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Bolt (2008)

Director: Byron Howard, Chris Williams

Time Out rating

Average user rating

89 reviews

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 2009-02-03 11:06:47

Time Out London Issue 2007, 5 - 11 Feb, 2009

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User reviews of this film

Emms said...

Posted on Feb 09 2009 02:56 I took my 3 grandchildren aged 8, 10 and 11 and they loved it, my view is that it is a rearly good family film.

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Shelley said...

Posted on Feb 08 2009 20:16 Took my kids to see it yesterday it was hilarious and fantastic - recommend it to any family. So pleased I ignored the negative reviews!

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sophie said...

Posted on Feb 08 2009 18:46 me too i saw it today i agree with u sarah it was very good i could cry near the last bit of the film

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sarah said...

Posted on Feb 08 2009 15:50 I just saw this film today with my friend, I loved it! I don't know what you losers were thinking saying it was rubbish cos i loved it so haaa!

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sophie said...

Posted on Feb 08 2009 12:19 this film looks good even my dad said that it looks good and my dad cant wait to see it just like meeee

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PERFECT DAY said...

Posted on Feb 07 2009 21:52 Pretty disappointing considering all the hype. Travolta isn't the right voice for the dog. It's mostly pretty boring apart from one or two giggles. Even in 3D, the film lacked the depth of Finding Nemo. I think Obama would be a great voice for Bolt.

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Malissa said...

Posted on Feb 07 2009 21:44 Excuse the anonymous. One of our arch enemys made fun of her for watching that movie. The comment was dedicated in an over the top way to our enemy. I won't say her name. Please dont go against her. I dont mind any of the comments

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Sarah said...

Posted on Feb 07 2009 21:40 It's a pretty good movie but I don't like the hamster. He's a wierd character.

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Lucy said...

Posted on Feb 07 2009 21:38 I think it's an ok movie but I just don't get how a dog can be friends with a cat. Clearly the dog doesn't go out much

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anonymous said...

Posted on Feb 07 2009 21:36 Exusme! I'm going to see it and I will perfectly garuntee myself that it is great! If you want to judge harshly after you've seen it once then go ahead! You are none of my concern! HMM!

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charlie said...

Posted on Feb 07 2009 12:40 i dont see why a dog is pretending to be a superhero? please get real! it's rubbish don't waste ur money ppl "!

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Vivien said...

Posted on Feb 07 2009 09:58 i am going to see it soon and i think it will be brillant!

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josh said...

Posted on Feb 07 2009 08:26 its allright

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someone said...

Posted on Feb 05 2009 19:53 it is rubbish!

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