![]() This was the intent behind Disney’s Maleficent, and the mechanics are used again here, making the plot twist blatantly predictable and disappointing. To add onto the already problematic narrative, screenwriter Ashleigh Powell follows the new Disney agenda of turning what they view as stereotypical villains into the misunderstood heroes while characters who were once beloved heroes into diabolical, heartless villains. On that front, the film fails to engage with the audience on a narrative level, and thus becomes a magical missed opportunity. ![]() Yet when considering all past Disney films, specifically the much-debated and mocked Disney princess films, even though the audience knew that the end would be happy, it would worry about whether Ariel would get her voice back, whether Pocahontas would be able to save her tribe, whether Mulan would be able to save China because the challenge was evident and it was not easy. ![]() Unfortunately, the audience never fears for Clara’s safety, nor ever doubts that Clara will survive in the end. Witnessing a character trying their hardest to achieve their goal, and along the way winning some, and losing some, is why audiences go to the movies – they want to feel some form of emotional catharsis. This is not only harmful to stories with female protagonists, but it is also painful for the audience because of lack of engagement. For you see, Clara is another in a long line of female protagonists that seem to be good at everything from the moment they appear on screen, and though at the surface that might not seem like a negative, at its core, any character, regardless of gender, that is not challenged throughout a film and continuously succeeds is a rather dull character to cheer for. Not to mention, the two minor challenges that come her way at the beginning of the film, and then throughout the second act, that Clara seems to overcome without even breaking a sweat. Yet, aside from the scientific ramblings, Clara is pretty much no different – and the audience does not get any other character to compare Clara to. When the audience first meets Clara, she is rambling physics to her younger brother as they set up a trap for a tricky mouse, and then the audience is told and retold how smart, special, and how Clara is unlike anyone her age. The film follows a young Clara who is whisked away into adventure via the help of her godfather, Uncle Drosselmeyer, much like the original classic tale, yet everything that comes after gets a predictable formulaic rewrite, though that may not have been what screenwriter Ashleigh Powell intended. The problem with the film does not lie with the visuals, but with the execution of the narrative goes from magical realm to old forgotten toy. The problem with the film does The Walt Disney Company’s latest film’s marketing has been almost non-existent, with Disney seemingly pushing the film into a toy chest and sliding it under the bed, for fear of an unimpressive box office run. The Walt Disney Company’s latest film’s marketing has been almost non-existent, with Disney seemingly pushing the film into a toy chest and sliding it under the bed, for fear of an unimpressive box office run. And then they made one of the key plot points the total cliche "all you need is inside of you." Could you possibly shoot anymore for the common denominator with that one? This movie makes it hard to point out anything they did right, which honestly may just be the fact that Morgan Freeman is in it. ![]() And I understand trying to "shake things up," and giving a classic a new feel, but who greenlit the idea to make the mouse kind not a mouse but a swarm of mice that collectively together make one giant mouse.AND THEN MAKE HIM AN ALLIE IN THE END?! Ban that man from cinema altogether. Where was the wonderment.the magic that made you feel like a kid again that this story brings with it? Much like Wrinkle in Time, they pumped a ton of money into the CGI department with hopes of stunning you with amazing colorful scenes, but forgot to deliver the captivating story to go with it, leaving you with a movie that is better as a baby sensory video. I have trouble even trying to quantify what they were trying to go for this film. Oh Nutcracker, where do I start? This, for me, was a top 3 biggest disappointing movies of the year. ![]() This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. ![]()
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