History Fridge / Maleficent

* If you really think about it, Stephan could have cured Aurora immediately, the same way Maleficent did, if he wasn't out of his mind with power. Didn't have to be romantic love. But it almost seems to me that Stephan ''didn't'' love Aurora (the only one?), because of the way he barely acknowledges her as a person but rather as symbol of his war with Maleficent, but I'll allow the argument that maybe he loves her in a different way.

* At first it might seem like FridgeLogic that entrusts baby Aurora to the care of Knotgrass, Flittle, and Thistlewit, when they belong to the enemy race of fairies that the human kingdom hates and fears. Even though they brought their magical gifts to Aurora as a peace offering, isn't a bit of a leap from there to placing them in charge of raising and protecting the princess? But then you realize... unlike other human, Stefan ''knows'' the Fair Folk aren't evil. He was once their friend and only switched sides out of greed and ambition. So he knows the three fairies can be trusted, and probably assumes that only Maleficent's fellow fairies might be able to protect Aurora from her.

* Unlike the animated film, Aurora finds out about her curse, and becomes emotionally devastated by the revelation. The curse itself is portrayed as inhabiting her body, best shown when it materializes from her to block Maleficent's good magic; additionally, its main purpose is to put Aurora into an eternal sleep. The film basically interprets the curse as a terminal disease, with Aurora being SicklyAndDelicate.

* Where did the knights get all those chains to overtake Diaval as a dragon? Well, it's possible those chains were meant to hold Maleficent in place so she would be easier to kill. The dragon was just an unexpected surprise, but fortunately for them they still had their riot shields to box her in. Also, considering how they had her under an iron net at the onset of the battle, it's possible the chains and shields were made as backup. The only thing no one took into account was Maleficent getting her wings back

* Maleficent used to be friends with Stefan, meaning she had a much better knowledge of humans than the average fairy; this would explain why she knows how to take care of a human child much better than the three good pixies

* Why is it that only Maleficent can break the curse, when the curse explicitly mandates that Aurora will be loved by all who meet her? One would think that anyone could break it, since everyone loves her. But consider that the fairies, though they loved Aurora, were also neglectful and incompetent guardians; Phillip, despite experiencing LoveAtFirstSight, can't break the curse; and Stefan, though ostensibly a KnightTemplarParent, doesn't actually treat Aurora with affection. True love, then, must be deeper than that. It's formed by a long-lasting bond over a period of years, not mere attraction via magnetic heroism. The curse alone wasn't enough to charm Maleficent: there was still enough goodness in her that true love could blossom even when it could not in others.

* Unlike the animated film, Aurora finds out about her curse, and becomes emotionally devastated by the revelation. The curse itself is portrayed as inhabiting her body, best shown when it materializes from her to block Maleficent's good magic; additionally, its main purpose is to put Aurora into an eternal sleep. The film basically interprets the curse as a terminal disease, with Aurora being an IllGirl.

* Why does Maleficent [[spoiler: turn Diaval into a dragon instead of taking the form herself, like in the classic film]]? Maybe it's because her magic can control and change everything ''except herself''. This could also be why [[spoiler: her wings don't simply grow back when they're taken--aside from being sentient and locked in an iron cage, that is. Since they are a part of her, she can't use her magic to make any effect on them]].

* Where did the knights get all those chains to overtake [[spoiler: Diaval]] as a dragon? Well, it's possible those chains were meant to hold Maleficent in place so she would be easier to kill. The dragon was just an unexpected surprise, but fortunately for them they still had their riot shields to box her in. Also, considering how they had her under an iron net at the onset of the battle, it's possible the chains and shields were made as backup. The only thing no one took into account was [[spoiler: Maleficent getting her wings back.]]

