Lilo & Stitch: is it a "love it" or "hate it?"

[d-r]

I took some time out this morning to read some of the early reviews of Lilo and Stitch - it seems like so far the critics either really, really love it or really hate it. Here are some links:

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/LiloStitch-1114489/

http://www.mrqe.com/lookup?lilo+and+stitch

These are only early reviews, mostly from little known critics. It was interesting though that some described the films as "The best Disney movie since (insert a liked movie here)" and others described it as "The worst Disney movie since (insert a disliked movie here)." Also interesting, a couple note how wonderful the water color backgrounds are, whereas another notes that the backgrounds look cheap and cheesy as if "drawn with crayons." A couple make the obvious ET comparison. I'm feeling sort of cautious though, because I suspect the one that really hated it is trying to impress with his kewlness (rated L&S a 1.5 and Scooby Doo a 3/4). I'll be interested to read the opinions when the big dogs wiegh in.

DR

As a PS, there is an interesting article about L&S in today's USA today:

http://www.usatoday.com/life/enter/movies/2002/2002-06-18-lilo.htm

I found the quote from Kratzenberg interesting -

"Traditional animation as it existed in the 20th century is in the 20th century," he says. "We're in the 21st century, and we're going to continue to push it into being competitive in today's world. I'm not holding onto something for emotional reasons. What happens with Lilo & Stitch is not relevant to me. We don't make those anymore."

[YoHo]

It will Darn Well be relevent to him if it does well, because his 21st century movie did NOT do well.

[d-r]

Well Ebert loves it:

""Scooby-Doo" grossed $54 million in its first weekend, then if there is justice in the world, "Lilo & Stitch" will gross $200 million. "

http://www.suntimes.com/output/ebert1/wkp-news-lilo21f.html

Rottentomatoes currently has the reviewers compiled at 74%, with 29 fresh and 10 rotten.

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/LiloStitch-1114489/

[johare]

This one's going to be a tough call. RottenTomatoes is around 75%, but only at 50% with the 'Cream of the Crop' reviewers.

I did a check at movies.yahoo.com and saw these quotes at the bottom of the page:

Atlanta Journal-Constitution - "...a kiddie movie in need of some Ritalin -- and a decent script." - C
Chicago Tribune - "...seems diluted and too derivative to be as effective as one wants it to be." - B-
Cincinnati Enquirer - "...an animated charmer of a comedy..." - B
filmcritic.com - "...the music is uninspired and the animation is generic." - C-

Not exactly the kind of reviews that make me want to run out and see it, however I think I'm still going to give it a chance this weekend.

[d-r]

I'm going to go see it tonight Johare, I have high hopes, despite the handful of negative reviews. I'm pretty sure I don't agree with the guy from filmcritic.com, in terms of taste, from other reviews they've written (this is the one that gave scoobey doo 3 of 4 stars; I thought Scooby was OK, but if L&S is only 1/2 as good as Scooby, whoah, it is going to be a long night at the theatre).

It really does seem to be turning out that the reviewers love it or hate it - we are going to go see it tonight, so I'll let you know what we think - I'm really interested in what you will think Johare - to encourage you to go see it I'll c & P in some other reveiws.




"Too long on slick, too short on magic." -- David Elliott, SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE

"When it's good, it's very, very good, but when it's bad, it's horrid." -- Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION

"Much of it seems a little sad, a deconstructivist overlay of jaded irony." -- Rick Groen, GLOBE AND MAIL

"A well-lubricated toxic waste machine that ingests and regurgitates as much slime as its cynical title character."
-- Joe McGovern, MATINEE MAGAZINE

"Any of TV animator Jay Ward's five-minute Fractured Fairy Tales has more laughs than you get here."
-- Dave White, IFILM

"isn't clever or smart. It just wants you to think it is, through wink after wink after wink." -- Robert Wilonsky, NEW TIMES LOS ANGELES


OH Wait!! THOSE were from reviews of SHREK!!@ SORRY!! :):):);)

HERE are some more reviews of Lilo and Stitch that might help push you to the theater -


New York Post "An utter delight"

New York Daily News "Sweet and Sassy"

USA Today - "As Elvis might put it, you can't help falling in love with Lilo & Stitch"

New York Times - "an example of quiet, confident craftsmanship that tells a sweet, charming tale of intergalactic friendship"

Premiere magazine- "The film is a real gift - both a treat for family audiences and a treasure trove for animation buffs. "

Time Magazine - "Lilo & Stitch is lighter, bouncier, loads more fun. So let's predict that this new Disney film will be an old-fashioned, hand-drawn hit. "

LA Times - "A very charming and funny movie."

