I am leaving for Dublin on Thursday (with a literal pit stop in Paris) and I though I’m sure I would not have gotten that much accomplished tonight, I walked away from responsibilities and went to wing night with my family, and then to see Malificent with Allison. I did not really care to see the movie, but I really care about Allison.

Normally, the lit person in me comes out more than the film person in me when I watch adaptations; what I mean is that I “allow” a certain amount of creative license, but usually rankle when the screenplay grosses alters the original text.

Not so with Malificent. The changes from the original are huge and there are many, but…I applaud without having to forgive. Rather than call the changes absurd, uncalled for, simply too much, I’d call these changes brave and bold. This film retells a classic fairytale and had me on the edge of my seat. How does that happen? The twists away from the original while respecting so much of the original.  This story is told with integrity. From the beginning we are about to be told a story we think we know; this “true” version seems truer in many ways.

I don’t want to spoil this for others—I knew nothing about the movie going in (other than what I thought I knew) and part of my pleasure would have undoubtedly been weakened if I had expected certain moves.

Malificent is a feminist take on a classically sexist plot line.  Armies of men go up against Malificent, who has Nature on her side (think of scary green 9 foot tall men whose faces are the roots of huge trees). That’s a lot of power.

I have felt nothing but ambivalence for Jolie, even way back when she was wearing Billy-Bob-Thorton blood vial necklaces or raiding tombs as avatar Laura Croft. I don’t love her, hate her, or love to hate her.  But this movie made me change my opinion. She’s damn good. Her impassive face. How much she says with her eyes. Applause, applause, applause.

Maybe all of this love for the film has to do with (spoiler alert!!!) Mother Love, but I don’t care. I saw the movie with my daughter because my daughter wanted to see it. My act of love rewarded me back.  It’s nice when that happens.