Bolt [Theatrical Release] | ![Bolt [Theatrical Release]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51yqBiB6PTL._SL500_.jpg)
| Manufacturer: Walt Disney Pictures
Category: Theatrical Release
This item is no longer available
Rating:  24 reviews
Language: English (Unknown)
Region: 1
Number Of Discs: 1
ASIN: B001FB5616
| |
| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Bolt is a funny animated film about a dog who thinks he has superpowers. It is also a movie about friendship, perseverance, and the power of believing in oneself. Everyone knows that superheroes on television are not real, but super-dog Bolt (John Travolta) is a canine star who has been carefully raised to believe that he really possesses superpowers. Bolt is completely devoted to his human co-star Penny (Miley Cyrus), so when Penny is captured by the evil Dr. Calico (Malcolm McDowell) in their latest television episode and then Bolt accidentally gets loose in the real world, Bolt sets off on a journey to save her. Bolt is confounded when his super powers are suddenly ineffective, but inspiration strikes and Bolt quickly discovers the mysterious, power-stealing effects of Styrofoam packing peanuts. An encounter with alley cat Mittens (Susie Essman) gives Bolt some eye-opening lessons about being a real dog in the real world, while star-struck, ball-enclosed hamster Rhino (Mark Walton) revels in the opportunity to serve as Bolt's sidekick in the quest to rescue Penny. The trio traverses the United States from waffle house to waffle house on a hysterical quest to find Penny and prove that the relationship between Penny and Bolt is real. In the end, Bolt, Mittens, and Rhino learn that everyone is special in their own way and they discover the true power of believing in oneself and one's friends. Select theaters showed Bolt in Real-D 3-D which features some nice effects, but the film is probably equally enjoyable in the traditional format. A fun film with a nice message and a huge dose of cute, Bolt is good entertainment for the entire family. --Tami Horiuchi
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 19 more reviews...
 SUPER GREAT MOVIE January 11, 2009
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Get ready to super bark into a very funny action movie BOLT. Its about a 12 year old girl who...wait I'm not going to tell you what happens you need to see this fully awesome movie your self. I'll tell you this part rihno the little hamster is soo funny and bolt it awesome and penny is cool you'll love this movie no madder how old you are it's a great familey movie for ALL ages. Trust me I've seen a lot of movies in my days but this was so good I saw it twice got the wii and ds game, there poster there, stuffed animals ,there books ALL because I love this movie!!!
Disney Proves It Still Has Potential January 4, 2009
Matthew (Boulder, Colorado)
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
This is, by far, the best animated Disney feature in years. But when you consider Disney's last three releases - Home on the Range, Chicken Little, and the abysmal Meet the Robinsons - that is not saying enough.
Bolt is outstanding fun for the whole family! It is humorous, touching, and exciting. It is well-written and delivers several nice messages. The opening action sequence, though not indicative of the remainder of the film to follow, does an outstanding job of grabbing your attention right from off the bat.
Within about 15min, I couldn't help thinking "This really feels like a Pixar film". And wouldn't you know it - this is Disney's first animated release following their acquisition of Pixar in which John Lasseter and other top Pixar creative talent have been overseeing Disney animated features.
Oh, please let this be an indication of things to come. Bolt isn't quite as good as the best best Pixar films (but few films are). It is, however, better then the best Disney films in 10 years, better then most Dreamworks blockbusters, and certainly worthy of the Pixar name. If Disney's label wasn't on the film, anybody would assume this is straight out of Pixar proper.
The characters were unique, interesting, and well-developed. In fact, they were so interesting, that I could see Disney adapting this to a television series.
If I have one quibble, and this is very minor, it is that the soundtrack is not quite as strong as what I've come to expect of most big budget animated films lately. It was good, it just didn't have any stand-out singles. But that's a small thing, really.
After seeing Madagascar 2, The Tale of Despereaux, and Delgo, I can confidently say this is the best animated family film out this season and one you won't regret spending the money on. You'll enjoy it as much as your kids.
BOLT is simply super! January 2, 2009
D. Annillo (Las Vegas, NV)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
For all intent and purposes, movies are meant to entertain and uplift the audience (depending on the genre of course). This movie is for CHILDREN to enjoy in all their innocence; I have yet to hear one kid say they did not like this movie. I have seen this movie about 4 times already because my nieces and nephews cannot get enough of it. If you have a problem against Disney or Pixar or other animation studios do not criticize the movies they make because you do not like their motives or whatever else you have an issue with. Let the CHILDREN enjoy their childhood for as long as possible. Go BOLT! You truly are SUPER in every way!
