Girls of Geek B Movie Review: Sleeping Beauty (2014)

Written by Scotty

It is hard to change the thinking that has been laid into us over the years, whether someone taught it to us, or even the stories we have been told as children.  Even if we are able to find a way to change these old tales, would anyone be willing to accept the change, as they have heard it the same way for many years as well.  Since fairy tales have a very powerful reputation, you may not be able to change the ones that are already out there, but you may be able to create one of your own.

King David and Queen Violet have just had their first child, Dawn.  As the royal family requested, the fairies in their kingdom have come to bless their new family addition, but they were not the only guests with special powers that arrived.  Queen Tambria makes a special appearance to bless the royal baby as well, but her gift is a curse as she feels disrespected by the royal’s after her home had been taken away. 

Cursing the child to death on her 16th birthday, the fairies were not able to lift the curse, but add stipulations to it before they were destroyed.  Making sure that Dawn and her kingdom were protected, the fairies were able to allow the people to sleep, rather than die.  Upset by this, Tambria had to wait many years to make her curse come true and tricked the family into believing it was young Dawn's 16th birthday several days before it was, she inherited a sleeping kingdom and would rule unopposed for the next hundred years. 

After Tambria takes the throne, Barrow, the prince’s whipping boy is being tormented once again by his prince and friends when he finds old letters written by someone.  Being informed about the myth of Sleeping Beauty, Barrow wants to go out on his own to find the young maiden and save her, but his prince has a different idea.  Prince Jayson will never inherit the throne with his father’s distrust of him, and hears the legend as well and will put his life on the line to get some respect and a kingdom from this slumbering beauty.  Taking his men and whipping boy Barrow, Prince Jayson treks to this old cursed castle to claim what is rightfully his.  Not knowing what to expect, for no one has ever returned from the castle, the group is tortured by the Queen of the napping kingdom and their inner strength will be put to the ultimate test. 

Sleeping Beauty is a story about young Barrow and everything he has to overcome just because of his social status.  Being the prince’s whipping boy is no easy task, but he is called onto do much more than take the whip, he is asked to be a fighter for the prince’s cause.  Traveling to an old castle that is believed to be cursed, Barrow has to prove his worth to his prince, to the Queen of the sleeping kingdom and most importantly, to himself.  Having to battle off monsters that are the things of nightmares, Barrow will have to face off against the man he has worked for to show how loyal he really is.

An interesting take on an old classic.  As the story of Sleeping Beauty has been around for such a long time, it is hard to give it the proper respect for a reboot.  Adding action and adventure into it is one way to go about it and that is what this film did.  With a water monster and two others that I could not describe, along with some zombies, it is fun to watch how everyone is asked to prove themselves.  I will admit that I enjoyed watching how Barrow was so loyal to the prince that has tortured him for years on end, and no matter what happened to him or the group, he only had the best interests of the prince on his mind. This movie is not for everyone, but if you watch it, you get to meet several members of the Van Dien family.  Happy viewing!

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