MovieChat Forums > Lilo & Stitch (2002) Discussion > Better on rewatch. Amazing, even.

Better on rewatch. Amazing, even.

posted 10 years ago by daultimatefan
4 replies | jump to latest

When I was younger, all I noticed was the discrepancy between the Lilo plot and the Stitch plot. One was an emotional drama, the other a goofy space cartooon.

It is only now as an adult that I realize one fed into the other so greatly.

Stitch is alone in the galaxy. He knows he can only destroy, but he's looking for a greater purpose. Lilo and Nani are looking for someone to love, only to realize that all they really need are themselves.

Stitch is not necessary to the family. He knows this, and as the relationship between Nani and Lilo heals he decides to run away.

It is only when he meets someone capable of destroying this small family that he realizes who he cares about most. And he fights for it, in the most cartooney way possible.

This movie is not about Lilo or Stitch. It's about Nani's journey to appreciating both of these characters for who they are. When she realizes that Stitch cares about Lilo almost as much as she does, she helps him out.

Stitch realizing he belongs is a great emotional bonus, but I don't think it's essential to the story. But it works, and makes it better for kids to watch this movie. And I like it more this way, too :)

[–] usif92 9 years ago

Gotta love this movie!

[–] Leahpard 9 years ago

Loved this movie as child and I still enjoy it to this day. Especially the "Hawaiian roller coaster ride" song.

[–] dwellman21 9 years ago

That's what struck me about the film when I watched it recently too, how well all three main characters' stories interwove and fed into each other. It could easily be called Lilo & Stitch & Nani, because they're ALL the main characters, not just primarily supporting one person's story, and they ALL needed each other to get through the arc they needed to get through. Not one of them could be taken out for even a second or else the story wouldn't be nearly as effective.

The fact that it's rated so low in favor of other Disney films that are just popular from what the hype machine pumped into them is quite disappointing, because this is in at least the Top 10 of the best animated films they've ever made.

[–] ZSanfili 9 years ago

I actually was not a huge fan of this movie as a kid (mostly because it wasn't as gut-burstingly funny as the kinds of movies I did like) but I re-watched it last year and loved it. It deserves better than a 7.1 on imdb, and far more respect from people in general.

Then again I generally think most Pixar films are overrated, and my favorite film is How to Train Your Dragon (which is why I was so keen on re-watching this movie - because of Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois' involvement).

Also I remember reading somewhere that John Lasseter didn't like "Lilo and Stitch." Not sure how true it is, though I wouldn't be surprised since he booted Chris Sanders off of his "American Dog" project back in the mid-2000's.