Lilo & Stitch (2025)

A live-action remake of the modern Disney classic upgrades Stitch from a lovable 2D character into a 3D CG model. Something gets lost in translation, because all the charm is missing and it feels like the soul has been ripped out of it. I thought the relationship and chemistry between Lilo and her sister Nani was handled well, but the rest of it feels ham-fisted and shoehorned in. In the end, it's just another substandard remake, made to bleed the IP dry for a new generation who can't be bothered to watch movies older than 20 years old.

2 kuleana out of 5

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (2021)

A documentarian moves into a rental home and discovers an anthropomorphic one-inch talking seashell named Marcel living with his grandmother and pet fluff of lint, who views the world through a child-like sense of wonder and matter-of-factness. After posting a short film about him online, Marcel achieves national attention and must cope with his newfound popularity, while trying to maintain a simple existence. Blending stop-motion and live-action within a unique mockumentary format, it's a gentle and sweet tale that manages to avoid feeling mawkish and doesn't outstay its welcome.

3½ 60 Minutes segments out of 5