Sleeping Beauty

So the start of this blog came from my winter break starting. I go to a college where our winter break lasts from Thanksgiving until New Years. That's six weeks of nothing to do besides sit inside, out of the freezing cold, drinking and watching movies. When I was home for Thanksgiving I had the bright idea to dig out our old VCR, (we do still have one) and to watch Disney movies. Now I'm had this intense craving to watch Sleeping Beauty for the longest time. I don't know why. So I dug out our recorded VHS tape of Sleeping Beauty and popped it in. My perspective on the whole movie has changed dramatically since I was a child. It's like a completely different movie! I've noticed things I've never noticed before. And that's why I decided to write this blog. To document an adult's perspective on children's movies.

So the movie opens up to a storybook opening and being read aloud. Basically the king and queen of this specific kingdom have been wanting a child for years and years. They finally get a daughter and they call her Aurora, after the dawn. Of course if you've been wanting a child and you finally get what are you going to do? Show her off! The king throws a giant party for the baby and the entire kingdom comes. 

Now I also watched this movie after I got high with my friend, and Jesus the lines in the opening shots are ridiculous. I mean lines of people you see. Disney had this invention called the 'multiplane camera' and it is used in the opening extensively to show all the people that came to the party. Well there's a scene where a knight on a horse starts in the very back on the scene and moves in a diagonal line towards the viewer. Just when you think the knight is going to run into the screen, he veers towards the right. It scared the shit out of me when I was high. 

We learn that King Stefan has invited his dearest friend, fellow King Hubert. It is then revealed to us that Hubert's son Prince Phillip is being betrothed to the baby Aurora. He goes to give her a gift and I absolutely love the look of disgust when he looks at the baby.

I mean I would be if I were betrothed to a newborn.

Then come in the three Good Fairies Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather. Flora being the stout red fairy, Fauna being the thinner (they're all kinda big) green fairy, and Merryweather being the plump blue fairy. They each can bestow one gift upon the child. Flora gives the gift of beauty because this is a Disney movie and she has to be. Cue the psychedelic scene that comes after the gift. Seriously if you put some Jimi Hendrix guitar in the background of the scene it's gold. I recommend muting this scene and playing Purple Haze in the background. Or White Rabbit. Trust me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gR2MFSteRA

Anyways, Flora then gives Aurora the gift of song because again this is a Disney movie. You can't be a a Disney princess if you can't sing! It's like a creed or something. Cue less psychedelic scene after that. Merryweather is about to give her gift to the child when MALEFICENT APPEARS!

Sup bitches.

The door swings open, shit's flying everywhere, lightning strikes the ground, a burst of green flames, and then she finally appears. No need to make a dramatic entrance or anything you're only evil. This lady used to scare me so much when I was younger. I mean she wears devil's horns for god sakes. But now that I watch it as an adult I notice that she is extremely elegant. Not only that but despite her green skin I find her rather attractive. She's lean, she has a smirk on her that's to die for, she just might be the best looking villain in the Disney universe. So Maleficent is wondering aloud why she didn't receive and invitation and Merryweather states that she wasn't wanted. Maleficent plays it off like she isn't mad but then gives her gift to the child. Before the sun sets on Aurora's 16th birthday she will prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel AND DIE! (Legit is how she says it.) Then she disappears. First of all if there is an evil woman in your land why wouldn't you invite her to prevent this very thing from happening? Second of all the spindle of a spinning wheel? You think that being an evil sorceress she could do better.

I'm shaking in my boots.

 Merryweather still has her gift to give to the child. She can't undo the curse, BUT she makes it so she's only asleep and with true love's kiss the spell will break. Then the music cues "FOR TRUE LOVE CONQUERS ALLLLLL!" I don't remember that from my childhood, but Jesus a little much?

