Bolt

Specialty Other Disney
#177

SPOILERS EVERYONE! You might want to close your eyes and duck.

It’s not just you. :wink:

Maybe it’s a bit both. I agree Disney could have added more interesting backstories to Bolt and Rhino, but I thought Mittens was pretty convincing. I thought it was a nice touch to have the big revelation told through her accidental giveaway in a moment of anger, instead of having that ‘hazy’ flashback sequence (like in Toy Story 2 or Cars). The latter would have been too cliched for me. But yeah, some people write fandoms and draw fanpics about the last character I would care for in other movies, so I guess different character personality traits appeal to different people. :slight_smile:

Funny, I think I actually heard someone use that quote before. The best animation (or any piece of art) are the most subtle, just beneath the subconscious. It’s the little things that count, the “devil in the details” (a popular animation maxim). The cinematography was not that subtle, I had to agree.

As for the “new Bolt, old Bolt”, I also kinda wondered how Penny ‘knew’ when she was first presented with it by the slimy manager. Guess she lived with Bolt so long that she could just ‘tell’ an imposter apart. Maybe the scene where he backed away whimpering from the fire just before the climax was their way of telling us the difference? Although I kinda felt it was a lame and sorry way to portray the non-original Bolt as a coward.

Malcolm Gladwell would say that snap judgements tend to be the most accurate, though sometimes I’d disagree. But yeah, it probably won’t be remembered as a true classic, again because of the very formulaic plot. We need those old tales of grand adventure on as large a scale as possible, with captivating characters, swashbuckling action, heart-melting romance, and knee-slapping comedy! (I’m serious, I’m not being sarcastic) I did a lengthy rant in “The Curse of the Bringbackness” thread.

I wonder though, how it would turn out if Mr Lasster was not on the set. Maybe a lot more fart jokes would be in there, heh. :wink:

#178

SPOILERIFIC

But even to leave it that late for us to notice the difference between the new and old Bolt, I don’t agree with that. They didn’t need to knock us over the head with showing us that the new Bolt was different, but something for the audience to identify with would have been nice. It’s probably because I didn’t feel for Bolt in the first place that I wondered why Penny didn’t just go with the new Bolt. Maybe it’s because I’m not a big fan of either John Travolta or dogs (I’m more of a cat person), but then again I didn’t feel close to Mittens either.

The most obvious example I can think of when a different, wide, distant camera angle would have been a better choice is when it’s the first person view of Rhino when he is in the ball, towards the end of the movie, when they are on the movie lot and he tries to go up to one of the actors in costume, it’s left as a first person angle all that time, and that annoyed me.

Fart jokes? Even if Lasseter wasn’t on set, that would be more Dreamworks’ style (check out the opening seconds of the Monsters vs. Aliens trailer and you’ll see what I mean). I would have liked Lasseter to have intervened and had less of that slimey manager schtick. It seems to me as only adults would get that, and that character doesn’t really translate too well overseas, away from Hollywood. I suppose Lasseter doesn’t have as much control over other Disney movies as I thought he did, or he doesn’t have as much skill in creating a classic movie. (Sorry JL, I still love ya!)

I think I will have to give this a second viewing, though.

Yes, we did see it on tight-ass Tuesday. I still can’t believe they don’t have that in Singapore, or even the US. Maybe it would make people go to the cinema more - it sure is busy whenever I’ve been on a Tuesday. No, I didn’t see it in 3D. And seeing how I’ve judged the film as “ok”, I’m glad I didn’t make the trek down to the one that does have that capability. The other cinemas really need to get with the program…

I agree, I would love for Disney to try to make more classic films, rather than focusing on the now. I don’t want princess films, but like you said, grandiose stories set in a different world would be good - rather than Milo and Otis 2, I mean Bolt. :stuck_out_tongue:

#179

Well, all the four major cinema chains (Cathay, Eng Wah and Shaw) on this island have student concessions at 6 Singapore Dollars on weekdays before 6 pm (with the exception of Golden Village, which charges at $6.50), and that is way better than Sydney rates (which are around $9 in the city). Singaporeans are pretty avid movie-goers, their movie promotional material is quite prominent, with huge posters running down shopping mall walls, bus stops, double-decker buses, train station columns, TV screens in trains and buses, entertainment magazines, etc. Every movie premiere is an “event” in this small country-state. Sydney film promotion is limited to just bus sides and stops, so I wished they had more promotional avenues (partly cos’ I love admiring film promos, and also because Pixar and other studios could always do with more publicity). But I digress, that’s a little off-topic…

Well, I hope more cinemas take up this 3-D feature, cos’ plenty films (Caroline, MonstersVsAliens, Ice Age 3) will be shown in that format. I agree that format shouldn’t be integral to a film’s quality, but it does add a bit to the overall ‘experience’. Anyway, are you going to see Up in Digital 3-D, or will conventional film do?

