The script is perfectly adequate in carrying along the plot, adding solid emotion, and satisfying Disney nerds, but it’s Stromberg’s vision of Maleficent’s magical kingdom that captivates the most, realized with Avatar-style fullness. And it’s no surprise; Maleficent may be Stromberg’s directorial debut, but the man’s got one of the most impressive visual effects credentials in Hollywood, working on everything from Pan’s Labyrinth to, you guessed it, Avatar. Additionally, his re-tellings of the classic Sleeping Beauty scenes are just grandiose enough to theatrically expand on the originals without overdoing it. The christening/spell-casting scene sticks out particularly, in which the effects, Jolie’s performance, and James Newton Howard‘s score all meld together seamlessly.
The Spinning Wheel