Extremely Positive Review for 'Lilo & Stitch'

[James Harvey]

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.

[Joe Wagner]

I have seen the couple of trailers for this movie and have had a laugh at both of them so far. I almost consider this to be Disney's version of the Iron Giant as there appear to be a lot of similarities but there are also a ton of differences. Basically this film will get the ads tho and I personally really want to see this movie (not as much as Treasure Planet, but it's up there). I would have to say that this film looks great and unlike anything Disney has done recently.

On a side note, the sequel for this movie has already gone into production and should be released about a year after the DVD for Lilo and Stitch - didn't want you thinking Disney had turned over a new leaf or anything

-Joe!

[DisneyBoy]

I am (as my name would suggest) a huge Disney supporter...but recent direct-to-video sequels and films aimed solely at delivering one type of entertainment (Atlantis - action, Emperor's Groove - comedy, etc...) have made me much more cautious about endorsing the company name. Now that they are forced to move away from the traditional fairy tales and come up with new tales to tell...I've become increasingly worried that the studio will turn out trash as a quick bid for cash (ahem..Cinderella 2 anybody? ahem)

This film does take things in a new direction, which will make me all the more cautious before I go and see it, but I deeply hope it is a great film. I totally disagree with the reviewer on his comment that Pocahontas was the start of the "Dark Ages". It was a beautifully animated, emotional story which, admittably, took me seeing it four times to finally appreciate it! Still, the fact that he didn't enjoy it leads me to wonder if this film, being Lilo and Stitch, will only be purely entertaining rather than emotionally engaging. Disney is the best company when it comes to creating heart-breakingly realistic characters...

I would also like to defend "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame", a fantastic movie that, along with Pocahontas, was completely under-rated by critiques and the general public. The general public may love Lilo and Stitch, but I am not yet assured that I will...

[JohnCrichton]

Just from the few previews I've seen, the movie looks great!

I will be seeing this in theatres when it comes out.

[Joe Wagner]

Originally posted by JohnCrichton
Just from the few previews I've seen, the movie looks great!

I will be seeing this in theatres when it comes out.

I'll be right there with ya brother! But I tend to agree with Disney Boy also - I actually enjoyed Pocahontas (altho Hunchback not near as much as Poca) but have become very unsupportive of Disney with their DTV craze and their ability to destroy other works of art (Spidey DTV Movie anyone?). Hopefully they'll snap out of their DTV phase and continue with their new ideas esp since I really, really enjoyed Atlantis and would love to see more stuff like this.

If they continue I'm afraid I'll have to sick Hollywood Hogan on them. After - whatcha gonna do Disney when Hulkamania runs all over you!!!!

-Joe!

[Matt Hazuda]

Yeah I've pretty much avoided going to the theathers to see any movie after THe Lion King(Pocahontas, Hunchback, Tarzan, Atlantis, and some other I'm sure I'm missing) but Lilo and Stitch looks like it will end an 8 year run of not seeing Disney films in theater, so that's says what I think of this film doesn't it?

[Joe Wagner]

Originally posted by MDawg957
Yeah I've pretty much avoided going to the theathers to see any movie after THe Lion King(Pocahontas, Hunchback, Tarzan, Atlantis, and some other I'm sure I'm missing) but Lilo and Stitch looks like it will end an 8 year run of not seeing Disney films in theater, so that's says what I think of this film doesn't it?

You know what's really sad - I saw three of the films in theaters that you listed

I thought Tarzan was one of the best Disney flicks and I really enjoyed Atlantis, a lot. I liked Pocahontas but for some reason thought Hunchback was only watchable - and then in small doses. I think the film you are missing is Emperors New Groove (which I own and still haven't found time to watch, go figure).

I too am really looking forward to Lilo and Stitch and really want to see the third trailer - I guess this one has something to do with the Lion King. If it's as good as the Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast one I'm sure I'll be laughing at it quite a bit.

-Joe!

[The Mad Hatter]

I wouldn't say Disney went into a dark age with Pocahontas. I really enjoyed Hunchback, Mulan was beautiful and gripping, and the Emperor's New Groove was a hilarious surprise.