So King Stefan burns all the spinning wheels in the kingdom because he's not convinced that spell will work. (FUN FACT: The queen isn't named throughout the entire film and no one knows who voiced her). The Good Fieries are also trying to hatch a plan to foil Maleficent's plan. Flora thinks of turning Aurora into a flower. What? Why the hell would you turn her into a flower? What happens when winter comes? She won't even reach her first birthday! They then declare Maleficent would send a frost and expect them to do something like that. When they mean something like that do they mean something that innocent and stupid? Flora then comes up with a plan how they'll disguise themselves as mortal peasant women and take the baby to the abandoned woodcutter's cottage to raise it for 16 years. My thoughts are it can't be that hidden if it has a name of the woodcutter's cottage. JUST SAYING. So they get rid of their wings and wands, put on peasants clothes, and take the baby into the night.

Sixteen years pass and Maleficent can not find Aurora. She only then realizes her minions are imbeciles since they've been looking for a baby for 16 years. She strikes them all with lightning and I love when she states they are "Disgraces to the forces of evil". As her last hope she asks her pet Raven to go find Aurora. FUN FACT: The Raven's name is Diablo. Cut to the woodcutter's cottage where Aurora appears now called Briar Rose by the Fairies. 

Swoon.

I never noticed this when I was little but DAMN Aurora is hot. She has this, I don't know, girl next door vibe going for her. She's totally unaware she's a princess and she's so unattainable because those faeries let her speak to no one. Her face and body is long and elegant. Her body was inspired by Audrey Hepburn's. She's also blonde which is always a plus on the hot scale. Anyway, besides the point, the fairies tell her to go pick some berries so they can surprise her with cake and a dress on her birthday. They decide to do this without magic and Merryweather is worried. Apparently after 16 years the faeries never learned how to cook or sew. Sureee. Why are they letting her go out in the woods alone anyway when there's an evil sorceress after her? She goes singing throughout the forrest with her woodland friends about finding true love and attracts the attention of PRINCE PHILLIP.

Equally attractive

Prince Phillip is trying to find the source of this voice and in the process gets thrown off his horse. Start the most adorable scene ever. Aurora is bitching about how she doesn't know anyone and the woodland creatures notice Prince Phillip's riding cloak. They dress up in his attire and walk over to Aurora and she is ecstatic.

She starts singing the song "Once Upon a Dream". I LOVE this song. It captures the essence of Disney's 'fall in love at first sight' bullshit that I grew up with. Plus this scene is entirely adorable. Aurora is dancing with the woodland creatures and in the middle of dancing who should cut in? Why Prince Phillip of course. And that look of surprise on her face.

Shit. Where's my rape whistle?

As if dancing with an owl dressed in a cloak wasn't unusual? If an attractive stranger came upon me singing and dancing with the woodland animals I would feel absolutely embarrassed. She's taken aback and her first instinct is run away. Fast. Prince Phillip is just too damn charming and he sings her song, and they dance and cuddle up real close. 

It's okay. We've met before.

I mean when I meet an attractive stranger I instantly cuddle up with them too. So they cuddle and he asks her her name. Apparently the name thing wasn't an issue before. She then realizes that this is a bad idea, gains her senses, and leaves for the cottage. Phillip wants to see her again, and besides having little exposure to men, Aurora is being a total flirt. 

Look at that smirk.

"When will I see you again?" Says Phillip.

"Oh, never. Never!"

"Never?"

"Well, maybe someday."

"When? Tomorrow?"

"Oh no. This evening."

Really, Aurora? 

Cut back to the cottage and the fairies have failed horribly at making a dress and cake. They finally consent to doing magic. In the process Merryweather and Flora get into a fight about whether the dress should be blue or pink. Personally I think it looks better blue. Also if Flora really likes pink that much why isn't her outfit pink? This results in our friend Maleficent's raven finding out their exact location because magic poofs out the chimney. Aurora comes back smitten and then distraught when the fairies tell her that she's a princess and betrothed to a prince. Break it to her gently why don't we? She's not even shocked at the fact that she's a princess, she's more upset she can't see Phillip ever again. I mean I feel like in reality she would be having more issues about her identity. That her whole life was a lie, but no. Instead we get an angsty teen!

Angsty teenagers.

Cut to King Stefan and King Hubert eating to celebrate the soon returned Aurora. Stefan is worrying and Hubert says not to let's get drunk. 

