Lilo & Stitch

Let's start with this: the original 'Lilo & Stitch' is one of my favourite cartoons ever. It's pure magic - quirky, heartfelt, and beautifully weird in that way only early 2000s Disney could get away with. So when I heard there was a live-action remake in the works, I had cautious hope. But after sitting through this 2025 adaptation... I wish I'd never seen it.

This remake is not nearly as good as the original. In fact, it barely feels like it's trying to be. Iconic moments have been cut or warped beyond recognition - smoothed over into something bland and safe. And don't get me started on Stitch himself - still voiced by Chris Sanders, yes, but it feels hollow without the wild energy that made him so lovable.

Some of the changes just make no sense. Characters are tweaked in ways that add nothing, and the emotional heart of the story - Lilo's grief, her loneliness, her oddball charm - has been neutered. The film is both rushed AND drags on, somehow managing to feel overstuffed and undercooked all at once. A true feat, if it wasn't so frustrating to watch.

Ultimately, it feels like a soulless cash grab. Another in a long line of Disney remakes that mistake visual fidelity for emotional resonance. It's got all the polish of a high-budget project, but none of the spirit. I didn't smile, I didn't cry - I just kept checking my watch.

Honestly? I'm at the point where I won't even bother watching the live-action remake of Moana, or whatever else they're churning out next. I'm so over the fakeness. These aren't love letters to our childhoods - they're boardroom products dressed up in nostalgia.

NO MORE. Let our animated classics stay classics. They don't need "updating." They just need to be left alone.

I walked into Lilo & Stitch with low expectations-honestly, the only reason I saw it was because of my daughters. But I'm glad I did. This live-action remake was a pleasant surprise that delivered not just for kids, but for parents too.

The film strikes a great balance between fun and emotion. While Stitch is still the lovable, chaotic alien we know, what really hit home was how he helped bring a broken family closer together. There's a subtle message woven in about empathy and redemption-how even someone (or something) misunderstood can change and heal.

Seeing the story in live-action added a refreshing layer, especially for those of us who grew up with the animated version. It's nostalgic without feeling like a copy-and-paste job.

Overall, I'd give it an 8/10. It's wholesome, entertaining, and genuinely moving. If you're a parent-especially a dad like me-you'll likely walk out smiling, maybe even a little misty-eyed.

So gonna make this with no spoilers

I really wanted to like this, but the remake just misses what made the original Lilo & Stitch so special.

One of the biggest issues? They completely lost the heart of the story. The original was about found family, feeling like an outsider, and growing into love and understanding. This version just kind of glosses over all that. They cut out some important characters who brought depth, and the new ones they added didn't move the plot forward at all-they felt like filler.

And then there's Lilo. In the original, her behavior came from trauma, misunderstanding, or just being a kid who felt deeply and didn't know how to express it. Here, it feels like they made her act out just to be bad. It wasn't quirky or endearing-it was out of character and kind of mean-spirited.

What really stings is the lack of emotional growth. The original gave us real redemption arcs and character development. Here, it's like everyone stays the same the whole movie. No payoff, no evolution.

Visually it's fine, and I'm sure some people might enjoy it on a surface level. But for fans who connected with the original's heart? This just feels hollow.

Disney strikes again with yet another pointless live-action remake with LILO&STITCH. The original came out back in 2002. That movie had edge, great music, a unique animation style, and an emotional story with great themes family and belonging. The remake has... some of those. The story is mostly the same. Lilo (Maia Kealoha) is a young rambunctious kid who is coping with the loss of her parents alongside her teenage sister Nani (Sydney Elizebeth Agudong), who's trying her best to keep guardianship of Lilo. With the threat of social worker Mrs. Kekoa (Tia Carrere) potentially taking Lilo away, the weight of the world is on her shoulders. Meanwhile, an alien creature who was designed to be an agent of chaos and destruction, escapes and crash-lands nearby. Lilo, desperate for a friend, adopts him and gives him the name Stitch (Chris Sanders). I really enjoyed this movie, until I rewatched the original. They mimic most of the best parts, but it's what they changed that annoys me. With the characters, they completely cut one, which change another one, then they added 2 that took away from some of the other character moments that I needed from the original. The added ones should've been cameos that aren't involved in the plot. If you see both movies, you'll know what I'm talking about. This movie feels even safer than the original. Lilo is less of a menace to society. Nani is less connected with her sister, which weakens the core of the whole story. It's so difficult to not compare, but if you haven't seen the original, you'll probably really enjoy this. The theme is still present, but not as vibrant or emotional, especially with how it ends. Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind, or forgotten. This theme may have been left behind just a little bit. This might be one of the best Disney live-action remakes, but the bar is so incredibly low. This might be a harsh take, but I'm just tired of my childhood being ruined. If you have kids, I still recommend LILO&STITCH, but stick with the animated version. Let's send a message to Disney. Remember, no matter how good these remakes are, they'll never be as good as the original animated classics. It still makes me wonder why Disney is still doing them, besides being a cash-grab. Why don't they just re-release the originals back into theaters?

So okay, we watched this basically because there was nothing better on (the alternative was Mission: Impossible, lol). I expected nothing - and that's exactly what I got. This is just Lilo & Stitch with actual actors (some of them really bad too).

It feels like a film made completely devoid of emotion, trying way too hard to simulate it with some cute animations, desperately poking at that little nostalgia button in your heart (aka Disney: Operation Nostalgia).

Honestly, I hope this remake trend dies soon. I genuinely don't get the point of these kinds of productions - or maybe I'm just not the target audience.