Nonstop fun from beginning to end December 31, 2008
Chris Heard (Malibu, CA USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
"Bolt" is a beautifully rendered, engaging, entertaining movie that everyone in the family (except perhaps very small children) can love. By now you know the basic plot: Bolt, a white dog who stars in an action TV show and thinks it's all real, gets accidentally shipped from Hollywood to New York and has to make his way back with the aid of Mittens, a street-smart alley cat, and Rhino, a hero-worshiping hamster. The PG rating derives from the cartoonish violence in the scenes from Bolt's television show, and the "real-life" (in the story, of course) danger that Bolt and Penny face at the end of the movie. A few other reviewers have complained about "plot holes," and they have a point: Penny, a twelve-year old girl, uses a Polaroid camera and apparently has a source of fresh film ...
 A "Bolt" To The System December 30, 2008
thornhillatthemovies.com (Venice, CA United States)
"Bolt", the new animated offering from Disney, is a thoroughly entertaining, enjoyable and fun film. It is also offered in 3-D in many theaters. Generally, this would be the selling point, making the film something worth seeing. But "Bolt" stands on its own. The 3-D presentation is merely a bonus, enhancing an already very good film.
Bolt (John Travolta) is a small, cute white dog who was adopted by Penny (Miley Cyrus) when he was very young. Since then, Penny has become the star of a hugely successful sci-fi/ action series and Bolt is her ever-present sidekick with super powers of his own. The adventures they share are wildly improbable, very dangerous and they always seem to escape danger through the use of one of Bolt's ever-present powers. But Bolt doesn't know he is in a television show; he thinks it is real and that he actually has these powers and his mission is to fight bad guys. Through a series of accidents, Bolt ends up in New York, far from the Los Angeles studio that is his home. He is determined to save Penny from the Green Eyed Man, the ever-present villain in their show, and comes across a cat, Mittens (Sussie Essman, TV's "The Larry David Show") and takes her prisoner. Soon, they meet Rhino (Mark Walton), a hamster in his exercise ball who simply idolizes Bolt and is more than ready to join the team and help out with the mission. The trio begins to make their way West. At the same time, Penny's agent, director and mom urge her to accept the truth; Bolt is gone and they need to find a replacement, to help keep the show going and everyone employed. As Bolt, Mittens and Rhino travel west, they come across three sets of pigeons who provide some needed comic relief.
Written by Dan Fogelman and Chris Williams and co-directed by Byron Howard and Williams, "Bolt" is a very funny, very good-looking animated effort. And it is available in 3-d, which is an added bonus but certainly not the main reason to go and see it. Interestingly, "Bolt" was made in and produced for 3-D, but there are really no 3-D tricks, lunging swords, fists, etc., coming out of the screen. The 3-D merely enhances an already beautiful film, giving it a further level of reality.
The film begins with a lengthy excerpt from one of the television shows, showing Penny and Bolt making it through increasingly dangerous and improbable situations, fighting off the henchmen of the "Green-Eyed Man", Dr. Calico (voiced by Malcolm McDowell) their television show nemesis. It is an exciting and fun sequence and it helps to show us Bolt's world through his eyes. Bolt is kept at the studio, in his own trailer, and really thinks he is leading this life, that he has these magic powers, that he must defend and protect Penny at all costs. The director rebuffs one of Penny's pleas to let Bolt come home with her. Because Bolt believes he is living the life of a superhero, the director believes the canine gives a more realistic performance.
A series of circumstances lead Bolt to end up on the East Coast. He becomes frantic to get back to Penny, fearing for her safety. He happens across Mittens (Susie Essman) who demands 'protection' payment from some birds. Soon, he has captured her and she becomes a very reluctant ally in his quest to get back home. Eventually, they meet Rhino (Mark Walton), a hamster in his exercise ball who immediately recognizes his hero, Bolt, and is game to help out in the adventure. As they make their way across the country, their verbal exchanges lead to a lot of laughter and help the film flow. They also, inevitably, bond and become partners in the quest to return to the West Coast. Reluctant partners, but partners none the less.
Soon after they set off, they come across a group of pigeons, complete with New York accents, who are scarily realistic. Every movement seems cribbed from video of real birds. Then, when they begin to speak, the illusion becomes even more surreal. They could be real pigeons that speak. One of the pigeons insists he recognizes Bolt but can't place him even when he has some big hints. It is a funny cameo.
As they make their way across the country, the filmmakers gives us a visual depiction of the progress of the journey, using an old-fashioned, simplified map, a 2-d cut out of the characters tracking their progress. It is a nice visual touch and adds depth to the film.
During the journey, they meet two more groups of pigeons, each of which is different, but very representative of the area where our trio of heroes is. Each tries to help, again in a way unique to their geography, but each group really only serves to provide laughs.
Eventually, Bolt, Mittens and Rhino make it back to LA and arrive back at the studio just in time to put their new found friendship and Bolt's true powers to the test.
"Bolt" is a lively, well-animated fun film with a lot of laughs. And it is animated in 3-D. A definite bonus, but not the film's only selling point (like the recent "Journey to the Center of the Earth"). It's a film worth your time and effort.
|
|
|
