'Maleficent' Scenes Vs 'Sleeping Beauty'

Cast member Elle Fanning poses at the premiere of "Maleficent" at El Capitan theatre in Hollywood, California May 28, 2014. The movie opens in the U.S. on May 30. REUTERS

"Maleficent" is a dark fantasy adventure film directed by Robert Stromberg and screenplay written by Linda Woolverton (Beauty and the Beast). It is a re-imagining of the classic Disney fairy tale "Sleeping Beauty" with Angelina Jolie playing as Maleficent.

Warning: Spoilers Ahead

"Maleficent" starts off with an elderly narrator saying "Let us tell you an old tale anew and see how well you know it." When "anew" meant changing the premise of the 1959 Disney classic "Sleeping Beauty," critics have their share of opinions and pointed out controversial elements that deviate from "Sleeping Beauty."

The "Maleficent" character played by Angelina Jolie is given a major overhaul according to Hypable. In "Sleeping Beauty" the wicked witch has no backstory. She was simply the evil sorceress who cast a sleeping spell on the baby princess. However, in "Maleficent" this is changed as viewers get to know her life story where they learn how she became evil and feel sorry for her. A scene in the movie tells how when she was still a fairy, she was drugged and her wings cut off from her, which eventually led her to turn evil. When she met Princess Aurora (Elle Fanning) she changes and regains her good side, something that never happened in "Sleeping Beauty."

The christening scene is the highlight in "Maleficent" since it closely followed "Sleeping Beauty" from the action sequence to the dialogue. It is where Maleficent bestows the curse on the baby princess.The only change is the concept of the "true love's kiss" that can break the spell. In "Sleeping Beauty" it is the prince who wakes the princess from a death-like slumber. However in "Maleficent" it is Maleficent herself who breaks the spell.

In "Sleeping Beauty" King Stefan sends the baby princess away with the fairies out of love for her so she can be protected from the curse, which he believes will happen if she stays in the castle. However, in "Maleficent" the king doesn't seem to have much of an attachment to his daughter. A scene shows the king learning that Aurora was alive after all those years since she was sent off from the castle; he gives her a quick hug then sends her off to her room. King Stefan is changed from protagonist to antagonist in "Maleficent." According to Yahoo, he is the peasant who drugs Maleficent when she was a fairy and cuts off her wings to become king.

In "Sleeping Beauty" the three fairies are very adept at being godmothers and taking care of Aurora. In "Maleficent" they are the opposite, who nearly causes Aurora her death on several occasions. It is Maleficent herself who makes sure that the princess doesn't starve to death, according to Yahoo. She also raises the little princess from the shadows for most of her life until they finally meet and spend time together. A scene in "Maleficent" shows Aurora asking Maleficent to step out from the shadows where she was watching and they finally meet. This meeting changed the concept of the "wicked witch" that viewers have been accustomed to since "Sleeping Beauty."

According to Hypable, the "Once Upon A Dream" sequence in "Sleeping Beauty" is one of the most memorable sequences since it is where viewers see the true love between Aurora and Prince Phillip, that would eventually lead to the end of the curse. "Maleficent" however still shows a scene were Prince Phillip and Aurora meet, however it doesn't depict a sure-fire true love, which apparently changed the fairy tale ending of the story.

In "Sleeping Beauty" it is Maleficent who leads Aurora to the spindle that would ultimately fulfil the curse. However, in "Maleficent" it is the curse itself since by this time Maleficent has changed into a good witch.

Of course, the defining scene in "Sleeping Beauty" is when the prince kisses the sleeping princess and breaks the spell. However, this is changed in "Maleficent." The princess remained asleep after Prince Phillip kisses her lips. Worried that she would never see Aurora again, Maleficent kisses the princess on her forehead and surprise, she wakes up. The "true love's kiss" was revealed to be from Maleficent and not from the prince.

The final battle in "Sleeping Beauty" happened between Prince Phillip and Maleficent as she was preventing him to get to Aurora to give her his true love's kiss. In "Maleficent" the battle scene happened after Aurora has awoken and King Stefan had ordered his men to kill Maleficent. In "Sleeping Beauty" Maleficent turns into a dragon however this time it is her loyal servant Diaval who transformed and killed the king's men. King Stefan's fate changed in "Maleficent" since he ultimately died in the battle. Maleficent on the other hand lives and regains her fairy wings with the help of Aurora.