Paris Badgley
Photo of stuffed animal Stitch and Scrump.
“Ohana means family and family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten.” – Stitch
After Disney recently dropped the newest live action movie Snow White —which had a terrible viewing rate–some suggested they pause their live action films. However, they just released a number one live action movie in the theaters Memorial day weekend: Lilo and Stitch live action. Many people were racing to see the movie and to get the exclusive merch to go with it. The box office success of Lilo and Stitch proves audiences like live-action movies if they’re done well.
In the article The Cinematic Reel David Gonzalez said, “ The script’s emphasis on empathy, emotional depth, and the importance of Ohana elevate the film into the upper tier of Disney’s live-action remakes.”
In this 1 hour and 18 minute movie viewers will go through multiple emotions from crying to laughing. It may be a children’s film, but it will bring tears to those who understand the meaning behind the lines. If you cry watching sad movies, then this is one movie you will need to have a box of tissues for.
Mia Jackson, a junior at New Hartford, said, “ My favorite part of the movie was the details to the characters and how accurate the movie was.”
Like the original animated film, the live-action movie follows a blue alien named Stitch that has run away from space and follows a girl named Lilo who lives in Hawaii with her sister Nani. She likes going to the beach and on every Thursday she has to feed Pudge the fish a peanut butter sandwich because she says he “controls the weather.” Yes, you read it right– it is a very popular quote in the movie. Lilo meets Stitch at the pet shop after he crash lands on earth. She was looking for a friend that would like her and spend a lot of time with her. Instead of a dog she got a six- handed blue alien that will become her best friend.
The film critic Gonzalez wrote, “There’s no denying that the film tries to cater to both children and adults, which occasionally results in tonal inconsistencies.”
Throughout the film viewers get to see all of the adventures that they conquer together. Some characters in the original movie have been left out in this film and some of these roles have been changed. It will be a big difference for those who have already seen the original movie.
Joey Oles, a senior at New Hartford, said, “ Most remakes miss the point of what made the original so special. Although it doesn’t apply to all of them, most people agree the originals are better.”
I agree when they remake these original films they like to change very important details, such as one of the main characters in this film becomes the villain. The makers of the film have claimed that they couldn’t figure out how to work with the villain (in the original due to his size) But it is very sad that Gantue could not be included and make Jumba the antagonist of the movie.
What I like most about the remake is that they kept some of the original quotes from the original 2003 movie to the 2025 version.
From USA today Brian Truitt describes the film: “Director Dean Fleischer Camp’s family adventure feels like an excessively earnest Disney Channel movie compared with the delightfully unhinged 2002 cartoon.”
If you want to go and see a very heartwarming and funny movie, Lilo & Stitch is an amazing movie for you. If you have already seen the original then you will still enjoy this film. Lilo & Stitch is a great family movie night film to watch in the movies or at home once it’s out of the theaters.