Wait a minute. Drinking in a Disney movie? Why don't I remember this? What the fuck does Skumps mean anyway? The drinking results in a drunken brawl between the two kings, and they make up. The servant who is tending to their needs it sneaking drinks under the table and passes out. 

Awesome.

Phillip comes galloping into the castle saying about how he met his future wife in the forest. In other words someone other than Aurora. Hubert is pissed and freaking out as Phillip rides away to meet Aurora. 

The fairies are taking the depressed Aurora back home. They sneak her inside and make her crown and she instantly starts sobbing. They decide to LEAVE HER ALONE. The sun has not set on her birthday yet and Maleficent is going to make the most of it. She appears in the fireplace puts a spell over Aurora and turns the fireplace into a staircase. I wonder what else Maleficent can do while Aurora is under her spell. Turn her into a sex slave? Anyways, Aurora walk up the stairs as slow as humanely possible and the fairies realize whats going on all too late when Maleficent closes the passage. Despite that the fairies have MAGIC they push on the wall. Really? The fairies of course don't make it and she pricks her finger. 

Maleficent cackles and disappears. The fairies decide to put everyone else asleep until Aurora can wake up. If only she fell in love with someone...

Oh, that guy.

When Flora puts King Hubert to sleep he starts mumbling about Phillip falling in love with a peasant girl. Flora realizes what happened and rushes to the cottage. Maleficent is already waiting there with a trap, and takes the Prince to her castle. The faeries sneak to where she locks up the prince, while Maleficent is revealing her evil plan. She's going to keep the prince locked away until he's old and wrinkly, then let him kiss Aurora to see if true love is real.

Let's see if she'll love your wrinkly face.

The Fairies release him from his bonds, give him a shield and a sword, and off he goes. First he's attacked by Maleficent's minions. Then he escaped the castle on his steed by rainbows (yes, rainbows). Maleficent awakes and tries to kill him with falling rocks and block his way with a giant thorn bush, but it doesn't work. So Maleficent turns into a scary giant dragon summoning the, "powers of hell".  Didn't know you could say hell in a Disney movie. They get into an epic fight with fire, on a cliff. You think Phillip will die but he throws his sword at the dragon and Maleficent dies. 

Phillip runs up into the tower and kisses Aurora who's skin dramatically changes from green to normal. 

You weren't dead were you?

Everyone wakes up and the party continues. Aurora and Phillip walk in and Hubert is flabberghasted. They start to dance Flora and Merryweather fight about the dress color again (FUCKING BLUE) and they end dancing happily together in the clouds.

Now I don't know if you're like me, but I absolutely love to read the "Did You Know?" section on imdb.com's website. I read it for about every movie I watch so I thought I would do it for Sleeping Beauty. Well apparently the story that Sleeping Beauty is based on is not like the Disney movie. I happen to have a collection of Grimms' fairy tales so I thought I would look into it. In the original tale Sleeping Beauty sleeps for 100 years before her prince happens to come by and wake her. Less dramatic. But apparently there's a part two. After they're married the prince never told his mother because she was apparently an ogre. 

Not me, I swear.

Sleeping Beauty and the Prince have two kids and they go visit the ogre mother who wants to cook them and eat them. The cook tricks her but when Miss Ogre finds out she makes a pit with vipers. Then the Prince comes in and the Ogre throws herself in the pit.

Most people don't really like this movie, but even if you don't you have to appreciate it for it's artwork. The backgrounds of the movie are highly stylized and geometric. It's beautiful!

LOOK AT IT.

 I also love the music because it's based off of Tchaikovsky's ballet Sleeping Beauty, and I love Tchaikovsky. I love this movie still today. It keeps you entertained, it's endearing, it's everything you want from a Disney movie with a little extra (drinking and hell saying). The only thing that annoyed me were the fairies. They were just too much. I mean they're in the entire movie. Aurora only speaks 18 minutes in the entire movie. She's in second for main character with fewest lines possible in a Disney movie. I wish Aurora was more involved but she can't help it. No one even told her about this curse and she had no idea she was a princess. All in all I do love this movie. It will hold a special place in my heart always.