Maleficent
Tarah Driver
Miss Hawaii’s Outstanding Teen 2014
Where and with whom did you see the movie?
I saw it at Kahala Theatre 8 with my sister Zoie Driver.
Overall, what did you think?
It was a very intriguing movie! I’ve always loved Wicked because it tells the story of the villain of The Wizard of Oz, so this was a nice adaptation of that sort of angle.
Without giving away the ending, what was one of your favorite scenes?
My favorite scene was when Maleficent first places the curse on Aurora at her birthday party.
Angelina Jolie is so beautiful and brilliant in the darkest but best way. She’s so delightfully evil, I love it!
On a scale of one to four stars, what would you rate this film?
★★. The acting and the cinematography were fantastic, but I feel like the trailer revealed too much of the ending, so I wasn’t genuinely surprised with the way things wrapped up.
What did you think of the cinematography?
Every shot perfectly illustrates Aurora’s golden locks and Angelina Jolie’s cheekbones. (The makeup artistry was stunning, by the way!) The special effects were breathtaking. After Alice in Wonderland and Avatar, I wasn’t sure if there were any more outlandish creatures to be dreamt up, but I guess I was wrong.
Was the message/theme clear?
Yes, forgiveness, revenge and familial love are all key themes of Maleficent. It’s interesting how Disney is starting to promote what some find to be unconventional sources of true love.
Recently, in Frozen, the act of true love that saves Anna is when she sacrifices herself for her sister, and the same unexpected twist appears in Maleficent.
Did it remind you of any other works of film?
I’ve made so many references already! The whole idea of a new take on a classic tale reminds me of Wicked, (although that’s best known as a musical); the creative animals and creatures reminded me of the Alice in Wonderland, Avatar and The Hobbit-type of world.
To whom would you recommend this movie?
I would recommend this movie to anyone who grew up watching Sleeping Beauty (i.e., every and any girl who’s ever considered herself a Disney princess) because the audience gets to see a whole new take on Aurora’s world.
Did any of the actors stand out?
In the film, Angelina Jolie is as prominent as her cheekbones are. I was already a huge fan because of her philanthropic work, but she brought just the right intensity to carry such a strong female lead.
Sharlto Copley also does a great job with King Stefan. He does a great job portraying the madness that comes with greed and revenge.
Did you identify with any of the characters?
As cheesy as it sounds, I really liked Aurora because she was always so blissfully happy, all on her own. At the same time, though, I’m very accident-prone, so I definitely felt for the pink, blue and green fairies.
Did the soundtrack contribute significantly to the film?
Looking back, I don’t really remember any of the songs but the one that played in the credits, so I wouldn’t say so.
What’s your favorite movie snack?
Popcorn with li hing mui powder on top. (Don’t tell my trainer!)
On a different note, what’s new with you?
In August, I’ll be traveling to Orlando to compete in the Miss America Outstanding Teen Pageant. I’m really blessed to have received all the help that I did in entering Miss Hawaii’s Outstanding Teen, and words can’t describe how excited I am to be able to represent Hawaii on a national level!
