Maleficent: Mistress of Evil Blu-ray Review

Disney’s 1080p Blu-ray presentation of "Maleficent: Mistress of Evil" is a visual masterpiece, bordering on perfection. The array of bright colors and deeply saturated blacks is mesmerizing, making the film an absolute joy to watch. The rich color palette spans from the luminous moors to the more subdued, earthy tones of the human world, ensuring every scene is vibrant yet natural. The ash-gray hues of the Fay’s island and the deep blacks maintain their integrity without any sign of crush, highlighting the excellent shadow detail. CGI elements, expected to be overdone, impress with their raw detail and seamless integration with live action. Even the digital flowers showcase individual fibers, emphasizing the precision and quality of the CGI.

Colors leap off the screen with remarkable stability and intensity. Whether it's the greenery during Phillip and Aurora’s marriage proposal or Maleficent’s iconic red lipstick against her pale skin, every hue is vivid and true. The film’s textures are extraordinary, particularly in costume details where fabric definition and density are so tangible you want to reach out and touch them. Seams, stitches, and weaves in both digital and real characters’ attire are impeccably rendered, blending seamlessly without any textural inconsistencies. Skin textures are accurately portrayed, showcasing pores, ridges, and even fine hairs in stunning clarity.

The Blu-ray image maintains impressive sharpness throughout, with no significant bursts of noise or compression issues detracting from the viewing experience. While minor compression artifacts might exist in the darkest scenes, they are barely noticeable unless scrutinized closely. Overall, Disney’s 1080p transfer of "Maleficent: Mistress of Evil" stands as a breathtaking testament to high-definition quality, ensuring that every visual element, from the most dynamic colors to the subtlest textures, is presented with impeccable precision.

The 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track on the Blu-ray of "Maleficent: Mistress of Evil" presents a mixed experience. Though it's capable and seamless in surround integration, it often falls short in delivering the full richness and dynamic range expected from modern high-definition audio tracks. Consistent with many Disney releases, the track necessitates a volume boost above reference level to approach an engaging listen. Despite this adjustment, the audio remains somewhat flat, with the low end lacking sufficient punch and weight. In key moments such as Maleficent’s flurry of rage in chapter 6, the audio offers notable activity but disappoints with its limited depth and intensity. Similarly, ambient sounds like a critical waterfall sequence failed to demonstrate natural heft and immersion.

Where this DTS-HD MA track does succeed is in maintaining clarity and fluidity, especially in musical content, which benefits from good front fluidity and effective back channel support. Dialogue is also clean, well-prioritized, and naturally centered, although it too benefits from elevated volume for optimal clarity. While it operates adequately during action sequences like the end battle, which is livelier than other segments, the LFE remains underwhelming, and the overall dynamic range feels constrained. This leaves a generally capable but unremarkable audio experience that lacks the punch and depth to complement the film's visual spectacle fully.

The Blu-ray extras for "Maleficent: Mistress of Evil" offer a well-rounded exploration of the film's behind-the-scenes elements, providing technical insights and engaging content. The "Origins of the Fey" featurette offers a succinct introduction to Maleficent's species, while "Aurora's Wedding" presents a concise yet charming look at the marriage ceremony within the film. "If You Had Wings" delves deeper into the significance of the Dark Fey's wings, combining emotional and visual effects insights. The VFX Reel provides a fascinating comparison of pre- and post-effects shots accompanied by brief interviews. Additionally, viewers can enjoy extended scenes, light-hearted outtakes, and a vibrant music video performance by Bebe Rexha. Each featurette is presented in high-definition, containing both informative and entertaining elements that enhance the overall viewing experience.

Extras included in this disc:

• Origins of the Fey: A brief look at how the movie explores Maleficent's origins and her species.
• Aurora's Wedding: An all-too-quick exploration of the movie's marriage ceremony sequence.
• If You Had Wings: Exploration of how Dark Fey's wings define and support the character emotionally and in flight.
• Maleficent: Mistress of Evil VFX Reel: Juxtaposing pre- and post-visual effect shots with sporadic interview commentary.
• Extended Scenes: The Queen Comforts Aurora and Philip and Aurora Dance.
• Outtakes: Humorous moments from the shoot.
• Music Video: You Can't Stop the Girl performed by Bebe Rexha.

