Growing up, I loved all things Sleeping Beauty. I loved the magic, the fairies, the wood cutter’s cottage, and the Sleeping Beauty castle. 
More importantly, I loved Maleficent. I think we can all agree that she’s one of the best Disney villains, but yet we knew almost nothing about her aside from her unique headwear and her disdain about not being invited to a baby shower. 
But why did she bestow such an awful gift on a helpless baby? Where does her hatred for Aurora come from? And why on Earth would she trust a crow to be her eyes and ears in going about her evil plans?
Clearly, there was more to know about Maleficent, so I was thrilled when I heard of the new Disney movie by the same name so I could finally get some answers. And, from the very first Maleficent movie preview, I knew I needed to see it as soon as I could. I got my chance a few nights ago during the Seattle press screening, and I was even more blown away by the movie than I had anticipated. 
It had the same feel as the 50s classic in terms of imagery with the lush landscapes and darker feel, but because it is in live action instead of animation, it seems even more amazing. They add in a touch more magic and quite a few more fanciful characters than the original film, which normally I'm not a fan of. But in this case, I think it works well with the main characters and follows nicely from the original film.
In the interest of not giving any direct spoilers and ruining the surprises in store, I’m going to do something I never do and paste the whole movie synopsis so you can get a better idea of what the movie is about.
Maleficent explores the untold story of Disney’s most iconic villain and the elements of her betrayal that ultimately turn her pure heart to stone. Driven by revenge and a fierce desire to protect the moors over which she presides, Maleficent cruelly places an irrevocable curse upon the human king’s newborn infant Aurora. As the child grows, Aurora is caught in the middle of the seething conflict between the forest kingdom she has grown to love and the human kingdom that holds her legacy. Maleficent realizes that Aurora may hold the key to peace in the land and is forced to take drastic actions that will change both worlds forever.
Maybe you would prefer to watch a trailer?
As dark as the previews are, it should be noted that the film is rated a family-friendly PG. During our Disneyland trip this spring we got to see a bit about Maleficent and my 5 year old fell in love with it. However, she convinced herself that it was, ‘probably too scary for a 5 year old, but definitely not for a 6 year old”, so she keeps talking about how excited she is for her birthday. Well, after watching it myself I am absolutely positive that she would be fine watching it, which she is thrilled about. 
My son's Maleficent shield and sword were a huge hit in Disneyland.
We have plans to watch it with her as soon as it's out on DVD, but we might just see it again in theaters just because. With all the gorgeous scenery and cinematography, I'm sure I missed a ton in just the one viewing, so I'm very much looking forward to watching it again to see what slipped by me the first time.
Find out more about the movie on the Maleficent movie website and be sure to like MALEFICENT on Facebook, follow @MALEFICENT on Twitter, and YouTube.
MALEFICENT is rated PG and is now playing in theaters everywhere! Want even more Maleficent fun? Check out this awesome Maleficent horns headband tutorial on As the Bunny Hops.
I’ve been wondering if my kiddos were old enough for this movie, but now I’m thinking of giving it a try!