Archives for May 30, 2025

Lilo & Stitch is a 2025 American science fiction comedy film directed by Dean Fleischer Camp and written by Chris Kekaniokalani Bright and Mike Van Waes. The story is about a lonely human girl named Lilo who adopts a dog-like alien named Stitch to mend her fractured family, unaware that Stitch is genetically engineered to be a force of destruction, and is being pursued by aliens and social workers, while Lilo teaches Stitch the idea of family.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Katherine S. comments, “I enjoyed Disney’s new live action remake Lilo & Stitch. It keeps the nostalgia of the original movie while giving it a fresh, real-life twist and is one of the better recent live action remakes.” Isabella V. adds, “Lilo & Stitch is such a beautiful movie, not only visually but also in its story. I was in awe at so many points and felt so many emotions throughout the movie thanks to the incredible cast and crew.” Avani M. wraps it with, “This film’s message is about family. This is a big theme in this story. No matter how much trouble Lilo or Stitch cause, they stay as one big family with Nani. We are also reminded that it is okay to be different. Lilo is different from other kids her age and is made fun of.” See their full reviews below.

Lilo & Stitch

By Katherine S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 17

I enjoyed Disney’s new live action remake Lilo & Stitch. It keeps the nostalgia of the original movie while giving it a fresh, real-life twist and is one of the better recent live action remakes.

Lilo & Stitch (2025) brings the adored animated film of the same name from 2002 to life. Lilo (Maia Kealoha) is a lonely Hawaiian girl who lives with her older sister, Nani (Sydney Agudong) after their parents sadly pass away. Lilo discovers an adorable, but very chaotic fugitive alien named Stitch (Chris Sanders), who she teaches the meaning of “ohana,” which means family, while he helps mend her own.

This remake stays pretty true to the original story with a few minor differences and the addition of a few new characters. I love the designs of Stitch and the other aliens, like Pleakley and Jumba, as they stay very true to their original characters from the animated version but have more realistic textures and qualities to fit a live action movie. Stitch somehow looks even more adorable as a live action alien, kind of reminding me of Baby Yoda. Maia Kealoha, who portrays Lilo, is precious and I was rooting for her the whole way. This movie is her big screen debut, and she is incredibly talented, especially considering that her co-star is completely CGI. Nani and Lilo’s bond is explored more in this movie which I like as they really emulate a sibling relationship, but I wish that more of Stitch and Lilo’s bond was explored as their connection feels a little rushed. Chris Sanders returns to voice Stitch’s iconic voice which really helps keep the magic of the original movie as most of the other characters are played by new actors. One of my favorite characters from this movie is a new one, Tutu, played by Amy Hill. She actually had a small role in the original film, and now she plays the sweet and lovable neighbor of Lilo and Nani. Overall, I definitely prefer the original animated Lilo & Stitch movie from 2002 but this version is still worth the watch for young kids and Stitch fans.

The film’s messages are about the importance of fighting for your family and a reminder that everyone is capable of change. It also displays the importance of strength, resilience and forgiveness during difficult times.

I give Lilo & Stitch 4 out of 5 stars and I recommend it for ages 5 to 18, plus adults. It comes out in theaters on May 23, 2025. 

Lilo & Stitch
By Avani M., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 12

Disney’s live action Lilo & Stitch brings a fresh retelling of the classic story about the sense of family. I like how the film combines beautiful settings and themes of love, acceptance and family.

Set in the Hawaiian Islands, the story of Lilo and Stitch follows a girl with a really big imagination named Lilo (Maia Kealoha). Throughout the story, she and her sister, Nani (Sydney Agudong), struggle with the loss of her parents and Lilo feels out of place in her community. Then one day, Lilo meets a strange creature who she thinks is a dog named Stitch (Chris Sanders). At first, Stitch does nothing but cause destruction in their household. This provides an even bigger challenge for Nani because she has stepped into the role of a parent. Originally Stitch was exiled from his own planet, but after seeing the bond of their family, the Grand Councilwoman (Hannah Waddingham) lets him live with Lilo.

