Maleficent 3D Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		4.5

Maleficent 3D Blu-ray Movie Review

Even better in 3D.

Maleficent is a modern re-telling of the beloved story from Sleeping Beauty. Produced by Joe Roth (Tears of the Sun, The Great Debaters), the big-budget spectacle is a must-see for Disney fans. A terrific blockbuster achievement starring Angelina Jolie and Elle Fanning.

Maleficient (Angelina Jolie) casts a spell on Aurora (Elle Fanning). The curse will leave her in a sleeping state until true love's kiss can break the curse – only Maleficent doesn't believe in true love existing. Yet as the story unfolds the action and mystery weaves in to the story (and new surprises are in store). Can the curse be broken and Aurora be the key to saving her kingdom?

The performances by Angelina Jolie and Elle Fanning are outstanding and provide the film with a good foundation to build upon. The performers are at the top of their game in this family-friendly adaptation. Jolie was a pitch-perfect choice for the leading role of Maleficent while Elle Fanning is delightful as Aurora. The casting by Lucy Bevan (An Education, The Old Guard) was spot on.

The production design by Dylan Cole (Avatar sequels) and Gary Freeman (Tomb Raider, Allied) is layered and complex. The designs are full of creativity and life. The costume designs by Anna B. Sheppard (Captain America: The First Avenger, Schindler's List) also enhance the film nicely: especially the outstanding design for Maleficent herself.

A must-see performance by Angelina Jolie.

The cinematography by Dean Semler (Dances with Wolves, Apocalypto) is beautiful throughout the production. The lush visuals enhance the storytelling. Semler manages to convey both moments of lightness and darkness with the lens. The effort has a profound impact on the storytelling.

One of the best elements of Maleficent is the original score composed by James Newton Howard (The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable). Howard, one of the leading Hollywood composers, is a gift to cinema: an outstanding artist who delivered breathtaking music for the production. The score explores both the darkness and beauty of the tale with elegance and sincerity.

The screenplay by Linda Woolverton (Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King) provides Maleficent with entertaining action scenes and impressive characterizations. The script flows well and never seems to run out of steam. The story is beautiful and there is something wonderful about how creative it is with adapting the original Sleeping Beauty tale.

Robert Stormberg (Dawn, Relativity) capably directs Maleficent and brings it a sense of epic scale and scope. The action scenes were wonderfully exciting. The dramatic moments are tense and relevant. A great effort that hits all the right notes. Disney struck a perfect balance with Maleficent. A must-see.

(For additional information on the feature-film and an alternate take, please refer to the review by my colleague Martin Liebman.)

Maleficent 3D Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on 3D Blu-ray from Disney, Maleficent is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 MVC encoded high definition in the theatrical aspect ratio of 2.40:1 widescreen. 3D enthusiasts won't want to miss this exceptional presentation. The 3D Blu-ray release has a high bit-rate 41.80 mbps encode. The 3D implementation is outstanding throughout the feature-film presentation.

Maleficent has a nice balance of subtle pop-out effects and added depth. The increased depth makes the experience an essential view on the format. For anyone equipped with 3D televisions and/or projectors, the 3D disc is a must-see. The level of clarity and detail in the presentation is superb. There were no issues with ghosting throughout the presentation. Stunning clarity (even during dark scenes) make it essential viewing.

Maleficent 3D Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented with a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround sound presentation. The lossless audio is encoded in 24 bit high-resolution. The clarity of the audio track is exceptional and the added resolution makes the experience all the more riveting. Dialogue is crisp, clear, and easy to understand throughout the presentation. The original music score by James Newton Howard is brought to life with great vitality. The sound effects are well implemented in to the presentation. Outstanding.

Maleficent 3D Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The release includes the same supplemental features provided on the 2D Blu-ray disc (reviewed here). The 3D disc does not include any additional supplemental features and utilizes the disc space for the encoding to have more breathing room.

Maleficent 3D Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Maleficent is a must-see in 3D. The classic tale of Sleeping Beauty has been re-told with a new perspective. Angelina Jolie and Elle Fanning are perfect in their respective roles. The 3D presentation is outstanding (with layers of terrific depth) and the audio presentation is no slouch. Highly recommended.