I've said it before and I'll say it again... I'm really stoked about Lilo. This flick should stop Entertainment Weekly from whining about "flattoons" for a while, I hope...

[Mad Monkey 7]

The next Stitch will indeed be in The Lion King. The fourth is supposely The Little Mermaid.

I saw the animators working on the film down the Disney Studio at Walt Disney World where it is beind made. Might I say that this will be a wonderful and imagitive film. The last film to be made at the Disney MGM Studio animation was Mulan.

[TuffyCatt]

Originally posted by Mad Monkey 7
The next Stitch will indeed be in The Lion King. The fourth is supposely The Little Mermaid.

I saw the animators working on the film down the Disney Studio at Walt Disney World where it is beind made. Might I say that this will be a wonderful and imagitive film. The last film to be made at the Disney MGM Studio animation was Mulan.

I'm looking forward to seeing those...the two trailers so far have been really funny.

I also got to meet some of the animators of the film when I in Disney World this month. It was really interesting watching one of the animators draw Stitch, a really creatively designed character. I hope this movie turns out to be as good as the review says it is.

On a slightly different note, does anyone else miss the characters breaking out into song?? The songs have always been one of my favorite parts of Disney movies...the part of the movies which gave them their character. I have nothing against Elvis and Hawaiian music, but I miss the songs. They were one of the things which made me love movies like the Lion King and Beauty and the Beast so much, and I still find myself listening to those soundtracks a lot. Anyway, maybe I'm just a broadway type person, but I was just wondering if I'm the only one.

[Joe Wagner]

Originally posted by TuffyCatt


I'm looking forward to seeing those...the two trailers so far have been really funny.

I also got to meet some of the animators of the film when I in Disney World this month. It was really interesting watching one of the animators draw Stitch, a really creatively designed character. I hope this movie turns out to be as good as the review says it is.

On a slightly different note, does anyone else miss the characters breaking out into song?? The songs have always been one of my favorite parts of Disney movies...the part of the movies which gave them their character. I have nothing against Elvis and Hawaiian music, but I miss the songs. They were one of the things which made me love movies like the Lion King and Beauty and the Beast so much, and I still find myself listening to those soundtracks a lot. Anyway, maybe I'm just a broadway type person, but I was just wondering if I'm the only one.

Actually, no I haven't really missed the songs all that much and have kind of enjoyed the 'more serious' tone of some of the more recent Disney movies (Atlantis for example). Not to say that I'd be completely adverse to some of the singing - I just don't think every Disney movie needs it.

-Joe!

[LightAngel]

I was actually thinking about posting a topic about this. I kinda miss the songs in Disney. Granted, certain movies don't need to be musicals like Atlantis, but now it seems that Disney has forgotten how to make musicals. It seems that they couldn't even bother to make Cinderella 2 a traditional musical. I believe they got some pop singer to sing songs for it, instead of letting the characters handle it. I guess this is probably a little bit of topic, isn't it.

[Steve Carras]

Uh..there ARE songs..Elvis and Hawiian Music, and it IS Disney. Ever recall the TIKI ROOM, anyone..Bueller..Bueller..Incindentally, that is the oldest Audio Animatronics attraction and one of Walt Disney's favorites. ANd the older (1970s and earlier) and the Hawiian Disney Music translates to Broadway.

[ButteredToast]

This will definitely be a light of goodness deep inside the grave that The Eisner Corporation is digging for itself. This movie is going to be great, but I doubt it's going to change their current viewpoint on the way they've been doing business.

Just wait until we get L&S 2,3, and 4....

[Joe Wagner]

Originally posted by ButteredToast
This will definitely be a light of goodness deep inside the grave that The Eisner Corporation is digging for itself. This movie is going to be great, but I doubt it's going to change their current viewpoint on the way they've been doing business.

Just wait until we get L&S 2,3, and 4....

No need to worry about that - Lilo and Stitch almost has a sequel completed for it and should be released sometime next year. Pretty sad isn't it - they've actually started making sequels for movies that haven't been released yet. I guess Lilo and Stitch will also be getting a TV series - but who knows, it could be cancelled like Team Atlantis was.

-Joe!