All in all, Maleficent surprisingly is not a bad movie. At the same time, it is totally unnecessary. Disney clearly tries to take the route paved by the successful musical Wicked, and the formula apparently works. Take a classically evil, reviled character and present him / her in a new light. Certainly it’s true that there are two sides to every story. Yet that’s in no way an implication that both sides are inherently different, or that both need to be voiced. I expected the worst and came out pleasantly satisfied. Don’t mistake that as a recommendation…this is not a great movie. The story flies into your head and right back out as soon as it ends. It’s a rollercoaster experience. You don’t know what to expect, are impressed by a few daring obstacles and stunning sights, and then it’s over and you’re onto the next ride. Maleficent doesn’t resonate, but it entertains, and that’s the least it could have sought out to accomplish.