Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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173 of 184 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mahalo to All Involved in Spreading the Aloha of L&S, June 22, 2002
Aloha ka~kou (Aloha to All of Us),Yesterday, with great anticipation -- yes, with bated breaths -- we, my husband and I who were born in Hawai`i fifty years ago and raised there, went to see LILO AND STITCH at our local theatre, hoping for its unmitigated success and yet knowing it could be yet another dirty bomb unwittingly directed against the Hawaiian culture. We were utterly impressed with LILO & STITCH's shining truth and loved and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the galactic high adventure and its down-to-Earth (literally) endearing story, brimming full of Aloha of the real, day-to-day variety, not the syrupy, touristy stuff. Having been raised with Disney movies, ourselves, we were delighted with its high caliber Disney feel and animation mastery, especially the stunningly gorgeous water-color visuals of our homeland. Co-directors Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois and producer Clark Spencer bolstered our faith in the next generation of moviemakers. I dare say that they are uniquely enlightened young people, wise beyond their years. Certainly, this movie is not yet another run-of-the-mill, Hawaiian-themed fantasy that my generation has come to expect out of Hollywood. We've seen, rolled our eyes upward, and laughed at the ludicrousness of too many hurriedly slapped together movies based on deluded, overly-dramatized or white-washed, idealized visions and versions of Hawaiian culture and its people. Instead, it was clearly evident to us that the research that went into LILO AND STITCH was done with thoroughness, sincerity, concern and care. The result? A movie with a huge sensitivity, concern and Aloha for our endangered Hawaiian and local culture, which, with a combination of "attitude" and sweetness, captures the authentic spirit and genuine warmth, and inner and outer beauty of Hawai`i, especially its unique Aloha Spirit and valuing of `ohana (family). In its unique, far-reaching way, LILO and STITCH -- and Disney -- will help to perpetuate Hawaiian ways, beingness, and arts, as well as our one-of-a-kind local culture. I loved the snippets of pidgin, for most of us, our first language. Tia Carrere and Jason Scott Lee were perfect in their voice roles as Nani and Kawika (David). For a change, true locals playing local roles with every truthful and subtle nuance. Loving Hawaiian music as I do, I am particularly grateful for the inclusion of authentic Hawaiian musicianry: the mesmerizing, lively chants by real-life Hawaiian chanter, Mark Keali`i Ho`omalu, were right-on. The casting of real-life kumu hula (hula master)Kunewa Mook as the voice of the hula teacher in the movie was exactly pono (right and proper); his input on depicting hulas as it is actually danced, and not the swishy hula gibberish of past Hollywood movies was greatly appreciated by us, his peers. And singing by the Kamehameha Schools Children's Chorus -- you must have indigenous blood to go to school there -- could not have been truer or more delightful. Ahh.... I am going out to buy the CD ASAP! Of course, we grew up with Elvis' classic tunes, so we absolutely loved the resurrection of his songs as well as Wynonna's rendition of "Burning Love." A perfect balance to the Hawaiian music. Pono, which means not only right and proper, but balanced. We spotted only one glaring mistake: the shaka ("all is cool") sign as depicted in the movie at the end. They got the fingers right, but the way they did it, it's only half of the shakkah sign. As it was, it stopped as the Texas Longhorn symbol. Locals then swivel their wrist, 180 degrees, completing the local sign with the BACK of the hand toward the viewer. Oh well, as we say in Hawai`i: "Ain't no big t'ing, braddah" as the moviemakers can fix that faux pas for the video version. A big MAHALO (THANK YOU) to all involved, viewers included, who make LILO & STITCH the sharing movie it is. Spread the Aloha. Me ke Aloha...
