Box Office Battlefield: ‘A Million Ways to Die in the West’ Vs. ‘Maleficent’

The weekend warriors of May 30, 2014 includes A Million Ways to Die in the West and Maleficent. Every week, movie studios select candidates to enter the glorious battlefield for your hard-earned dollars, Box Office Battlefield is here to help you decide which movie(s) will take priority over the others and determine who will be victorious.

Last weekend, X-Men: Days of Future Past demolished the Memorial Day box office. No one stood a chance. Not even the mighty Godzilla. But this weekend the genres are split and the mutants may lose this battle. With a live action Disney movie and an R-rated comedy joining the mix, the heat is on this summer. I have I walked with you once upon a dream? This is the Box Office Battlefield:

Maleficent (Robert Stromberg) Rated PG [97 min] – A vindictive fairy is driven to curse an infant princess only to realize the child may be the only one who can restore peace. Starring Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Sharlto Copley, and Lesley Manville

Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics – 49% • Audience – 75%

The much awaited live action portrayal has been on the minds of Disney fans for a long time. I can always remember murmurs about the film, and now it has come to fruition. I have yet to see this film, but it would appear that the expectations are not meeting reality for some:

“Hey, kids! How would you like to see a new version of Disney’s Sleeping Beauty that isn’t animated and doesn’t make any sense?” – Eric D. Snider (GeekNation)

“Except for Angelina Jolie, exemplary as the fairy badmother who laid a narcotic curse on an infant princess, this pricey live-action drama is a dismaying botch.” – Richard Corliss (TIME Magazine)

Based on what I’ve seen in previews, I’m sure Angelina just kills it. This is her role. But it’s sad to hear the rest of the movie isn’t on the same wavelength. RENT IT! MATINEE IT IF YOU REALLY HAVE TO SEE IT! (Watch the trailer)

A Million Ways to Die in the West (Seth MacFarlane) Rated R [116 min] – As a cowardly farmer begins to fall for the mysterious new woman in town, he must put his new-found courage to the test when her husband, a notorious gun-slinger, announces his arrival. Starring Seth MacFarlane, Charlize Theron, Liam Neeson, Amanda Seyfried

Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics – 34% • Audience – 56%

A overbloated, nauseating, overlong comedy that shouldn’t be rated R in the first place is one of the worst follow ups to a promising director ever. If Ted says anything to you, A Million Ways is the Mr. Rogers of Seth MacFarlane comedy. It’s pretty weak – read my review – and it feels like little effort was taken to try and produce something original. I guess those sea manatees stopped pushing the idea balls around in their tank for this one. WAIT FOR IT TO SHOW UP ON NETFLIX! (Watch the trailer)

Like I said, audiences will be split on what to see this weekend. I think X-Men still has a lot of power behind it with its star-studded cast and awesome balance of fun and action. Maleficent has the backing of Disney, but the reviews have not been very kind. It is PG however, which could persuade a lot of parents to force their kids to watch the live action version of what they grew up on. Plus Angelina of course. And then for those who loved Ted will want to see what MacFarlane does next despite the disaster of a movie A Million Ways is. So as it stands, I believe the victor for this weekend shall be: