Maleficent

Disney tweaks the Sleeping Beauty legend for the visually sumptuous tale of Maleficent (a well-cast Angelina Jolie), a good fairy-turned-bad who spends years trying to atone for an act of malice. Her victim is Aurora (Elle Fanning), the daughter of her former love Stefan (Sharlto Copley), who was seduced by power instead of the virtues of Maleficent herself. First-time director Robert Stromberg's visual flair ensures a surreally ravishing spectacle and Jolie delivers a powerful portrayal of a dark fairy godmother wracked with regret.