I love the setting on the island of Oahu; it is filled with vibrant colors and beautiful trees and flowers. The acting is terrific, especially newcomer, Maia Kealoha, who is incredible as Lilo. Her tone brings a mix of happiness and sadness at different times; she never fails to have great facial expressions and reactions. Sydney Agudong is awesome in the role of Nani; she is great at showing her love, strength and how stressed she is when trying to be a good mother. And I really love the relationship between Lilo and Nani because it is so nice how they always believe in each other. I also love how in times of struggle, they manage to work together. Chris Sanders comes back to voice Stitch. Even though Stitch doesn’t talk as much, Chris Sanders puts lots of emotion into his growls and little laughs. One of my favorite characters is Agent Cobra Bubbles played by Courtney B. Vance. At first, Vance shows up as an intimidating character, but as the movie continues, we see that he only wants what is best for the girls. Ohana is the Hawaiian word for family and the film talks about how nobody in your family gets left behind or forgotten.

This film’s message is about family. This is a big theme in this story. No matter how much trouble Lilo or Stitch cause, they stay as one big family with Nani. We are also reminded that it is okay to be different. Lilo is different from other kids her age and is made fun of. Stitch doesn’t know how to fit in and thinks that he is just tearing the family apart. However, the two sisters and Stitch find a way to keep going and work hard.

I give Lilo and Stitch 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages to 5 to 18, plus adults. It releases in theaters on May 23, 2025 Trailer:

After finding themselves ensnared in a death trap, an unconventional team of antiheroes must embark on a dangerous mission that will force them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Jackson N. comments, “Thunderbolts* is the hit movie that the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) needs right now. Many people have commented that recent MCU movies are missing the mark, but no one can deny that this new film is a hit. It brings together classic Marvel antiheroes to build one of the most awesome, if unlikely, teams in Marvel history.” Mikella G. adds, “I really like Thunderbolts*. It’s an action packed, yet quite serious film that showcases personal issues of anxiety and depression. It really focuses on the struggles of superheroes coming to terms with themselves as humans, which is something that I haven’t seen Marvel do before.” Katherine S. wraps it up with, “This film may just seem like a way to keep the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) going after the Avengers’ storyline ended and the Thunderbolts* is based on actual comics, albeit loosely. These characters are much more complex than classic superheroes and I really liked exploring seemingly minor characters more deeply.” See their full reviews below.

Thunderbolts*

By Jackson N., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12

Thunderbolts* is the hit movie that the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) needs right now. Many people have commented that recent MCU movies are missing the mark, but no one can deny that this new film is a hit. It brings together classic Marvel antiheroes to build one of the most awesome, if unlikely, teams in Marvel history.

Thunderbolts* brings us back into the life of Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) who is reeling after the recent death of her sister, Natasha Romanoff (Scarlet Johansson). When we last saw her in the show Hawkeye, she was working for Valentina Alegra De Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), a malicious and conniving politician whose only goal is to rise to power. After the betrayal of Valentina, Yelena must join forces with a team of misfits to take her down.

Thunderbolts* is the perfect start to summer. The story shows us the evils that can come from one person having too much power. Valentina’s electrifying quote, “Righteousness without power is just an opinion,” shocked me to my core. It gives an excellent view into her ruthless, single-minded focus on amassing power. With an ensemble cast like this has, it seemed impossible for Marvel to go wrong. John Walker (Wyatt Russel) battles with Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) to be the brooding dark teammate, but clearly, Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) takes that title. When we last saw Ghost in Ant-Man and The Wasp she was struggling with her constant phasing through walls. However, at the end of that film, she and Bill Foster narrowly escaped the police. Bringing her back in Thunderbolts* is a fantastic way to continue her saga for the next generation of the MCU. Another great character, and a source of constant comic relief, is Red Guardian (David Harbour). His lifelong desire to live the super-hero life, and his work as everything from a mercenary to a second-rate limo driver, are a source of tons of humor and great one-liners. And seeing Red Guardian working with this awesome group really works with the movies tag line, “Everyone Deserves A Second Shot.”

The film’s message is that everyone, no matter how many bad decisions they’ve made in the past, deserves a chance at redemption and everyone needs people who care about them in their corner. Thunderbolts* includes themes of camaraderie, the power of being different, and the damaging effects of loneliness. Parents should note that this film includes many scary moments, including when characters are forced to relive traumatic moments from their lives.

Thunderbolts* gets 5 out of 5 stars from me and I recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. It premieres in theaters on May 2, 2025.