Chicago Sun-Times - " It's one of the most charming feature-length cartoons of recent years--funny, sassy, startling, original and with six songs by Elvis. It doesn't get sickeningly sweet at the end, it has as much stuff in it for grown-ups as for kids, and it has a bright offbeat look to it. "

And as for the "Homers"...

Orlando Sentinal - "It's sweet. It's funny. It wears its heart on the sleeve of its gaudy Hawaiian shirt. And, thanks to the presence of 'the King,' it also rocks."

Honolulu Star-Bulletin "a charming and endearing movie and certainly one of the more accurate and respectful presentations of Hawaiian culture by a Hollywood studio."



I hope those make you more interested because I'm curious about what your opinion-

DR

[BRERALEX]

i go to the movies every week sometimes two. i dont look at what reviewers say. alot of the times they have lost ouch with reality and or are trying to look so deep into the movie they fall in. whatever. i use my own judgment. minority report is on the top of my list for today and next week ill catch a matinee of L&S.

I just cant go by the reviewers. how many times have they been wrong at first and then the movie in the future becomes a cult classic.

I mean i do read reviews but dont just take their word for it. lately they have been on the ball as there have been no good movies out in awhile. I mean solid good movies that explain everything. a movie that takes time and develops.

One bad thing is all these trailers are really screwing up movies bad.

[YoHo]

Well, All my Geek friends at the Star Wars Boards are Excited about it, except for one that thinks Stitch sounds too much like Jar JAr. :p


I've seens some absolutly stellar reviews.

[BRERALEX]

well YOHO as long as stitch can handle a light saber better then Lee it should be o.k.

well you know what maybe stitch could be Yoda's offspring?

[johare]

OH Wait!! THOSE were from reviews of SHREK!!@ SORRY!! Do you know what some of these same sources have to say about L&S?

MATINEE MAGAZINE - "Unless Disney's little stepbrother Miramax can whip together something to outdo it, this year's prize for most misleading ad campaign goes to the marketing apparatchiks responsible for the studio's new animated feature, Lilo & Stitch"
or "Easily the most ticklishly drawn and designed Disney character in years, little Stitch" or "It sinks to desperation by crutching itself unsteadily on The Ugly Duckling in order to drive its derivative points home."

ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION - "A kiddie movie in need of some Ritalin -- and a decent script."

SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE - "Energetic, even hyper, the story is so slight that describing it would ruin it. "

About 1 out of every 10 reviews for Shrek was negative, L&S on the other hand seems to get 1 bad review for every 2 good ones. Do you think L&S has a chance to break any box office records like Shrek? How about an Oscar? :D

Anyway, I don't usually go by what the reviewers say when I decide to see a movie so I still plan on seeing this one. I'll probably try to get ahold of a copy for 'home viewing' first and if it looks good enough I'll take the kids out to see it on Sunday or Monday.

[All Aboard]

Johare, maybe not a box office record (which one does Shrek hold, by the way?) But, an Oscar... maybe. It will be up against Ice Age, Spirit, Treasure Planet, Return to Neverland, Powerpuff Girls, and Hey Arnold. I'd say it stands a really good chance.

d-r, you thought Scooby was "ok"??? I thought it was awful. If not for SMG and the periodic cutie in a bathing suit, I might have killed myself.

[Bob O]

I have never seen the whole Shrek movie, but for the people who insult it dont you think disney would be elated if their new release makes half of what Shrek made, and a oscar to boot??? or even the money that Ice Age made.
Disney's animated movies have been flops for the past several years(and pixar movies arent disney movies!!) the Wall St Journal had a good article about it this week, and even how disney put less stripes on the shirts of Nani to save money on this movie.

[johare]

Johare, maybe not a box office record (which one does Shrek hold, by the way?)I think it had some record setting weekends which have since been exceeded. It is only 2nd to Lion King in animated box office take and the #1 CGI animated box office film. I believe Shrek also set records for DVD sales.

But, an Oscar... maybe. It will be up against Ice Age, Spirit, Treasure Planet, Return to Neverland, Powerpuff Girls, and Hey ArnoldYou may be right on this one. Pretty lame competition. Last year was a much better year with Shrek, Monsters Inc. and even Jimmy Neutron. From your list I think it may come down to Ice Age and L&S with Spirit having a slight chance as a longshot.

d-r, you thought Scooby was "ok"??? I thought it was awful. If not for SMG and the periodic cutie in a bathing suit, I might have killed myself. I thought Scooby was ok too...not great, maybe not even good, but ok. My boys really seemed to enjoy it, especially a couple of the 'potty humor' scenes and if you watched the cartoon regular it was sort of interesting seeing the characters come to life. They at least seemed to do a pretty decent job of casting.

