s curse on Aurora—it is clearly presented as evil. Therefore, I would not consider the element of magic in this film to be any more harmful than the magic in the Narnia movies. Several frightening images also make an appearance in this movie, including a scary wolf, a fiery dragon, a character suffering from burns in several places, a pair of glowing green eyes, and the transformation of a crow into a man. Although these violent and frightening elements don’t quite earn this movie a PG-13 rating, I would definitely not recommend the film to families with children under the age of ten. However, be aware that this movie might even be too much for even some sensitive thirteen-year-olds.

On a positive note, however, “Maleficent” is a touching story that examines the consequences of hate and revenge, showing us the corrupting nature of a selfish love of power and the danger of acting in anger. This movie also shows the power of love. Not your average mushy boy-girl love, the love of a pretty face or of charming words. No, this flick differentiates between selfish love and selfless love, championing the latter over the former. This film paints a picture of self-emptying love—a love directed at a pure and joyful heart.

While examining the nature of true love, this movie also examines the nature of the heart. It does so by presenting Maleficent as both a hero and a villain. Like many other recently released Disney films—including Oz, the Great and Powerful and Frozen—Maleficent touches on the mysterious battle that is continually raging on within every human being. It shows how the heart has the shocking tendency toward terrible thoughts and actions. By God’s grace, however, it also has the capacity for goodness, truth, and beauty.

This element of the flick is the perfect material for a family discussion on the nature of man. It reflects the words of Paul in Romans 7:15-25 when he discusses the battle between his sinful nature and the Spirit. In verses 22 and 23, Paul writes, “For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me” (NIV). Maleficent examines this mystery: how one person can be both villain and hero. It shows that the biggest battles are not fought out on a field but in the deepest parts of the heart.

Because of these redeeming elements, the brilliant acting, the exciting plot, and the beautiful cinematography—not to mention a great soundtrack—I would definitely recommend this movie, especially to families who love a bit of action and adventure and who are looking for a good movie to discuss.

There is absolutely no foul language or sexual content either. Some parents may view this film as demonic, as it deals with magic, but not once is the film presented as anything other than a fairy tale. To call a movie demonic simply because there’s magic in it (I’m not referring to the occult here, which is different in that THAT is satanic and demonic) is like saying, “Don’t read The Tragicall Historie of Hamlet Prince of Denmarke because there’s a ghost in it.” It’s a classic work of literature (and continues to be performed on stage and film and taught in schools almost 400 years after The Bard’s death, along with his 36 other plays and poems). Also, The Chronicles of Narnia series by C. S. Lewis has magic in it, but it is not demonic, because it is a Christian allegory.

As usual in Disney animated movies, there is a great message here for young girls (and boys too). I shan’t say what it is, as it would involve revealing a major plot point. Go see it is all I will say. I highly recommend this movie.

In a volatile mix of anger and heartbreak, Maleficent gives into the darkness (her clothing now mirrors her heart) and vows revenge, which she takes in the form of a curse on Stefan’s infant daughter, Aurora. Worried for Aurora’s safety, Stefan sends her away in the care of three pixies. The movie then juxtaposes scenes of growth in opposite directions: Aurora’s innocence and love for others abounds, while Stefan’s paranoia deepens, as he refuses to admit that he has done anything wrong.

However, through Aurora’s love, Maleficent’s heart is softened, and she eventually lets go of the forgiveness that has been poisoning her from the inside out. Her change of heart is obvious at the climax of the movie: when given the opportunity to kill Stefan, she turns away, because love has supplanted the vengeance that had been driving her. However, Stefan is so threatened by her forgiveness, that, driven by a guilty conscience, he tries to kill her and falls to his death. ***END SPOILER***

Another thing I enjoyed was the portrayal of the relationship (or lack of one!) between Aurora and Philip. Finally, a Disney movie that is more realistic about happily ever after! The two were obviously attracted to one another, but they didn’t meet one day and marry the next. There was a sweet, chaste awkwardness that remains at the end of the movie. I got the distinct impression that Disney is encouraging prudence—take things slow, get to know each other, grow up a bit, and THEN get married. What a refreshing, commonsense concept for young girls!

