My Movie Review on Lilo & Stitch · 3:15pm Aug 19th, 2023
Aloha, my friends.
This is your friendly film, TV show, and episode reporter here with another review.
Today, for my 300th film analysis, I'm gonna give you guys my take of Disney's "Lilo & Stitch".
Here's the rundown of it:
After being found guilty of illegal experimentation, an alien scientist named Jumba Jookiba is sentenced to a lifetime in jail by the Galactic Federation. His latest creation on the other hand, Experiment 626, is sentenced to be exiled. Before his banishment could be carried out, though, 626 quickly escapes custody and arrives at the one planet aliens aren't allowed to step foot on: Earth.
Meanwhile, a young Hawaiian girl named Lilo struggles finding a place to fit in and can't seem to make any friends. Her only companion is her older sister, Nani, who also has to assume the role of Lilo's caretaker and provider due to the deaths of their parents.
With Lilo's struggles getting worse, and Nani unable to always be around due to taking on a job, the two of them decide to find a dog. Unwittingly, they adopt Experiment 626, who decides to pose as a dog in order to avoid capture by the Galactic Federation; even if he doesn't exactly look like your run-of-the-mill canine. And with his adoption, 626 is given the name "Stitch".
With the Galactic Federation on his tail, can Stitch finally achieve his own personal freedom? And will he successfully keep the people of Earth from finding out he's an alien? Could Lilo have finally found a friend?
In all honesty, "Lilo & Stitch" is another animated feature I was interested in making a review of for a long time. I initially planned on analyzing it around the time I was starting out as a reviewer, and I had a post specifically for making a critique on the film ready to go. In spite of this, I frequently put reviewing the movie on the back burner, mainly due to there being other movies I was more interested in checking out at the time.
Since my list of things to critique has started to lessen, though, I was finally able to make room for reviewing "Lilo & Stitch". I also thought that it'd be perfect for representing my 300th film analysis considering its significance, as both a movie and a member of Disney's filmography.
And I really can't lie, "Lilo & Stitch" was a movie I grew up with since childhood. It was among the films I frequently played back when my family and I owned a VCR, and it went on to play a significant part in my life for a variety of reasons, which I'll gladly reveal later in this review.
In order to make my analysis of "Lilo & Stitch", I purchased a DVD copy of it years ago. I also watched the movie two times just to get my brain going, and to be absolutely certain over what I thought of it.
So, what do I think of "Lilo & Stitch" in words? Especially after all these years?
Well, after rewatching "Lilo & Stitch" twice this year, I'm proud to say that the film is still one of my favorite animated features. Even now, I can also see why "Lilo & Stitch" has frequently been classified as Disney's best animated film of the early 2000s.
For instance, the direction and story by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois were fantastically well-done.
Looking back, the concept of this film was what introduced me to three very big things: The sci-fi genre, aliens, and Hawaii.
Most people have probably been introduced to the sci-fi genre via the Star Wars and Star Trek franchises; and if I recall correctly, "E.T. The Extra Terrestrial" was the film that introduced many to the idea of aliens. For me, "Lilo & Stitch" was my introduction to both sci-fi and aliens. And as I later compared the movie to other sci-fi films about aliens recently, I found that Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois's take on the concept was surprisingly unique, fresh, and original.
Instead of it being about an alien who's trying to conquer Earth or escape it after being stranded, "Lilo & Stitch" is about an alien fugitive who's hiding out on Earth to escape intergalactic authorities; and as he stays with his new human companions, he finds himself on a journey of self-discovery and redemption. This sort of plot line is something that I don't think has ever been done in previous movies and shows about aliens, and judging by the numerous amount of alien programs made after it, "Lilo & Stitch" clearly breathed new life and interest in the genre.
Along with this, the decision to have the story's main Earth setting be Hawaii helped the film stand out all-the-more. I hardly recall Hawaii being the setting for an animated film before this one, and its exploration and depiction of the state's culture aided this motion picture in embracing the location.
The rest of the aspects in the story and direction were terrific too.
As a comedy, the film appeared to have a combination of situational satire mixed with physical comedy and visual humor. The best part is that it worked incredibly well, because Sanders and DeBlois managed to evenly balance the individual styles and incorporate gags in parts no one would expect. Each humorous bit was brilliantly-executed and hilarious to watch, that's for sure. As a plus, the movie had so many heartfelt and emotional moments that were genuinely soul-tugging, and its themes & morals about family, friendship, and love were admirably handled and translated.
The animation was astonishing, if I may add.
As an all hand-drawn animated film made under a lower budget compared to previous films by Disney, and created by a smaller animation team, Sanders and DeBlois made marvelous use of what they had. Everything about the overall visualization looked like it was made on a scale greater than likely intended, and the change in style and technique aided "Lilo & Stitch" in being all-the-more distinctive as a Disney film. The character animations were fluid and lively, and the settings were a sight to behold.
Additionally, the music by Alan Silvestri was magnificent.
In retrospect, "Lilo & Stitch" was the very first movie I saw to be composed by Silvestri. It's hard to deny that this motion picture contained one of his very best film scores, and not just because of how hypnotic the melodies were either. His material for the space sequences and climactic battle each had the feel of a well-worked space opera, and the tunes played during the Hawaii scenes beautifully captured the state's setting.
The songs featured in the movie were equally delightful. The usage of musical numbers by Elvis Presley makes "Lilo & Stitch" the perfect introduction to the King of Rock & Roll, and the renditions of "Burning Love" by Wynonna and "Can't Help Falling in Love" by the A-Teens were fun enough to get people on the dance floor. Plus, the original songs by Silvestri and Mark Keali'i Ho'omalu, "Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride" and "He Mele No Lilo", were enchanting showstoppers.
