James Harvey
02-27-2002, 11:44 AM
www.aintitcoolnews.com has a review up for the much anticipated Lilo & Stitch animated feature from Disney hitting this summer.
http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/display.cgi?id=11605
This film has so many good things going for it, that to list them all would be 3 pages worth of text. I'll sum it up like this... CREATIVELY: This film is incredibly original, yet familiar and comforting. There are many clever jokes (that don't play to the lowest level). Gorgeous visuals (All of the backgrounds in Hawaii are hand painted in WATER COLORS!). Real Characters! This is the first time since Lion King that Disney Characters have had issues... one of my biggest gripes is that Disney has been turning out cookie cutter characters with no growth... well these people suffer... and engage you from the get go. Even the design is a departure for Disney... These girls got girth! They are not the anorexic waifs that Disney tells us are attractive... They are full figured, healthy Hawaiian girls with shape and tone. God Bless them! Whoever thought to combine Aliens, Surfing, Elvis Music and Animation must be on some good prescriptions... but guess what... IT WORKS! On every level where it could have been ridiculous and inane it achieves every blessed goal it attempted. And the Elvis soundtrack is Awesome... including the cover of Burning Love by Wynona (no, the other Wynona - she paid for the rights to the song!) over the great end credits. We left the theater beaming. I was with skeptic critic types, and hard nosed Disney haters... and we couldn't stop smiling. We all kept saying... "Finally... something worthy of the legacy!" TECHNICALLY: This is a very satisfying film for all the tech heads that plan to pick it apart. I honestly couldn't notice any CG, though I assume they used it for the space chase. The amazing lip sync and animation is so honest, sincere, and accurate that you almost forget these characters are 2 dimensional. I was completely in awe of the blending of Elvis music and Hawaiian songs. There's no "Disney" music. It's all traditional Hawaiian standards that will open some of our youth to the Polynesian culture. And Let's hope it turns some people on to the King. The comedy isn't forced or juvenile. It's great set up and pay-off. A few good one liners and hilarious awkward scenarios. I can't praise the script enough.
Over all, this movie will re-establish Disney as the leader and inventor of Film Animation. Once in a while another studio will come along with a hit... but Disney is the staple. They had a dark period there from Pocahontas till now... but They are back... and let's hope they stay there. I hope Treasure Planet maintains the momentum that Lilo will start. And if successful (or should I say "when") maybe Disney will take a note that a successful film can be an original idea, it doesn't need catchy new songs, it doesn't need big effects and big boobs... all it needs is a great story. Spend a little time Disney... get the script perfect before a pencil hits paper. And only give us one film per year... or one every other year. We'll wait... and when they arrive... we go in droves. Ever think that Lion Kings big return was due to the 2 years between that and Aladdin??? Ok.. I'm *****ing now... just enjoy it folks... it's one of those rare masterpieces that has something for everyone, and leaves you feeling great.
Full review is at the address above.
http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/display.cgi?id=11605
This film has so many good things going for it, that to list them all would be 3 pages worth of text. I'll sum it up like this... CREATIVELY: This film is incredibly original, yet familiar and comforting. There are many clever jokes (that don't play to the lowest level). Gorgeous visuals (All of the backgrounds in Hawaii are hand painted in WATER COLORS!). Real Characters! This is the first time since Lion King that Disney Characters have had issues... one of my biggest gripes is that Disney has been turning out cookie cutter characters with no growth... well these people suffer... and engage you from the get go. Even the design is a departure for Disney... These girls got girth! They are not the anorexic waifs that Disney tells us are attractive... They are full figured, healthy Hawaiian girls with shape and tone. God Bless them! Whoever thought to combine Aliens, Surfing, Elvis Music and Animation must be on some good prescriptions... but guess what... IT WORKS! On every level where it could have been ridiculous and inane it achieves every blessed goal it attempted. And the Elvis soundtrack is Awesome... including the cover of Burning Love by Wynona (no, the other Wynona - she paid for the rights to the song!) over the great end credits. We left the theater beaming. I was with skeptic critic types, and hard nosed Disney haters... and we couldn't stop smiling. We all kept saying... "Finally... something worthy of the legacy!" TECHNICALLY: This is a very satisfying film for all the tech heads that plan to pick it apart. I honestly couldn't notice any CG, though I assume they used it for the space chase. The amazing lip sync and animation is so honest, sincere, and accurate that you almost forget these characters are 2 dimensional. I was completely in awe of the blending of Elvis music and Hawaiian songs. There's no "Disney" music. It's all traditional Hawaiian standards that will open some of our youth to the Polynesian culture. And Let's hope it turns some people on to the King. The comedy isn't forced or juvenile. It's great set up and pay-off. A few good one liners and hilarious awkward scenarios. I can't praise the script enough.
Over all, this movie will re-establish Disney as the leader and inventor of Film Animation. Once in a while another studio will come along with a hit... but Disney is the staple. They had a dark period there from Pocahontas till now... but They are back... and let's hope they stay there. I hope Treasure Planet maintains the momentum that Lilo will start. And if successful (or should I say "when") maybe Disney will take a note that a successful film can be an original idea, it doesn't need catchy new songs, it doesn't need big effects and big boobs... all it needs is a great story. Spend a little time Disney... get the script perfect before a pencil hits paper. And only give us one film per year... or one every other year. We'll wait... and when they arrive... we go in droves. Ever think that Lion Kings big return was due to the 2 years between that and Aladdin??? Ok.. I'm *****ing now... just enjoy it folks... it's one of those rare masterpieces that has something for everyone, and leaves you feeling great.
Full review is at the address above.