Laugh out loud! :smiley: I heard of M&O. Should find a copy and watch it, looks adorable!

#180

Heh. I guess I’m the only one around here who didn’t find Bolt extremely appealing… or enticing. I did give it a second go-round, but I still wasn’t too crazy about it. Despite the beginning of the film (that whole action sequence) being off the heat, and the insertion of the occasional touching moment and hilarious bit, I just can’t seem to like it that much.

Now that’s an interesting point…

– Mitch

#181

So, I was watchin the golden globe the other night, and I notice Bolt’s I thought I lost you song was nominated for best motion picture song, along with Gran Torino, the Wrestler, and Down to Earth (WALL-E). The Wrestler won, (never heard of it), but it’s still cool to know that 2 disney movies, one of them pixar, were nominated. OH! and WALL-E won for best animated movie. Practically a shoo-in.

#182

I’d like to see more art from the original version of “Bolt”. I’m the kind of person who likes to see the whole process of movies and such. Also maybe it’d improve my opinion of “Bolt”. i certainly didn’t hate the movie - on the contrary, it was pretty cute - but I think it had quite a few pacing issues.

#183

^ Ditto. The original concept art had so much more personality. That was really my main issue with this film (not that I didn’t like it): it lacks visual character. It wasn’t ugly at all, but they could have been a little more creative.

#184

Watched it in 3D yesterday.
I’m not wondered why it is nominated for Golden Globe. In my opinion, it’s the 2nd best animated feature of 2008, after WALL-E (the champion), and the best 3D animated feature from Disney Animation Studios (my former one was Meet The Robinsons).

Though it’s not as good to be compared with Pixar films, it’s very entertaining as well as emotional. I can see that Disney is improving, and I’m happy that they do. :smiley:

#185

There were some advance screenings last weekend in Estonia but I wasn’t able to go. Anyway the Estonian premiere is tomorrow and I have a ticket for friday. In 3D! Can’t wait!

#186

So to those who have seen the movie and have a formed opinion on it.

Would you say it’s worth the price of admission? What with it still not having been released in UK i’m questioning whether to go and see or not. Not to mention wondering who would be kind enough to tag along with me.

I suppose my main question would be as to whether the movie is more story driven or humour driven? If the sense of humour is something that shines more than the story then I may well wait until it comes on TV before i give it a proper watch. I’ve got nothing against funny films, but when in the cinema I like to have a story to focus on. Just in case the jokes aren’t to my taste. At least then I can form some constructive criticism of it.

So, yes. I basically wondered whether it’s worth the price of admission, and if the story is up to scratch. If someone would be so kind.

Thank you!

#187

Yes, i would say it is worth admission price.
As for humor balance, Disney did a good job. It is definitely story focused, but there is enough humor to not let it become super serious.
Yeah, you should go!

#188

Id have to say im glad with the decision Disney made with going with Bolt over American Dog. I mean, look how perfect the movie turned out! :smiley:

Never doubt the masters behind Disney, or any top animation company for that matter.

#189

yeah, they definitely know what they’re doin.

#190

Just saw it for the first time on DVD. Very good. Story was pretty conventional, but everything else about it was just right. I initially though Travolta and Miley Cyrus would be a constant distraction throughout the movie, but there were both excellent in their roles and I didn’t give it more then a seconds thought after it started. I’m looking that much more forward to Princess and the Frog

I was just waiting for a Star Wars reference at that point :frowning: “You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious.” It would have worked, man!

#191

Dude, I never even thought of that. Ha! That’s great. You could dub over it via a fan video, I suppose. :stuck_out_tongue:

– Mitch

#192

Did anyone else notice the pixar reference? “This is how you blew it with Nemo!”

#193

I second Mitch, I loved that L.A. quote too! The script has to be the ‘zingiest’ (Seriously, when the characters deliver their one of many punchlines, you can hear this ‘ZING’ sound whooshing past your head! Laugh out loud! :smiley:) for an animated film this year! Yes, even better than Panda. Very witty and brilliant.

Oh, and woody’s comment on “Nemo”. When I first heard it, I was like WTH? That was kinda random. I couldn’t believe it. That was a pretty oblique reference for me (I mean, what’s the connection? Did anyone who worked on Nemo worked on Bolt too? Maybe Lasseter, but he’s always the ‘producer’ kinda guy).

#194

I think the Nemo reference was in just because it’s a very popular, recent movie, that has animals in staring roles.

#195

Well Nemo also would/does have a fear of birds due to the seagulls. So I would imagine if any Pigeons tried to approach to pitch ideas, Nemo would swim away as fast as he could to prevent being eaten.

#196

To anyone who has the Bolt DVD, I have a quick question…

Is there an Up trailer included with the DVD? If so, then I’ll buy it, but if not…

Just curious. Thanks in advance to anyone who has any details on this information! :smiley:

– Mitch