Finally, the voice acting, characters, and character development were tremendous.
In regards to the depiction of Lilo and Nani's relationship as sisters, I found that to be a wonderful part of the story. It's something that I believe a lot of people can connect with, and they'll probably find Lilo, Nani, or both characters to be relatable. Lilo and Nani each had dynamic personalities and developments as well, and the performances of Daveigh Chase as Lilo and Tia Carrere as Nani were exceptional.
Interestingly, "Lilo & Stitch" was the film that introduced me to Kevin McDonald, who provided the voice of Pleakley the one-eyed alien. McDonald gave Pleakley a literal bubble of life and personality, and he was quite a scene-stealer with his comedic-timings. Heck, whenever I'd hear McDonald's voice through other animated characters he portrayed, I'd immediately think of Pleakley. Pleakley himself was fun and well-developed in his own way.
Plus, the character of Dr. Jumba Jookiba was my favorite Disney character to be played by David Ogden Stiers. Most people probably classify Stiers's portrayal of Cogsworth in "Beauty and the Beast" as the best of his collaborations with Disney, but in my opinion, that credit strongly goes to his involvement as Jumba. He literally stole the show with his passionately committed and humorous performance, and the Russian accent Stiers incorporated added a flavor that helped Jumba brim with personality. And, Jumba himself was perhaps the most three-dimensional and developed character Stiers played, which made him all-the-more enjoyable.
Similar to McDonald, this was also the first motion picture I saw to feature Kevin Michael Richardson, who voiced Captain Gantu. Richardson was literally perfect for the role. Not only did his voice for Gantu fit like a glove, but he incorporated a depth and presence through his portrayal that I doubt anyone else could do for the character. He also projected so much emotion and personality into his performance, especially to where he successfully translated Gantu as a three-dimensional character. Nowadays, every time I'd hear Richardson's characters having that deep-baritone voice, I'd immediately think of Gantu. Despite not having as much screen time compared to other characters, Gantu himself had excellent development throughout the film.
Two other performers "Lilo & Stitch" introduced me to, and whom I later saw in other films, are Ving Rhames and Jason Scott Lee. To clarify, Rhames was the voice of Cobra Bubbles, and Lee voiced David the surfer. All two of them gave their very best in bringing their respective characters to life, and they incorporated an admirable amount of personality and emotion into their portrayals. The performance of Zoe Caldwell as the Grand Councilwoman was impressive as well, because not only did she help her character instantly command the screen through her voice alone, but she successfully translated the Grand Councilwoman as far from a mere stick figure. And just like Pleakley, Cobra, David, and the Grand Councilwoman were each well-developed in their own way.
If I had to choose who I believe was the best character in the entire film, though, it'd definitely be Stitch.
Stitch definitely wasn't the most likable character at first, mainly on the grounds that he frequently antagonized others and deliberately caused trouble wherever he went. But, as the film progressed, Stitch grew into someone who wanted to change himself for the better, strive above his destructive tendencies, and discover what he can do outside of being a walking time-bomb. These factors in question openly make him the movie's most three-dimensional and developed of the characters. Chris Sanders did a phenomenal job providing Stitch's voice, and the way he translated the character's emotions, personality, physically-involved moments, and growth without sounding like a human was astounding.
Whether people are gonna call me crazy about this is something I don't know, but from a religious standpoint, Stitch's character development was very much like when a person becomes a Christian. Just like Stitch, we all start out as destructive beings with desires that'd make others miserable, and there are many who try to make themselves happy by attempting to fulfill the desires of the heart. However, when people decide to follow and worship Jesus, they're encouraged to change their ways and reform into individuals who want to positively contribute to the world rather than the opposite. Their imperfections will always remain, and they aren't immune to falling short on things, but that doesn't mean it's pointless to keep improving and trying to stand above sinful desires.
In conclusion, "Lilo & Stitch" is without a doubt one of Disney's best animated features. It has all the qualifications to be a watchable and fabulous film, and it's a perfect kickstarter for Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois's careers as all-out filmmakers.
So, I rate "Lilo & Stitch" a solid five out of five stars.
Four Hooves WAY-way up for "Lilo & Stitch"!
The Lilo and Stitch series was one of my favorite movies/TV shows as a kid. I absolutely hate that Stitch! anime though, it absolutely ruined the characters for me, Stitch become too tame, Angel became a gold digger after not getting enough screen time in the original series, and that girl who replaced Lilo was so annoying. I didn't even understand the point of introducing Yokai in a show about aliens.
Also, I hope you decide to review the sequel "Stitch Has a Glitch"
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Of course. It isn’t on my to-do list currently, but I’d love to check out “Stitch Has a Glitch” at some point. Ironically, I remember seeing episodes of the TV show as a kid, and checking out its premiere and finale films.
The only members of the franchise I won’t be seeing any time soon are the anime programs, and possibly the planned live-action remake set for release on Disney+.
ALOHA!! So cute and FLUFFFY!!!
-Stitch
A catchphrase that sticks to this day!!!
An awesome movie indeed, and the TV series is wonderful as well.
This is one of the few Disney films (along with lion King and Aladdin) where I constantly pop in the DVD and rewatch the film. LK may be my favorite, but Lilo and Stitch is my most rewatchable
Lilo and Stitch is still one of my favorites movies till this day.