Over the past few years, Disney has made a name for itself with live-action adaptations of animated blockbusters. It all started with 2014's Maleficent, with
Robert Stromberg's movie making a whopping $758.5 million at the box office and inspiring countless Halloween costumes for the foreseeable years. As such, it's surprising that a sequel has taken this long, with Maleficent: Mistress of Evil arriving in theaters in a few weeks. While that wait will be hard for Disney fans, the first reactions to the movie have recently hit the internet.
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil celebrated its theatrical premiere last night, attended by the A-list cast including Angelina Jolie, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Elle Fanning. There was also a full house in the theater, leading to some initial reactions arriving on social media. And from the looks of it, the highly anticipated sequel is really going to deliver on heart and action when it arrives.
Zach Johnson seems to have been a naysayer at first, but has turned around when it comes to Maleficent: Mistress of Evil. What's more, he seems to think the movie is among Disney's best live-action sequels. So rather than a color by numbers experience, it looks like the upcoming blockbuster will really deliver for the countless moviegoers heading to theaters.
Forbes contributor Scott Mendelson was similarly surprised by the quality of Maleficent's sequel, praising Mistress of Evil's action in particular. It looks like the House of Mouse is really delivering for thrilling actions sequences in Joachim Rønning's upcoming blockbuster, even being compared to James Cameron's iconic Avatar. As he put it,
The visual effects seem to be a common point of praise for Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, which should excite cinephiles who are planning to shell out the money and see it on the big screen. Another twitter user tweeted out their excitement over the film's quality, in particular the feuds between Maleficent and Michelle Pfeiffer's Queen Ingrith. As she put it:
But all of this early praise for Maleficent: Mistress of Evil doesn't mean the upcoming DC live-action blockbuster is without faults. Because while the visuals and performances are strong, there seems to be some storytelling issues along the way. Another early audience member compared the movie's issues with that of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, saying:
While pointing out the flaws in Mistress of Evil, it doesn't look like they're enough to sink the Maleficent sequel. Most movies have flaws, and the majority of the early reception have been glowing. Luckily, it won't be long before the general public is able to judge for themselves.
Related: Ranking All The Disney Live-Action Remakes, Including Lion King
Another early audience member further highlighted the film's stunning visuals and actions. But another revelation was related to Angelina Jolie, claiming Maleficent: Mistress of Evil proves just how iconic she is as the title character. Check it out below.
But not all of the acting praise goes to Angelina Jolie. Mistress of Evil co-stars Elle Fanning and Michelle Pfeiffer have also been praised for their performances. And with the leads of the blockbuster all women, the Maleficent follow-up is getting positive attention for its inclusion and female cast. As one early audience member tweeted out:
It looks like Maleficent: Mistress of Evil has a lot going for it, and it should be interesting to see if critics' opinions echo the early reactions on social media. But smart money says it'll make money at the box office regardless, arriving in time just for Halloween. What's more, Disney's live-action adaptations typically attract a wide audience, extending to both kids and adults.
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil will hit theaters on October 18, 2019. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.
