Ruqayyah Snyder
Maleficent, starring Angelina Jolie, is a dark retelling of the classic tale of Sleeping Beauty. The film depicts the complexities of good and evil, with violent and disturbing scenes that make it unsuitable for children under 13. Rated M in Australia, Maleficent explores the nature of trauma and its impact on an individual's path, highlighting the struggle to maintain morality in a troubled world. With its blend of live-action and effects, the film offers a psychologically nuanced take on the fairy tale, sparking thoughts on true love and redemption.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Rating | M |
| Plot | Retelling of Sleeping Beauty from the perspective of the villainous fairy Maleficent |
| Main cast | Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Sharlto Copley, Sam Riley, Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple, Brenton Thwaites, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Ed Skrein, Robert Lindsay, Michelle Pfeiffer |
| Themes | Good vs evil, betrayal, revenge, forgiveness, friendship, trauma, destructive factors, love, leadership, diversity, crime, suicide, drug and alcohol dependence, death, serious illness, family breakdown, animal distress, racism, prejudice, violence, disrespect for nature |
| Streaming platforms in Australia | YouTube, Google TV, Apple TV Store, Disney+, Prime Video Store |
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What You'll Learn
Maleficent's rating in Australia
Maleficent, starring Angelina Jolie, is rated M in Australia. The Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) recommends that the movie is unsuitable for children under 13. The film is a dark and violent retelling of the Sleeping Beauty story, depicting the complexities of good and evil. It contains disturbing scenes and themes that may be inappropriate for younger audiences, including violent conflict resolution, betrayal, and revenge.
The film depicts the story of Maleficent, a young fairy who believes in love, peace, and compassion. However, when her human lover, Stefan, becomes consumed by power and greed, she is betrayed and seeks revenge. Maleficent places a curse on Stefan's newborn daughter, Aurora, which serves as the catalyst for an epic battle between humans and fairies.
While some parents have recommended the film for older children and appreciated its lessons on love, leadership, and diversity, others have cautioned that the film is too scary and gory for younger viewers. The film's sophisticated storyline and special effects have received mixed reviews, with some critics praising its blend of live-action and CGI, while others found it uncertain in tone.
The sequel, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, continues the exploration of complex themes, including violence, death, family breakdown, and prejudice. It is rated M in Australia, with the ACCM recommending parental guidance for viewers under 15.
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Violent and disturbing scenes
Maleficent is a fantasy adventure film that reimagines the fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty. It is rated M in Australia, with violent and disturbing scenes and themes that make it unsuitable for children under 13. Parental guidance is strongly recommended for children between 13 and 15.
The film contains several intense battle scenes, including a fight between knights and tree people, and a dragon that sprays fire and injures knights. Maleficent's wings are severed, and she has a strong reaction to the loss. She also builds a wall of living vines, which King Stefan's troops set on fire. The vines come to life and fight the men. There are also scenes of Maleficent using her powers to throw knights around and bash them into one another.
In addition to the violent scenes, there are scary visual images that could disturb younger viewers. These include the dark and malevolent use of magic, a huge forest of thorns that comes to life, and the wall of vines that Maleficent creates. Some of the creatures are friendly but look frightening, with vines and shrubs growing off them and holding weapons. There is also a creepy, dark forest with whispery sounds and foreboding music, as well as characters with scary, almost monstrous features.
The film also includes depictions of the death of parents and children or animals being hurt or threatened, which can be disturbing for children aged five to eight. There is also a scene where a fairy is captured and killed during an experiment, and another where a fairy sacrifices herself to save others, which could be particularly intense for younger viewers.
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Parental guidance
Maleficent is a dark and adult retelling of the Sleeping Beauty fairytale. It is a fantasy adventure film that follows the story of the bad fairy Maleficent (played by Angelina Jolie). The film has been rated M in Australia, which means it is recommended for mature audiences only—specifically, those aged 15 years and above.
The film depicts the fluid nature of, and complexities inherent within, the concepts of good and evil. It shows how good people can often follow dark paths as a result of trauma and destructive factors outside of their control. The story of the troubled Maleficent raises a number of issues that parents may wish to discuss with their teenage children, and parental guidance is strongly recommended for younger teens who may be attracted to the film.
Maleficent has a number of violent and disturbing scenes and themes that make it unsuitable for children under 13. These include war, prejudice against those who look different, violence to solve conflict, disrespect for nature, and spreading lies until they are believed. There are also numerous battle scenes between humans and the fae, resulting in mass casualties. Humans are shown to kill fae with iron bullets and arrows, and Maleficent is shot twice and dies before being reincarnated.
Parents should also be aware that the film may contain some scary scenes for younger viewers, including dragons and injuries. While blood is minimal, it is frequent. Additionally, some children may be upset by a scene in which a crow gets caught in a net and is nearly beaten with a bar.
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$29.99 $32.99
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil
Plot
The film follows the story of Maleficent (played by Angelina Jolie), a powerful fairy who is the protector of the Moors, a magical realm neighbouring a human kingdom. In this instalment, Aurora (Elle Fanning), now Queen of the Moors, accepts a marriage proposal from Prince Phillip (Harris Dickinson), which Maleficent initially opposes.
Violence and Scary Scenes
The film contains numerous battle scenes between the humans and the fae, resulting in mass casualties. There are also scenes where humans kill fae with iron bullets and arrows, and Maleficent is shot twice. The Queen also attempts to kill Aurora by throwing her off the castle roof. The film depicts the fae preparing for war, and humans capturing and experimenting on fairies.
Other Themes
The film also explores the following themes: crime, suicide, drug and alcohol dependence, death, serious illness, family breakdown, separation from a parent, animal distress, cruelty to animals, racism, prejudice against those who look different, violence as a means to solve conflict, disrespect for nature, and spreading lies.
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Streaming Maleficent in Australia
Maleficent is rated M in Australia, due to its dark and adult themes and content. It is a retelling of the Sleeping Beauty story, depicting the complexities of good and evil, with violent and disturbing scenes. As such, it is recommended for teens aged 13 and above, with parental guidance for younger teens.
In Australia, the movie is available to stream on YouTube, Google TV, Apple TV Store, Disney+, and Prime Video Store. The sequel, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, is also available on these platforms, as well as on Netflix.
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil continues the story of Maleficent, with new characters and plot twists. It explores the relationship between Maleficent and Aurora, the Queen of the Moors, and her marriage proposal from Prince Phillip. The film also introduces Conall, a creature similar to Maleficent, who takes her to the sanctuary of the fae. The fae, led by Borra, wish to fight humans and use Maleficent's powers for their freedom. The film features numerous battle scenes between the humans and the fae, with violent content and mass casualties.
The Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) has reviewed both Maleficent films, providing details about their classifications and consumer advice. The ACCM helps parents find age-appropriate and enjoyable movies for their children, with specific considerations for the Australian audience.
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Frequently asked questions
Maleficent is rated M in Australia, which is suitable for mature audiences only. It is not suitable for children under 13.
Maleficent is a dark and adult retelling of the Sleeping Beauty story with violent and disturbing scenes. The film includes themes of betrayal, revenge, and fantasy violence that may be unsuitable for younger viewers.
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil is rated PG in Australia. It includes numerous battle scenes between humans and fae, resulting in mass casualties. The film also contains themes of death, family breakdown, cruelty to animals, and violence to solve conflict that may be distressing for younger viewers.