Yes, Maleficent does appear to use magic, but it is not sorcery or witchcraft; she is not summoning dark forces, but rather using her God-given fairy abilities to exert power over nature/people/objects. Her “magic” is much more like a superpower than anything demonic. Sometimes she uses her abilities for good, sometimes for evil, just as any talent can be used.

Also, while I can understand how some could extract an extreme environmentalist message from the movie, that was not my perception at all. The contrast between the beauty and tranquility of the Moors and the scarred lands of the humans seemed like a comparison of proper stewardship versus waste/ill use. Of course, the humans were envious of the Moors, while they were not caring for what they had been given. The parable of the talents comes to mind (Matthew 25:14-30).

I wonder if sometimes I watched the same film as everyone else. Is it a Christian film? Not necessarily. But there sure are some Christian themes. Like redemption and the power of love. That true love might be deeper and broader than a stereotypical handsome prince and pretty princess And even repentance and a change of heart! Even forgiveness. Imagine that! Or how about that not everyone is so black and white? That villains actually have some good in them (image bearers maybe?) and that heroes are tainted (for all have sinned. Hmmm). And that all can be redeemed! Now these are ideas I can get behind!

I think maybe we shouldn’t feel so threatened by a fairy tale. Even one that has a revised twist and surprise ending.

True Love is not dead, because I have found it in my wife. This pleases Adonai, as it does when a man and a woman who love His idea of love know that it is indeed True Love. It is not found in any other combination as strongly as this. Agape love is expressed between a friends, family members, other people made in God’s image, and a Mother for her Daughter. But True Love means something else.

It pictures Jesus’ relationship with his bride, the church. It is the love between one man and one woman. To believe this in your heart is to love what Adonai loves. To hate what He hates means that, if this fairy called “Maleficent” were real, we as Christians would be obligated by the prompting of the Holy Spirit to ask her where she gets her power from. If she were to show us how this and that are done, which look like magic but have no magical symbols involved in her ways, do not communicate with the dead, etc., and are understood as merely scientific phenomena, then she is not demonic. If, however, she does any one of these things, it means that she belongs to Satan.

In the film we are never, truly, given a spotlight into her origins, and can therefore never know about any of this. Although, for a believer to remain in a sober and enlightened state of Christ-like awareness about individuals similar to Maleficent (in displays of power) in our real world is a necessary Christian trait and cannot be taken away from us as much as wings can be taken away from eagles who need them to soar above the chaos and confusion of this world.

That being said, enjoy the special effects and the well-crafted storyline. But I would suggest letting your kids know, at the same time, that Maleficent is not a good role model for anyone to follow. And that we can HAVE pity on someone in her condition without DOING what she did and using our abilities for revenge. Forgiveness and loving our enemies is the key, and a movie like “Maleficent” is a good example to show our kids how exactly non-believers will act: the evil king in betraying and physically harming Maleficent, and the Maleficent in allowing her entire mind to become changed so that she can do evil things to others.

If they want to learn about forgiveness, this is not the film to take them to. As before, I would suggest “The Princess Bride.” While Indigo does, in fact, end up avenging his father’s death, he was defending his life while doing it. Wesley’s situation is different. Wesley forgives Prince Humperdink and chooses not to kill him, or even to injure him… Instead, he let’s him think about his wrong deeds while rescuing his true love from the Prince’s clutches.

Forgiveness is the property of believers, and the world does not understand how to depict this properly, but does so pretty closely when True Love is between a man and a woman.

Think about “Star Wars” and Darth Vader. Seeing him as sweet little Anakin Skywalker softened our hearts toward the evil monster, didn’t it? And think about how Wicked changed the way we viewed The Wizard of Oz. Glinda wasn’t as good as we believed, and the Wicked Witch wasn’t always bad. See the blurred line between what is good and evil? It shakes our foundation and raises doubts about our beliefs. And truly, some beliefs may need to be unlearned. Sometimes paradigm shifts are necessary and good! You decide.

