Balto |  | Director: Simon Wells
Actors: Kevin Bacon, Bob Hoskins, Bridget Fonda, Jim Cummings, Phil Collins
Studio: Universal Studios
Category: DVD
Buy New: $27.58
as of 3/21/2010 21:50 EDT details
New (10) Used (10) from $15.20
Seller: kylakins
Rating:  93 reviews
Sales Rank: 7317
Format: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
Languages: English (Original Language), Spanish (Original Language), English (Subtitled), French (Dubbed)
Rating: G (General Audience)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 78 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: MCAD20014D
ISBN: 0783219601
UPC: 025192001420
EAN: 9780783219608
ASIN: B00005TSMN
Theatrical Release Date: December 22, 1995
Release Date: February 19, 2002
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Buried like a bone in a snowdrift, Balto never achieved the theatrical success it should have, but it's worth digging up. The film is structured on the true tale of a lead sled dog, Balto, that brought a diphtheria antitoxin to the small town of Nome, Alaska. The film balances comedy, villany, and drama very well and the voice work is above average. Safe family viewing, as even the villain's comeuppance manages a civilized resolution. The only problem is that the film never explains why these events in Alaska inspired New Yorkers to build a statue to the dog in Central Park. Maybe Balto eventually got mugged there. --Keith Simanton
Product Description
The film follows the heroic journey of balto half husky/half wolf. The town outcast balto courageously battles the forces of nature and his own self-doubt in a race to save the children of nome. Balto combines spectacular action and adventure with the heartfelt emotion. Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 08/22/2006 Starring: Kevin Bacon Phil Collins Run time: 74 minutes Rating: G Director: Simon Wells
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 93
Balto March 12, 2010
John C. Pearson (Rexburg, ID USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I thought this movie was great because I like animated(and some non-animated) animal shows. Especially when the the story is based on a true event and/or an animal of some type.
WHY DID I NOT OWN THIS YEARS AGO?! 9.25 OUT OF 10 March 7, 2010
ACEMAN1 (Ripon, California)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
As my title says, I can't help but wonder why I did not buy this film sooner. Balto is a fantastic and excellent piece of animated film-making. Too bad critics didn't seem to think like just about everyone who saw this film (45% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes...WHAT THE HELL?! You people think trash like Madagascar deserves better ratings? What is wrong with you people?). But then again, I stopped trusting them once I saw they also trashed All Dogs Go To Heaven. Balto is a wonderful and thrilling adventure that just about anyone can enjoy, and it's no wonder this film has such a large fanbase, and now I'm a part of it.
WHAT IT'S ABOUT: 1925, Nome, Alaska. Our hero Balto is a half-breed who is part wolf and part husky, which is why just about everyone in the town treats him like crap because they claim since he's part wolf that he might bite someone. Balto lives on a boat with a goose named Boris (Who has a Russian accent) who gets constantly visited by two polar bears named Muk and Luk. But Balto has big dreams despite his problems, he wants to be on a sled team and he has a love interest for a husky named Jenna. However, he constantly gets bullied by the town's main sled dog named Steel who also wants Jenna and is a complete jerk to get attention. Then the town experiences a diphtheria epidemic among children, and a sled team must be dispatched to make a six hundred mile journey to bring antitoxin to cure the children. But when the team gets lost and doesn't come back, Balto decides to find them and help bring back the antitoxin which ends up becoming a wild ride.
MUSIC: I have yet to hear a bad musical score from James Horner, he certainly does not disappoint here. As usual, his musical compositions are wonderful and fit the mood very well, not to mention when the mood is right the music becomes rather thrilling.
ACTING: Aside from some mildly campy dialogue, I really have no complaints with this area. Every one of the actors put on a great show, especially Kevin Bacon's performance as Balto. Everyone did a great job and fit their roles very well.
ACTION: This film is never boring. It injects both humor and thrilling action moments into the mix, which proves to be an incredibly satisfying combination. The humor was pretty funny, and pretty clean (There were a few very mild innuendos, but they aren't too noticeable). The only complaint that I have about this area is that this film isn't long enough, as is the case with most animated films. They just aren't long enough (Yet crappy live-action films can stretch for a grueling two hours, and that is painful as hell).
OVERALL: This is great family entertainment that will forever remain timeless. While I'd have to give the edge to All Dogs Go To Heaven in terms of which film is a better dog film (I'm sorry, but Balto didn't make me want to cry like ADGTH's ending), that's still not to say that I don't adore this film. This film is wonderful, and while it has a couple of minor flaws, that doesn't really matter because as it stands it is amazing.
THE GOOD: Great voice-acting, good story, great music, thrilling action moments, and funny humor.
THE BAD: It's not long enough and there is some mildly cheesy dialogue.
I admit it's pretty amazing January 7, 2010
Caraculiambro (La Mancha and environs)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I can't believe this movie is not better known -- and didn't do better at the box office. It features a clear and gripping story, and some incredible animation. As of my writing, there are 90 Amazon reviews and this thing has a perfect five stars. Translation: if you don't think it's worthy, the problem is with YOU. (I've heard the studio even lost money on this, although that may have been because "Toy Story" came out at around the same time.)
I myself have two gripes:
1. The live-action sequences could well have been cut. Or at least, if you have to retain them, have the kid grow into something more socially useful than some waddling, garden variety grandmother.
2. The high drama and heft of the main storyline, I feel, was not set off very well by the Three Stooges-style slapstick of Boris and the two polar bears. This was strictly for toddlers, while the story proper was strictly for adults. The direction was amazing, but not amazing enough to have seamlessly conjoined those two aspects of the movie.
Great movie! An animated classic! November 29, 2009
T. Koerner (Lubbock, TX, USA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is a wonderful movie that I think people of all ages can enjoy. The story is great and has a heartwarming ending. Main characters are unforgettable and are very well acted for the kind of movie this is. The movie overall has a little of everything in it that makes for a great adventure. One of the BEST things that I liked about the movie was NO SINGING!!!!! Just a wonderful story with superb animation for its day. Would recommend this movie to just about anyone!
Why isn't this much more popular than it is now? October 6, 2009
Eric S. Kim (Southern California)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This isn't your average animated film. Balto is just as great as The Lion King, Fantasia, and The Land Before Time. It has a solid story (which is based on true events), a brilliant script (even for a family film), impressive voice acting, and some beautiful animation. Sure, Boris the goose is a bit annoying at times, but that's probably the only thing that's bad about this animated classic. I still don't understand why this isn't as recognizable as The Lion King or An American Tail. Maybe it's because of marketing limitations or something. Whatever the reasons, let's hope that people get to see this film and let's definitely hope that this will turn out to be one of their favorites.
Grade: A
Showing reviews 1-5 of 93
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