I’m not usually someone who jumps on a movie first thing opening weekend. With only a few exceptions (like Moana 2), I tend to hang back a little and catch up with a movie when there are a few spare seats in the cinema and the hype has died down. Of course, this weekend was not one of those occasions. Lilo & Stitch, Disney’s live-action, was arriving in theatres, over twenty years after the release of the animated original, and I wasn’t going to miss it.
I’ve always loved the live-action remakes. While others think they are lazy and repetitive, I adore seeing the stories we love retold with new technology and voices, touching a whole new generation of young Disney fans. They are visually stunning to watch, even without the sentimentally touching story taken into consideration. I think they represent a new wave of Disney entertainment that can be as artistically mesmerising as it is enchanting, mixing the old world of storytelling with modern delivery to create a new kind of magic that we are lucky enough to have access to.
I went into this one with a specific element of skepticism. I have a soft place in my heart for everything about this movie, but mostly the location, the music, and the introduction of Hawaiian culture. The risk of losing some of that beauty in translation from the old to the new was higher than I would have liked, and the answer to that question is what has brought me here to you. Now, while I am not giving any spoilers, if you aren’t looking for details about the movie, bail out now.
Do you remember a few weeks ago when I was recalling that weirdness of Lilo & Stitch? You know, the one we all pretend isn’t there as we suspend disbelief to make room for this little alien in our hearts. Well, I am pleased to say that the new approach to this film tidied that up nicely. The origin story hasn’t changed, but less attention was paid to the initial scenes than in the original, brushing over that weirdness in record time. Before you know it, you are arriving on the bright and beautiful shores of Oahu, meeting our mischievous little heroine, Lilo. Her character is so perfectly brought to life on screen, just as gorgeous and infuriating as a confused, grieving youngster in her position would be. Without harping on the tragedy, the movie touches on loss with a softness that adults feel deeply, and yet seems glossed over for the little ones.
You don’t need any information on the story; we’ve loved it for many years now, but I can reassure you that the live-action version of this movie does it justice. The representation of Pleakly and Jumba in human form had a seamless transition and created many more laugh-out-loud moments than expected. The filming locations gave glimpses of the natural beauty Oahu has to offer, with just enough recognizable spots for locals and frequent tourists to have those aha moments of recognition.
With our TV screens at home coming so far these days, with many having home theatre systems, you may be tempted to leave this movie until its inevitable release on Disney+, though I can tell you now that would be a mistake. Seeing it in a cinema with its loud and bold music, tapping toes with both older fans of the original and youngsters enjoying their first time connecting with Stitch, it comes with a feeling I can’t quite put into words. There is something special to enjoy there, as more people understand this movie’s emotional impact. It is one of the rare occasions where I think a combination of the group setting and the impressive sound and visual quality has more to offer than can be felt later on at home.
This movie is one beautiful Hawaiian rollercoaster ride, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.