[YoHo]

I realize its apples to oranges, but Attack of the CLones has already whipped by Shrek in the box office.

[raidermatt]

Top grossing animated films, ADJUSTED FOR INFLATION (with position on overall adjusted list).

9 - The Jungle Book
10 - Snow White
12 - 101 Dalmations
21 - Fantasia
26 - The Lion King
29 - Sleeping Beauty
32 - Bambi
38 - Pinocchio
60 - Lady and the Tramp
74 - Aladdin
84 - Toy Story 2
87 - Shrek
92 - Peter Pan
95 - Monsters, Inc.
99 - Toy Story

So yes, Shrek was a big success, and it makes great "copy" to throw around phrases like "2nd only to The Lion King", but we should know better around here.

[eeyorefanatic]

Matt,

So Disney has no animated movies in the top 8????

[johare]

Perhaps we should know better around here...'adjusted for inflation' numbers are not any more meaningful than just using the raw numbers. When some of the early films like Snow White and Pinnochio came out there was not nearly as much competition for the entertainment dollar as there is today. There was no cable TV (and maybe even no TV), video games, etc.... and it was likely that there wasn't even much competition in a given year for animated films. In some ways a dollar spent on a movie today should count for more than it did years ago because there are many more choices where that dollar can be spent.

Also, most people here should be more concerned with recent numbers as those are what is important to companies like Disney and Dreamworks. So, "2nd to Lion King", "1st in CGI animated", etc... make more than great "copy"...they are very valid statements and make every bit as much sense as the 'adjusted for inflation' totals.

[BRERALEX]

i agree

[d-r]

Originally posted by johare
Do you know what some of these same sources have to say about L&S?


Johare...my point was that one does not always agree with every critic...


About 1 out of every 10 reviews for Shrek was negative, L&S on the other hand seems to get 1 bad review for every 2 good ones.

rottentomatoes now shows l&s at 81%, with 46 fresh, 11 rotten. FWIW Shrek currently has 89% with 125 fresh, 16 rotten (not dure how many of the 125 had 20/20 hindsight).

So far, not that different really. Wouldn't be statistically significant difference so far. The audience reaction will influence where it goes from here.


Do you think L&S has a chance to break any box office records like Shrek? How about an Oscar? :D


haven't seen it, so don't know - hope so though b/c i am seeing it. RE: Oscar - obviously they don't ask me, so my opinion about that doesn't matter much.


Anyway, I don't usually go by what the reviewers say when I decide to see a movie so I still plan on seeing this one. I'll probably try to get ahold of a copy for 'home viewing' first and if it looks good enough I'll take the kids out to see it on Sunday or Monday.

you know, i was hoping you'd get excited enough to take your kids to the theatre instead of pirating it. Just don't come back complaining about the quality of the bootlegged copy please - i was looking forward to reading your opinion but i won't give it a lot of weight if your first impression is based on a bootleg download.

dr


ps i edited b/c i didn't like my tone - didn't mean to sound so snappy.

[d-r]

Originally posted by gcurling

d-r, you thought Scooby was "ok"??? I thought it was awful. If not for SMG and the periodic cutie in a bathing suit, I might have killed myself.

I thought it was "OK" =- there were some things i hated of course, but I really lked shaggy, there were a couple of decent jokes, and my expectations weren't high at all.

[raidermatt]

'adjusted for inflation' numbers are not any more meaningful than just using the raw numbers.

Unadjusted top 10:

Titanic
Star Wars
ET
Phantom Menace
Spider-man
Jurassic Park
Forrest Gump
Harry Potter
Lion King
Lord of the Rings

Adjusted top 10:

Gone with the Wind
Star Wars
The Sound of Music
ET
Ten Commandments
Jaws
Titanic
Doctor Zhivago
Jungle Book
Snow White


Are you honestly saying that the popularity of these movies is better represented in the unadjusted list?

On an unadjusted list, Gone with the Wind ranks #42, barely ahead of Pearl Harbor, at #43. Shrek is at #17, ahead of #18 Jaws. No way this is a better representation of the popularity of these movies. (Note- this has nothing to do with which films are "better")

[BRERALEX]

ok now i agree with both of you and think maybe there is just no clear cut way to really compare isnt that also possibe?

Gone with the wind and Pearl HHHEEAAL shouldnt be said in the same sentence

[raidermatt]

Had a few more points to make before I accidentally hit 'submit reply'...

When some of the early films like Snow White and Pinnochio came out there was not nearly as much competition for the entertainment dollar as there is today.