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25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Something new and wonderful from Disney., July 9, 2002
I had two primary concerns prior to seeing Lilo & Stitch. First, I'm always leery of movies centered around subjects or themes important to me, lest they screw it up, and this movie takes place in Hawaii, which I shall always consider my home. Second, any liberties that would be taken with the movie would be taken by Disney. I've been conflicted about Disney for several years. Lately, I've had a hard time forgetting about their slapdash animation, their overly liberal portrayal of historical events, and their hamfisted marketing and distribution methods, no matter how alluring the story might be. To say I was pleasantly surprised by Lilo & Stitch would be an understatement. I loved the movie. They made a couple of geographical errors with regard to Kauai, but that's ok, and I doubt much of their audience would notice. They didn't portray Hawaiians as living in grass shacks in sunny paradise where everything is easy and happy. They even had a couple of characters who sounded right (and believe me, a lot of getting Hawaii right is getting the voices right). I felt that the old- school watercolor backgrounds were a perfect match for the soft, laid-back, atmosphere of Kauai. They went out of their way to include any number of little details that made the movie feel like it was set in Hawaii, and not in some designer's idea of what Hawaii is like based upon a bunch of travel brochures and years of hearing "Tiny Bubbles." (The detail to the foot work in the hula sequences alone were a delight. And the shave ice. And the slippers. And the Hawaiian quilts. And... You get the idea.) Even more than all of that, however, was the story. A wonderful blend of slapstick, sadness, hope, fear, desperation, humor, joy, and sentimentality (you didn't think you'd get out of a Disney movie without the sentimentality, did you?). As with many of the more recent Disney movies, it is obvious that an effort was made to make Lilo & Stitch attractive to more than the keikis (children) in the family. Many of the jokes are aimed at the adult viewer, and there is a good bit of violence and disobedience in the movie (Stitch really is a handful). In case you haven't heard, this story is about ohana (family), but focuses not on the traditional nuclear family, or even the extended biological families that are so common in much of Asia. Instead, Disney goes out of their way to make it clear that anyone can be family, so long as you love and care about one another. I think that this worked particularly well in the Hawaii setting, where every woman in your family's lives can be called "Auntie." I also found it refreshing to have this sort of non- traditional family brought to the forefront and shown to work. Sure, life isn't easy, but whose is? As for the individual characters... I loved them all, but Lilo is my hero. I want to be her when I grow up. Rather, I think that any number of girls who grew up on the outside, maybe a little more imaginative, a little less overtly 'girly', will relate to Lilo. The sadness, the rebelliousness, the eagerness to make friends while not having any idea how to do so. It all resonated with me. Lilo's sister Nani's anguish at trying to be a good mother years ahead of her time while dealing with her own sorrow is very believeable, as is David's earnest devotion to Nani. Even the fantastic characters (Cobra Bubbles, Jumba, and Pleakley, and others) are delightful in their roles. And then, of course, there's Stitch. It comes as no surprise that Stitch is the catalyst for many of the events in the movie, and that his interactions with Lilo are paramount to the story (it is, after all, named "Lilo & Stitch"). However, I think that, unlike many of Disney's foils in the past, Stitch stands up as a real and loveable character in his own right. All in all, I found Lilo & Stitch to be a delightful surprise that had me alternately homesick for my home state of Hawaii, laughing out loud, and sniffling into a tissue. If this is the direction Disney will be taking with their full-length feature films, then perhaps I can stop being quite so leery.
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48 of 53 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Once again Disney succeeds in bringing back tradition!, July 8, 2002
It's Classic and sci-fi? Yes! These days it was like Disney's old original animated features were really bombed at the box-office (e.g. emperor's new groove). It was as if only Pixar productions really mattered (Monsters Inc.). Well not anymore, this week ranking over $100 million at the box-office-Lilo &Stitch is really great! It's a funny lovable story and his hard not to like. Unlike most traditional Disney features where a lot of the characters are similar to older cartoons, this feature has unique characters with hard-not-to like personalities. It's extremely funny and adults as well as kids will love it! It show's the traditional Hawaiian way of life clearly as it entertains you without boring you for a minute!
At the beginning of the feature when Stitch is shown you'd think "Oh no! Yet another try to make an animated version of independence day!" But soon you'd stop. It's very entertaining and is not about another war to save the earth. The story is about an alien planet where a young blue alien was created illegally (Stitch). Stitch is dangerous and loves ruining stuff (for example ruining Belle's ballroom sequence from Beauty &the beast). At a pound in Hawaii he's found by a little loving girl "Lilo" who has to tame him unless she wants him to go away.
The story is unique and unlike any other animated feature before. It in a way could be called the animated version of E.T sharing the same loving-caring theme that E.T. did following up records at the box-office. Beautifully painted scenes and brightly-coloured lands make the scenery enjoyable. It's much more enjoyable and original than "Spirit". It's like returning to Disney and reliving the magic of Disney. A beautiful creation like this hasn't been seen from Disney in years! It's a goofy Scooby-Doo (cartoon version) type pranks n tricks film. It's a cartoon that proves that older traditional Disney features are still loved today! It's not a usual flick that has villains. But it still is a Mulan-type character- strong and kind. Although like most cartoons it carries a fairy-tale type fantasy plot, (the alien) not including the alien it's like a reality film. The film does have a few sad atmospheres but still it's one you'd want to see. The Elvis sounds are very different from what you'd expect to hear in a Disney cartoon set in Hawaii but the fact is that it makes it even more enjoyable! The climax of the film is just as exciting and astonishing as the Lion King take-over and the Beauty and the Beast defense system. It's a film that hopefully will win the best animated feature Oscar! Maybe it'll be nominated for best picture?(Beauty and the beast did!). It's like a blue koala trapped in a beautiful Tomb Raider (game version) scene!
Basically if you're looking for a hearty, sad, exciting, loving, funny, enjoyable, beautiful creation-you've come to look in the right place. It's what the traditional Disney features were all about. It's what you may not find very often nowadays! It's Lilo &Stitch!
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