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| Lowest Recommended Age: | Kindergarten - 3rd Grade |
| MPAA Rating: | G |
| Profanity: | None |
| Nudity/Sex: | Kiss |
| Alcohol/Drugs: | None |
| Violence/Scariness: | Scary bad fairy/dragon |
| Diversity Issues: | None |
| Movie Release Date: | 1958 |
| DVD Release Date: | October 7, 2008 |
Disney has beautifully restored one of its most treasured classics, “Sleeping Beauty,” in honor of its 50th anniversary.
The King and Queen happily celebrate the birth of their daughter, Princess Aurora. The young Prince who is betrothed to the baby and three good fairies, Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather, join the celebration. But wicked Maleficent, a bad fairy, is enraged when she is not included. She arrives at the party to cast a spell on the baby Princess. When she turns 16, she will prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel, and die.
The good fairies cannot remove the spell, but they change it from death to a deep sleep from which Aurora can be awakened only by love’s first kiss. The King and Queen try to protect the princess by sending her off with the good fairies to live in a tiny cottage in the woods until her sixteenth birthday is over. They cannot use their magic powers because it would lead Maleficent to the princess. Aurora (called Briar Rose) grows up. Out in the woods, she meets the Prince, and they fall in love, not knowing they are already engaged. But the fairies prepare for her birthday party and argue about whether the dress they are making for Aurora should be pink or blue, and cannot resist using their magic. Maleficent discovers where they are and is able to make Aurora prick her finger and fall into a deep sleep. Maleficent also captures the prince to make sure he cannot break the spell. After the fairies help him escape, Maleficent turns herself into a dragon to stop him. He kills the dragon and wakes Aurora with a kiss. At her birthday party, they dance, not even noticing that her dress turns from blue to pink as the fairies continue to argue about the color.
In this classic story, as in “Snow White,” a sleeping princess can only be awakened by a kiss from the prince. Psychiatrist Bruno Bettelheim and others have written extensively about the meaning of these stories, and the ways in which they symbolize the transition to adulthood and sexual awakening. Bettelheim’s theory was that such fairy tales begin to prepare children for developments they are not ready to assimilate consciously.
There is no reason to discuss this interpretation with children, of course. But it is worthwhile to talk with them about Maleficent, one of Disney’s most terrifying villains, and why her bitter jealousy makes her so obsessed with vengeance. Is that what she really wants? Isn’t she doing exactly the opposite of what is required to achieve her real goal, acceptance? Children also enjoy the little squabbles of the three good fairies, which may remind them of arguments with their siblings.
NOTE: The Blu-Ray DVD includes a bonus “regular” DVD for families who have not yet switched to Blu-Ray but plan to in the future.
posted October 6, 2008 at 10:43 am
I have found these movies are a good introduction to discussions about bullies. Though the vocabulary can get a bit over the kids heads, discussions about obsessions also can be beneficial. When a kid finds themselves to be the singular target of another kid whose only goal is to make the first kid miserable – they find some hope in stories like this. The thing to avoid is false heroes and misguided hope for some prince to come to their rescue. On the other hand, I have discovered once in a while that there is a kid off to the side who is quite willing to step in and help.
The psycho/sexual stuff liek Bettelheim’s is interesting in the abstract – sort of like talking about Spielberg’s continual fascination with parental abandonment (especially in his earlier films). But for most of the demographic for these Disney films it is simply about victims and rescue – and viallains appearing larger than they are.
posted October 8, 2008 at 11:47 am
This is my favorite Disney movie of all time. I remember I was a little girl, and my dad took my younger sister and me to see this at the Hippodrome Theater in Baltimore, Maryland. We loved it! and it was a luxury then because I know my parents did not have a lot of money. But the memories are priceless! Afterwards, my dad made us hats out of brown paper grocery bags, that looked like the hats the fairies wore. Happy, wonderful memories. I am going to buy the movie just for this reason alone. Thank you!
posted October 8, 2008 at 1:37 pm
I love your comment, Carol! My husband and I both considered this one of our childhood favorites and we are thrilled with the new release.
posted October 10, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Thank you, Nell. So neat that your husband considers it one of his favorites, too! I can’t wait to see the movie again.