True, but there were also a lot fewer people, period. And they spent a smaller percentage of their income on entertainment. There was less competition for entertainment dollars because there were fewer entertainment dollars to go around.

Also, most people here should be more concerned with recent numbers as those are what is important to companies like Disney and Dreamworks. So, "2nd to Lion King", "1st in CGI animated", etc... make more than great "copy"...they are very valid statements and make every bit as much sense as the 'adjusted for inflation' totals.

Yes, when talking about the current capabilities of the various players, the success of Shrek and Monsters has much more relevance than the success of Snow White or Peter Pan, or even The Lion King. But 2nd to Lion King is not valid, as it makes two extremely false assumptions. One, that The Lion King was the most popular animated movie ever, and two, that Shrek is 2nd. Both are false. Of course, when promoting Shrek, its better to say 2nd than 12th, so the motivation is understood.

If we want to use the unadjusted lists just to compare $$$, that's fine, but its pretty pointless unless the movies came out within a year or two of each other.

[Bstanley]

How about the top ten by the number of tickets sold;

Gone with the Wind = 283 Million
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs = 225 Million
Star Wars = 177 Million
ET = 158 Million
101 Dalmations = 143 Million
Bambi = 141 Million
Titanic = 131 Million
Jaws = 129 Million
Sound of Music = 119 Million
Ten Commandments = 118 Million

[raidermatt]

Hey BStanley- Do you have a link to that info? I've never been able to find it, only $$$'s.

Thanks...

[johare]

rottentomatoes now shows l&s at 81%, with 46 fresh, 11 rotten. FWIW Shrek currently has 89% with 125 fresh, 16 rotten (not dure how many of the 125 had 20/20 hindsight).That's good for L&S. As for 20/20 hindsite, I think the numbers for Shrek actually went down. I remember them in the low 90's. Monsters, Inc. is currently at an amazing 95% with 7 out of 123 rottens.
you know, i was hoping you'd get excited enough to take your kids to the theatre instead of pirating it. Just don't come back complaining about the quality of the bootlegged copy please - i was looking forward to reading your opinion but i won't give it a lot of weight if your first impression is based on a bootleg download.If the movie is good (and I think it will be), I still have every intention of taking the kids to the local Regal Cinema to see it. We saw Shrek, Monsters Inc, Jimmy Neutron and Harry Potter at the cinema...on the other hand, I've been able to avoid wasting money on films like Scooby Doo and Pearl Harbor.

[YoHo]

To add fuel to a fire that has already been burning for at least a year, Monsters Inc. grossed only 12 million less then Shrek. Shrek Opened during one of the worst summer movie seasons in a long time. Monster Inc. Opened to some of the stiffist Family movie competition in a long time.

Subjective? yes, but interesting too.

Either way, I'm bored with these games. My only hope is that Disney starts making good product again. I'd like some good product in the Traditional Animation field. If that happens here, then L&S is an incredible success.

If it manages to spark a renewel in the Disney Animation Department, then it is a Roaring success the likes of which haven't been seen since 1989.

[johare]

To add fuel to a fire that has already been burning for at least a year, Monsters Inc. grossed only 12 million less then Shrek. Shrek Opened during one of the worst summer movie seasons in a long time. Monster Inc. Opened to some of the stiffist Family movie competition in a long timeHow was last summer the worst movie season in a long...oh, wait...Atlantis and Pearl Harbor, never mind. And how was Monsters up against the stiffist family movie competition in a long time? It was the only animated film out there for many weeks and then only had Jimmy Neutron for competition.

Shrek still beat Monsters, still won the Oscar and still smashed records for DVD sales. Some of you seem obsessed with discrediting Shrek...I didn't even bring it up in this thread.

[YoHo]

I said it was interesting and subjective. There was also Evolution and AI last summer both Were stinkers.

Monsters had Jimmy Neutron, Harry Potter, LOTR.


I don't see How I was attacking anything. People were bandying about these numbers I added to the fun. I think it says a lot that Monsters did such competative buisness given the other movies (LOTR and Harry Potter Bracket Lion King in box office gross).

Similarly Lilo &Stictch has stiff competition in the form of AOTC Spidey, Scooby, Spirit.

[Planogirl]

Has everyone discredited Treasure Planet already? I think the trailer looks promising even if it did remind me of Atlantis a bit.

My son and I saw Lilo this afternoon. Planokid said he liked it as well as Ice Age and I liked it much more than Atlantis but not as much as Shrek. I'll rate it a notch above Ice Age and leave my thoughts about Spirit to myself.

