Movie Review: Bolt (3D)
Bolt (3D Version)
Ever since I was a child, Disney has always been synonymous with bringing the best quality animation to every one of their movies. They combined that animation with creative storytelling, music and laughter. That tradition carries on even today and its seen in its most recent form with BOLT.
The film, which was produced by Walt Disney Animation Films, marks Disney’s 48th animated feature and while the studio has gone along way from the classics like Snow White, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin. Now CGI laden films have taken over for the hand-drawn process and Disney just adapted. Pixar helps but this a movie that shows me that they can do movies without Pixar’s help.
BOLT, follows none other than man’s best friend, a dog. This small, white German Shepherd, gives the audience a vision that not only is a dog a man’s best friend but much more, that dogs are brave, loving and caring, loyal animals. What would have to be this year’s “dog movie”, BOLT, will send every kid to a pet store wanting their heroic canine to play fetch with.
Our film opens with this sentimental moment as a young girl, Penny (Miley Cyrus) sees Bolt (John Travolta) at a pet store and instantly forms that connection that creates the bond that forms the entire movie. We are then thrust a few years later where find that Bolt and Penny are actors and that the dog has lived his entire life on a TV show as a superhero dog.
As a result, he thinks that his superpowers, and events on film, are real. When he is accidentally shipped from his Hollywood soundstage to New York City, he embarks on a cross-country journey to reunite with Penny, “his person”. Throughout his struggle, Bolt beleives that everything in his life was real and that he can use his powers to get back to Penny and destroy the evil Dr. Calico w/the green eye. On his journey he teams up with a stray cat named Mittens (Susie Essman) and a “Magic-box” loving (TV), Bolt obsessed fanboy hamster named Rhino (Mark Walton). As Bolt journey’s across the country he finds through the help of his friends that he doesn’t need his superpowers to be a hero.
I certainly enjoyed this movie. As a fan of animated films, this movie truly made me smile and get lost into the film. Though to some, this movie, may lack the same emotional connection that Wall*E may have brung but that is where I think it has its brilliance. The movie’s emotional drive came in the simplest form, love. A girl’s love for her dog and a dog’s love for his master or “person”. Bolt teaches that we do not need to rely on all the extraneous abilities and talents we might have because in any tough situation, love, is what gets us through it.
Lastly, perhaps the 3D experience made this movie that much better. As Disney’s first ever, production, to be filmed in 3D from its inception, I felt immersed from the beginning. Also unlike other 3D films, such as Journey to the Center of the Earth, this movie didn’t rely on “gadgety” actions to heighten the 3D experience it used it as a vehicle to bring the audience into the world of BOLT in such a fantastic way. I truly enjoyed the movie in this capacity and would recommend it to almost anyone as it made going to the movie fun again!
Finally, Rhino the hamster rocks! Bolt is the Bond of all dogs and Mittens is truly a cat. I leave you now to crawl up with my kitty, Tabatha. So love your pet and they will love you back thats the best message ever! Maybe they should force Michael Vick to watch this movie?
Starring: Miley Ray Cyrus, John Travolta, Nick Swardson, Susie Essman, Malcolm McDowell, James Lipton, Randy Savage, Mark Walton
Directed by: Chris Williams
