Sleeping Beauty
Recommended. Age: 6+. A Catholic review of this movie for parents.
Our review
A wicked fairy named Maleficent puts a curse on baby Princess Aurora. Three good fairies hide her in the woods to keep her safe. When the curse comes true, brave Prince Phillip fights a dragon to save her. This is a true fairy tale, told with great beauty. Evil is real and names its own source, and it loses to a prince who carries a Sword of Truth and a Shield of Virtue. The magic is story-world magic. The dragon fight is the scariest part.
For parents
Rated G. Common Sense Media says 5+. The Raising Children Network says 8 and up and not for under 7s, because of the scary scenes. The Decent Films age line could not be retrieved. Maleficent is a frightening villain. She kidnaps the prince, and her goons rough him up in shadow. She turns into a fire-breathing dragon, and the prince nearly falls from a cliff before his sword strikes her down. She speaks of 'hell' when she calls on her powers. Two kings toast with wine and a minstrel gets drunk and slides under the table, played for laughs. Tell your children that Maleficent's power is real in the story but it is not the strongest thing in it. Ask: what do the fairies give Phillip to fight with, and what is on his shield? Why can truth and virtue beat a dragon? Who in the story gives up something to keep Aurora safe?