I think a lot of the reason I didn't rate Lilo higher is because I'm basically a fairy tale kind of viewer when it comes to animation. Even Shrek had a fairy tale involved in the story. So a lot of my opinion is based on personal taste and not on the quality of Lilo so much. I really enjoyed some aspects of the movie while others annoyed me. I'm curious to see what some of you think after you've seen it. I still hope that Lilo mops up at the box office.

By the way, I think that number of tickets sold is the most fair way of measuring popularity for these films. When a huge number of kids go to see a movie the gross logically has to be lower since their tickets cost less and so many tend to go during matinee times.

[Bstanley]

RaiderMatt,

The site was
BestDigest (http://www.bestdigest.com/movies/bo/alltime_inflationadjusted.htm)

[Bob O]

I think adjusting for inflation is total BS. That is comparing apples and oranges as every year is a different situtation as far as the economy/competition etc.
And AI was a very good movie, just because the public didnt accept a movie that made you think doesnt mean it wasnt a good movie.
And nice to see Pixar mentioned ie-Monsters Inc and sad that we have no disney animated films of late to compare Shrek too.

[larry_poppins]

I loved this film. What a refreshing surprise Lilo and Stitch is! Can't wait to see it again.

Larry

[wdw4us2]

We just returned from the theater - 4 adults and 4 kids (6-11) and everyone really enjoyed it!

I don't think it's a love it or hate it film. It was very well done in all areas - story, animation, music, etc. I hope that it performs well at the box office so we can keep looking forward to traditionally animated films as well as CGI.

Lisa

[wdwguide]

I loved the movie - on my list of personal favorites it ranks right up there with The Black Cauldron (I like non-traditional Disney movies). I am not sure how it will do at the box office (although I am sure it'll surpass TBC's total), but it's the freshest Disney movie since Aladdin.

[YoHo]

I went to the Twilight show which is supposed to be the Least filled it was packed with kids and adults and everyone seemed to love it. It's definatly the best since Mulan at least. It had the humor of Emperor's new Groove, but the Story Edge of a classic Disney movie. As Mrs. YoHo says it has the old school Disney quality with the semi hip comedy. I thought it was better then Shrek. Now I'm not the biggest Shrek fan, but I does have funny moments and it is fresh. The difference is that Lilo doesn't have sections that Drag. It also has a much stronger plot, but YMMV.

I think this should put Disney Animation back on the map.

[airlarry!]

Lilo & Stitch....AWESOME! Well worth the wait, it seems like we have been reading about this one forever.

Yoho! said it best:

It had the humor of Emperor's new Groove, but the Story Edge of a classic Disney movie. As Mrs. YoHo says it has the old school Disney quality with the semi hip comedy. I thought it was better then Shrek.

This and John Henry makes me believe that there are still animators out there in DFA that above commercial crass pap being produced. The colors and backgrounds were amazing, the story is engaging, and Lilo's character is as close to a physical actor portraying a character as I think you can produce in a 'cartoon.'

If L&S doesn't win the Oscar, I'm selling my stock. ;)

The critics are right on this one, Disney's got itself a winner with this movie.

[Bstanley]

I'm guessing the choice of using the watercolor backgrounds happened after the story shifted to Hawaii (Polynesia).

I was reminded of Gauguin whenever there was a shot that included a lot of the tropical background. I can't wait to get this thing on DVD so I see it up close and personal on a big screen HDTV...

[Captain Crook]

You have a big screen HDTV??? Where exactly do you live? Friend...:cool:
:smooth: :smooth: :bounce: :smooth: :smooth:

[johare]

Well, we saw the movie today and I don't think it's a "love it or hate it" movie either. It was a good movie and we all enjoyed it, but I thought it was just ok. Definately worth seeing, but not worth a repeat...at least not until it's available on video.

[YoHo]

Hey Capt, I used to have an Obscene Sized T.V. (ie Projected on a Movie Screen) when I was in Chitown. If I had known that was the way to your heart.... :)

[johare]

Hey Capt, I used to have an Obscene Sized T.V. (ie Projected on a Movie Screen) when I was in Chitown. If I had known that was the way to your heart.... They're tempting...I almost walked out of a store with a 70" TV a few years ago, but since I new I'd have to eventually get rid of it for an HDTV I settled for a 50".

[YoHo]

Mine was 80in of cinematic Joy. BUT, I can't brag too much, I had connection's to a Certain manufacturer formerly of Chicago, Formerly of Glenview now based in Korea. (Landbaron I know you know this one.)

[Bstanley]

Well Captain a few more miles to the East and I would be in Mobile Bay...

A projector (1024 x 768) is the way to go - when the weather is nice I tote the projector and my laptop out to the courtyard at night and project things 10 feet wide for the local kids of all ages - like me!