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Bookmark this pageBolt (2008)
Director: Byron Howard, Chris Williams
Movie review
From Time Out London
Disney’s first 3D animation, made under new head John Lasseter, is a likeable, dynamic and seductively characterised family entertainment. Directed by newcomers Byron Howard and Chris Williams, it’s a romantic tale of the sentimental education of the titular dog, which is graphically inspired by the larger American shepherd and modestly voiced by John Travolta. In ‘Truman Show’ fashion, Bolt is the deluded super-hero star of a hit live-action children’s television show, replete with a snazzy lightning logo emblazoned on his flank. As Bolt is separated by accident from ‘his person’, the equally innocent child-star Penny (Miley Cyrus), and joined by an alley-cat (a sassy, touching Susie Essman) and couch-potato Hamster (a cherishable star-turn by animator Mark Walton), he learns to be ‘a real dog’.One of the pleasures of ‘Bolt’ is how, without taking itself too seriously, it combines adventure with ideas and how the thoughtful, sympathetic script has fun with the reality/fantasy divide in a way that makes perfect sense to small kids, while still providing engagement and amusement for older siblings and adults in tow. Visually, it’s clever and stimulating: there are some excellent eye-level 3D effects, a nice pastiche of ‘bullet-time’ (part of a running theme throughout the film ‘discussing’ the relationship of live-action to CGI) and – elatingly – a pair of beautiful ‘helicopter’ shots. Borrowing a practice from Pixar, the main feature is prefaced by a short film, one of car-dealer’s son Lasseter’s own CGI spin-offs from ‘Cars’, the lovely, Japanese-accented ‘Tokyo Mater’, which charmingly combines petrol-head nostalgia with ‘Speed Racer’-esque kineticism.
Author: Wally Hammond
Time Out London Issue 2007, 5 - 11 Feb, 2009
User reviews of this film
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- AT said...
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Posted on Feb 22 2009 19:01
entertaining and a good laugh loved the hampster
worth going to the cimema for - Report as inappropriate
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- gg said...
- Posted on Feb 21 2009 20:17 i might watch it tomorrow but may not sooooooo
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- jordan said...
- Posted on Feb 21 2009 12:28 this movie is garbage really garbage
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- patrick said...
- Posted on Feb 21 2009 12:23 i think this movie is better than any movie.ive ever seen
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- Devon said...
- Posted on Feb 21 2009 10:10 Cant wait i am going to see it today i am soo exited !!
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- chelsie said...
- Posted on Feb 20 2009 18:53 its soo good and the affects are ace u really need to go and see it!!!!
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- Carmen said...
- Posted on Feb 20 2009 15:52 Its not better than Hotel for Dogs. Quite rubbish and a bit boring! Would not recordmend it!!! and don't waste your money - its not worth it.
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- PONY said...
- Posted on Feb 20 2009 15:52 THE M IT CAN'T BE THAT BAD EVERYONE ELSE SAID IT WAS GOOD
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- PONY said...
- Posted on Feb 20 2009 15:48 I'M GOING TO SEE IT TOMMORROW.
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- Brighton boy said...
- Posted on Feb 20 2009 09:42 I love all the Disney/Pixar films. This ive got to say is the BEST. I might even say my favourite film EVER. Although I saw it in Brighton and it wasnt 3D. is that only in certain cinemas??
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- Sonny said...
- Posted on Feb 20 2009 09:09 Was going to comment about the film. Have decided instead to write to the Education Secretary and ask where my taxes are being spent, because it's clearly not in the classroom. Welfare state - something for nothing. Great, isn't it.
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- jill said...
- Posted on Feb 20 2009 08:10 fab 3d animation. A fun film for all age groups. You'lI love it. I was expecting it to be a little boring but was pleasantly surprised. You won't be disappointed. It even made me jump in places. ( and i'm in my forties )
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- swoodge said...
- Posted on Feb 20 2009 06:51 Great film fast paced funny lovely the hamster "Rhino" my son James 7 wants the DVD for Christmas! Go see the film i would recommend it
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- Jill said...
- Posted on Feb 19 2009 22:23 Hello everyone! This is not a blog! Please do not tell us if you are going to see the film, we want to hear your comments if you have been to see it. Also, does no-one know how to spell anymore these days?
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- danny boy said...
- Posted on Feb 19 2009 20:19 THIS FILIM I HAVENT WATCHED IT BUT I AM GOING TO SOOOOOOOOOOOOON AND I MEEN VERY SOON THANK YOU Rachel U CHANGE MY MINGD COMPLEATLY:-) XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD
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Cast & crew
Director: Byron Howard, Chris Williams
Rated: PG
Duration: 103 mins
UK Release: Feb 6 2009
US Release: Nov 21 2008
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