Are “yin and yang” just two sides to the same coin? Are we all a little bit evil and a little bit good? Is this world of duality just an illusion? Or are we to cling to what is good and shun evil? This is something each one of us has to decide for himself/herself. So Maleficent shakes up the status quo, and makes it very clear that the “villain” is also the “hero.” It keeps on shaking our foundation by showing us that the “king” is the true villain that dies in the end, after Maleficent graciously forgives him and chooses not to kill him when given the chance. (His demise was his own doing). Hmm… a king of a kingdom (someone we trust) is the true villain. And the vampire looking lady (someone we wouldn’t trust) is the true hero. Sound a bit shady?

But there’s more here, in the “revision” department. Gone are the days of “Princes” coming to save the vulnerable maiden. That’s all good; I’m sure we’ve rolled our eyes enough at that “happily ever after” nonsense that birthed such things as the “Cinderella Complex.” Instead, now we have “true love’s kiss” being given by the mother figure to the daughter figure. (And let’s not forget, the mother figure looks, and has behaved, like a vampire.)

At first, we clap that the prince didn’t awaken Aurora (Yay! infatuation isn’t true love! Way to go, Disney!) but hold on a minute there. The lady who cursed little Aurora as a baby is now the one to save the day. Not to mention, a woman figure (not a man) saves the woman.

Remember “Frozen”? Same thing happened there. The sister’s love for her sister saved her (not a man). Sure, this is commendable, showing that love sees no gender, and goes beyond the love between a man and a woman. But some see this as a thinly veiled subliminal billboard for glorifying the goddess, making women heroic and triumphant over men, feminism, or even lesbianism. After all, what caused Maleficent to “become evil” was the scorn she suffered by a man who cut off her wings.

Lastly, there’s a psychological discrepancy in “Maleficent.” All psychiatrists say that people who do evil things (narcissists, sociopaths) do them because of an impaired or absent conscience, and are unable to be rehabilitated. This is what we’ve always seen in film, that the “bad guy” is just “bad to the bone.” Do you see how this pattern is changing now? We are being challenged to believe that unconditional love, patience, and a smile can restore monstrous evildoers to virtue; that they are only acting out the hurt they suffered. (Hurting people hurt people).

I’d love to believe the experts are wrong, and that evildoers can change and be healed. I’d love to think that if we are nice enough, patient enough, generous enough, the bad guy in our life will be touched by this unconditional love, and reform. But do you know what this positive thinking actually is? It is the essence of co-dependent behavior. According to the experts, narcissistic personalities and sociopaths lack empathy, compassion, and the ability to self-reflect.

Bottom line? Anyone who is evil enough to curse a baby to its death will never feel remorse. Even after 16 years, and high doses of unconditional love. Do the research about narcissists and co-dependents. You’ll see that it’s no laughing matter, and certainly not a muse for fairy tales.

Of course, it can be argued that Maleficent was not really suffering from sociopathy or Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Perhaps she was just badly hurt, and built a shell around her heart, that was eventually chipped away by a sweet darling that she called a “beast.” Again, that’s for the viewer to decide.

What I’ve offered here is food for thought and a gentle warning. Each of us will always filter everything according to our individual experiences and belief systems.

Parents who continue to let their kids see these extremely demonic witchcraft filled Disney movies should really pray and ask God for guidance, as there are not many Christian movie alternatives to see. The Devil always tales a lie usually wrapped up in miles of truth, so it can be hard to find, this movie, in my opinion, as most if not all the witchcraft filled Disney movies, are bad for all Christians, kids and adults alike, and slowly but surely make us more accepting of the world, witchcraft, illuminati and mason symbolism, not to mention the mind control Disney developed for the government with kids as test subjects.

You can look at almost any grown teen Disney female star and see by their fruits what type of kids they turn out to be as adults, usually foul mouth stripper, lesbian, drug attics, or all of the above, and that is not even mentioning all the claims of pedophilia against Walt and others in the organization, or their refusing to fund the Boy Scouts unless they let flamboyant grown homosexually practicing men to be alone with and lead the Boy Scouts.

Please each parent and child pray on whether you should continue to watch promote and condone Disney or not, not because I say do not, but because the Holy Spirit directs you to or not. God Bless.