Maleficent Teaser Hits Internets

I'm not too fond of live-action versions of animated characters - I've not yet bothered to see the Glen Close "101 Dalmatians"!

As a film it may be quite fun, but I suspect it will be necessary to forget the original while watching it, as it has to work on its own merits.

In the original, Maleficent's flesh did not appear overtly green, as the backgrounds behind her were always given a greenish cast, so her flesh looked more grey in comparison. It's a subtle thing, and I think what they've done is better than having her end up looking like the Wicked Witch of the West!

There's something to be said about villains, they have a way of igniting a plot like no one else. It might be worthwhile to see what makes Maleficent so maliciously magnificent. Just for comparison, Doctor Doom is an intriguing character who's not only powerful, but has a Messiah complex. Doom seeks to rule the world because he must rule it, humanity needs him, such is his destiny. Perhaps Maleficent has a backstory that really lays out what makes her tick. Plus, Disney Pictures seems to have gotten itself back on track, with Bolt and Princess - Frog and Tangled. So far, the signs are good. :thumbsup:

That's what I'm hoping for in this movie. Maleficent is one of my favorite villains, and I think it'll be cool to see a story about her.

Yes, indeed, I'm not saying she isn't green, but look at her against the background - the bright green makes her green skin seem more grey, and lighter.



She always has a greenish background - even when she first appears in the castle hall her backgrounds have a greenish cast.



And by candlelight her flesh is even less coloured...



So the effect is more subtle than just green like Margaret Hamilton in TWOZ. The animated Maleficent has a greenish aura, but her flesh looks more cold and uncanny than unnaturally green. To me, at least.

I suspect that for the live-action they didn't want a "false" skin colour that would distract from Maleficent's credibility.

Hmm, vaguely bluish or greenish skin tones. I think someone noticed a similar color on Snidely Whiplash from the Dudley Do-Right cartoons. Perhaps this is an artist shorthand for prison pallor, denoting someone who rarely if ever sees the sun, being cooped away in cold dark places. In real life, such sheltered existence lead to very pale complexions that tended to highlight the bluish veins beneath the skin. Thus, sheltered nobility were called "bluebloods," in the belief that different blood flowed in their veins, as opposed to the crimson stuff in those plebes in the workaday under-the-sun world.

Coupled with the yellowed sclerae, I think the idea is to convey that her spite and wickedness has made Maleficent less human and more mushroom, an unsound mind corrupting an unhealthy body.

I see a fuller trailer is now available, with a nicely sinister version of "Once Upon A Dream" on the soundtrack - click on Maleficent "Dream" for Youtube link.

That rendition of "Once Upon a Dream" is gorgeous.

I came across that trailer yesterday. It definitely makes the movie more intriguing.