** Stefan doesn't necessarily have to be cold and calculating all his life for this to be a realistic depiction of human downfall. There's no reason to think his friendship as a boy with Maleficent isn't genuine, even if the affection between two hormonal 16-year-olds isn't necessarily True Love. But by his willingness to sacrifice love for ambition, he ''becomes'' cruel, cold, and increasingly paranoid. He doesn't have to be a merciless sociopath to embrace ruthlessness. (He obviously thinks he's being merciful by "only" robbing Maleficent of her wings, but not merciful enough to spare her and lose his chance of gaining royal favor.) In the end, his being as cold and consumed by cruelty as Hans, without even the ability to fake external warmth, is all the worse because he wasn't always this way. [[spoiler:This also makes Maleficent's eventually coming to cast off her own ruthlessness even more meaningful.]]

* The color of Aurora's dresses appear to significantly change throughout the film. When we first meet her as a teen, her primary color is yellow, matching her sunny personality. In the scenes surrounding her sixteenth birthday and her fall-out with Maleficent, proceeding to her falling asleep and the final battle, her dress is blue, which can be taken to represent her emotions (being sad, hurt, and upset). When her and Maleficent are happy once more, she has a golden dress for her coronation. NotSoDifferent from how Maleficent's clothing changes throughout the film.

* Why does Maleficent [[spoiler: turn Diaval into a dragon instead of taking the form herself, like in the classic film]]? Maybe it's because her magic can control and change everything ''except herself''. This could also be why [[spoiler: her wings don't simply grow back when they're taken---aside from being sentient and locked in an iron cage, that is. Since they are a part of her, she can't use her magic to make any effect on them]].

* Stefan is TheSociopath alright, but you never truly get how much until A) he can't show any affection when meeting his daughter after 16 years and then B) when he declares there's no such thing as true love. Then you realize he might have been a sociopath his whole life, and ''he managed to fool a freaking fairy, and the strongest at that, her whole life''. He's more concerned with his survival and power than with his daughter. That puts him on the same level as [[Disney/{{Frozen}} Prince Hans]], who himself is on the same level as bad characters from ''Series/GameOfThrones'' / ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire''. Disney's getting really good at portraying realistic sociopaths.

* This movie is based on the Disney version of Sleeping Beauty, which was told through the perspective of the three good fairies. They viewed Maleficent as a wicked woman who only wants Aurora dead. But in this version, it's told through Maleficent's perspective, and she sees herself as a misunderstood person, whereas the three good fairies are neglectful and superficial. Maleficent never really paid attention to the fairies, so in her version, their names are different and their appearance have changed. The true story of Disney's Sleeping Beauty may be a combination of the two films.
** Except the first film ''isn't'' told from any one character's perspective at all. If it were there wouldn't be scenes where that character wasn't present (since they wouldn't know what was going on). It has an omniscient viewpoint to it.
** And this one is actually narrated by [[spoiler:Aurora]], not Maleficent.

* Stefan is TheSociopath alright, but you never truly get how much until A) he can't show any affection when meeting his daughter after 16 years and then B) when he declares there's no such thing as true love. Then you realize he might have been a sociopath his whole life, and ''he managed to fool a freaking fairy, and the strongest at that, her whole life''. He's more concerned with his survival and power than with his daughter. That puts him on the same level as [[Disney/{{Frozen}} Prince Hans]], who himself is on the same level as bad characters from ''Series/GameOfThrones'' / ''ASongOfIceAndFire''. Disney's getting really good at portraying realistic sociopaths.

* Maleficent used to be friends with Stefan, meaning she had a much better knowledge of humans than the average fairy; this would explain why she knows how to take care of a human child much better than the three good pixies.

** Alternately, his brusque dismissal of Aurora when she arrived at the castle may have been his deliberate refusal to "meet" her at all, because he'd already written off any hope of salvation for her and thus, didn't want to let himself be subject to the "beloved by all who meet her" clause. He's lasted sixteen years not letting himself give a damn about Aurora; he's not going to let himself start caring if she lives, dies, or sleeps forever now.