Thunderbolts*

Mikella G, KIDS FIRST! Film Critics, age 18

I really like Thunderbolts*. It’s an action packed, yet quite serious film that showcases personal issues of anxiety and depression. It really focuses on the struggles of superheroes coming to terms with themselves as humans, which is something that I haven’t seen Marvel do before.

Thunderbolts* follows the lives of these somewhat “anti-heroes” who are unsure of their purpose, and feel like they have completely lost themselves. After deciding to abandon their corrupt boss and work together, they embark on a dangerous mission in hopes of saving the ones they love, while uncovering many deep dark secrets of their past.

The cinematography in this film is outstanding. From the very first shots, I was instantly captivated. This shot shows Yelena (Florence Pugh) jumping off an extremely tall building. It is dark and gray, which completely sets the mood for the rest of the film. The director, Jake Schreir, really delivers the message of the movie. This film is so much more than a typical Marvel movie. Yes, there are fight scenes and saving civilians, but it is also sad and unbelievably honest. This is something that Schreir really taps into. There are a lot of long shots, which allows the audience to see the stillness and loneliness of the world from an outside perspective. Most importantly, this storyline is quite different from other Marvel films and I definitely wasn’t expecting that, and yet, I was completely captivated the entire time. Showcasing these superheroes’ dark emotions, and understanding their backstories was unexpected and so refreshing – it humanizes these characters. I could see and understand their vulnerability. This also makes these characters more relatable to everyday people, aside from their impeccable fighting skills. A major standout performance is Florence Pugh’s. The quality of her acting is so strong. I could feel her character building as she executes Yelena. Her connection with all the other characters is also so special. There are so many moments, but one that stands out is when she finally sees something in Walker (Wyatt Russell). Personal information has been revealed about Walker, and the way that Yelena looks at him, and makes a face of understanding and sympathy, is a scene that sticks in my head. This is something so simple, but helped to build their connection for the rest of the movie, and established their relationship.

The film’s message is to not be afraid to come to terms with your sadness and trauma, and realize that by accepting it will help you to not suffocate from your own depression.

I give Thunderbolts* 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to ages 12 to 18, plus adults. Thunderbolts* releases in theaters May 2, 2025.

Thunderbolts*

By Katherine S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 17

I was happily surprised by Thunderbolts*. It is very different from recent Marvel productions with respect to its primary characters and the themes it explores.

Working under CIA director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) is sent on one last mission before changing things up, but finds herself working together with an unlikely team of antiheroes – Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), Red Guardian (David Harbour), John Walker (Wyatt Russel) and Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) – to confront their dark pasts and the dangerous future ahead.

Being honest, I haven’t watched the most recent Marvel movies and shows that have been released so I was a bit confused during Thunderbolts* as some of the characters are more obscure and had backstories that were explained in previous films other than the Avengers franchise. I was still able to understand it after a while, but I do recommend watching The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Black Widow, and Ant-Man and the Wasp if you haven’t already, to understand where some of the characters come from and to be able to fully enjoy the movie.This movie is unique from other recent Marvel movies which is refreshing since some Marvel movies have fallen short recently. This film may just seem like a way to keep the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) going after the Avengers’ storyline ended and the Thunderbolts* is based on actual comics, albeit loosely. These characters are much more complex than classic superheroes and I really liked exploring seemingly minor characters more deeply. I love the irreverent tone of the humor in this film and how it makes fun of itself, while portraying serious topics like mental health issues and how there isn’t always a ‘good guy.’ All of the members of the “Thunderbolts” have hilarious chemistry, but the actors who stick out the most are Florence Pugh as Yelena and Lewis Pullman as Bob. Florence Pugh’s character, Yelena, really takes the lead, as she creates a perfect balance of strength, dry humor and vulnerability. Bob is a complex character with many very different aspects to his personality, and Lewis Pullman portrays all of them perfectly. As always, be sure to stay through the end for some end-credit scenes!

The film’s messages are the importance of perseverance, teamwork and remembering that you are not alone. Be forewarned that it contains violence, death, profanity, drug references and depictions of mental health struggles.

I give Thunderbolts* 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. Marvel fans should definitely check out this movie. It releases in theaters on May 2, 2025.