"Maleficent: Mistress of Evil" adeptly builds upon its predecessor, presenting an engaging narrative that delves deeper into the lore of its complex titular character. In stark contrast with Disney’s traditional fairy tale renditions, the film embraces a darker tone suitable for a PG-rated audience, expanding the universe with intriguing twists and narrative complexities. Angelina Jolie reprises her role as Maleficent with even greater nuance, transitioning from a misunderstood anti-hero to a figure seeking self-discovery and reconciliation with her past. The story follows Aurora (Elle Fanning) and her evolving relationship with Prince Phillip (Harris Dickinson), culminating in a fraught familial encounter that leads to disaster, spearheaded by the malevolent Queen Ingrith (Michelle Pfeiffer). The plot briskly navigates themes of love, distrust, and the perennial struggle between light and dark, all while maintaining an energetic pace and visual splendor.

The cinematography and special effects present a visually stunning experience, albeit occasionally at the expense of narrative focus. Set against the backdrop of lush fantastical landscapes, the film’s visuals are rich and immersive, though they sometimes verge on excessive. The movie notably introduces new elements to Maleficent’s backstory, particularly her discovery that she is not the last of the Dark Fey. This revelation deepens the exploration of Maleficent’s character, allowing for significant thematic development centered around identity and belonging. Relationships remain central to the film, especially the poignant bond between Maleficent and Aurora, which underpins much of the emotional weight and drives the narrative to its affecting conclusion.

Overall, "Maleficent: Mistress of Evil" successfully balances its darker thematic propositions with a family-friendly approach, making it an effective sequel that surpasses its predecessor in both story depth and character development. Though it occasionally meanders with its visual grandiosity, the core narrative flourishes as it challenges preconceived notions of villainy and heroism while underscoring underlying messages about love and acceptance.

"Maleficent: Mistress of Evil" emerges as an ambitious sequel that expands the boundaries set by its predecessor. Directed by Joachim Rønning, the film showcases Angelina Jolie reprising her role with commanding presence, supported by a stellar cast including Elle Fanning and Michelle Pfeiffer. The narrative continues to delve into the complex dynamic between Maleficent and Aurora, blending emotional depth with fantastical elements. Though the story sometimes threatens to be overshadowed by its lavish visuals, it manages to stay anchored in character development and intriguing plot points.

Technically, "Maleficent: Mistress of Evil" excels in its Blu-ray presentation. The 2.39:1 AVC encoded image is vibrant and detailed, capturing the lush visual spectacle effectively. Colors are rich, blacks are deep, and the overall clarity is impressive, making for a visually engaging experience. However, the audio, while generally competent with its DTS-HD MA 7.1 track, somewhat underwhelms in comparison to the stunning video quality. The mix is clean but lacks the immersive depth that would have elevated the viewing experience further.

In conclusion, "Maleficent: Mistress of Evil" improves upon its predecessor, offering a fun and visually captivating journey despite some minor narrative and audio shortcomings. The blend of digital effects and heartfelt moments ensures it isn’t merely a factory film, but rather one with genuine entertainment value. The Blu-ray is worth adding to your collection for its picture quality alone, making it a recommended watch for fans of light fantasy and Disney's ever-expanding lore.

Technical Specifications:

• Starring: Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfieffer, Harris Dickinson, Sam Riley, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Ed Skrein
• Directed by: Joachim Ronning
• Written by: Linda Woolverton, Micah Fitzerman-Blue, Noah Harpster
• Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1 AVC
• Audio: English: DTS-HD MA 7.1, French, Spanish DD 5.1
• Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish
• Studio: Disney/Buena Vista
• Rated: PG
• Runtime: 119 Minutes
• Blu-ray Release Date: January 14th, 2020

Recommendation: Fun Watch