When “Maleficent” came out in 2014, I absolutely fell in love with the film (however, I was also 11-years-old, so it’s not likely that I had a very sound judgment on what makes a good movie). So, when I walked into theaters to see the sequel of one of my childhood favorite movies, I had high expectations, and I was not disappointed.

Maleficent took number one spot on the box office charts within its first week of being released, passing even the famous “Joker,” which spent two weekends on the top after being released for three weeks. This was very surprising considering the popularity of the “Joker.” However, despite mixed reviews, Maleficent definitely deserved a moment in the spotlight.

“Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” picks up several years after the first movie. Aurora (Elle Fanning) reigns over the moors with Maleficent (Angelina Jolie) by her side. However, their happily-ever-after is tested when Aurora is proposed to by Prince Phillip (Harris Dickinson) and talks of union between the humans and the faires.

One of the main things that amazed me right away in this film was the amazing cinematography. “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” blew the first film out of the water when it comes to graphic. Everything within the film was so incredibly detailed down to all the big and little moor creatures to Maleficent’s giant wings. Every scene was so vibrant and beautiful that the characters seemed to popped off the screen. It was mesmerizing, and I was shaking in my seat almost the whole time out of sheer amazement.

Despite negative reviews on the plotline of the film, I thought the storyline contained a perfect balance of conflict, emotion, comedy and deep messages. No screen time went to waste with this movies as each piece contributed to the film in it’s own way.

I loved Angeline Jolie as Maleficent in “Maleficent,” and I loved her even more in “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil.” Her portrayal of Maleficent is one of the best I have ever seen. Every mannerism and tone of voice fit perfectly with Maleficent’s complex character. There is a particular scene where Maleficent is learning how to be polite and smile and it’s absolutely hilarious to watch. Jolie incorporated Maleficent’s comedy, sarcasm, kindness and seriousness all into this one scene which is one of the things that made it so great. This is just one of the many scenes where Jolie’s acting impressed me beyond belief, and I can’t imagine anyone better suited for the role.

Elle Fanning as Aurora adds a youthful tone to the film and provides a beautiful juxtaposition to Maleficent’s darker character. Like Jolie, Fanning’s portrayal of Aurora matches the naive, kind Aurora we all know and love in the 1959 film. However, she adds her own spark to the role that adds so much more depth to the character and changes the animated version for the better.

At this point, I have come across so many bad reviews of “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil,” but none of them changed my mind about the movie. I absolutely loved every aspect of the film and no one can change my mind about it. Although it had its flaws, none of them could cover up the grand magnificence this film was. If you ever get the time, I would definitely check out the movie in the theatre, it’s well worth it.