My best friend treated me to the sneak preview tonight.
I'm going to go out on a limb and say this will make a lot more money than Meet the Robinsons did. The theater was packed solid. The children seemed captivated.
In digital 3-D the film is quite nice-looking. Especially the 8-10 minute prologue set in the super-heroic, over-the-top world of the Bolt television show.
The CGI animation is for the most part well done, but I can't help compare to the character sketches Disney released a few months back and wish more of the personality had carried over. Other than the digital 3-D gimmick, there really is no reason this couldn't have been cell-painted 2-D.
Director Chris Williams knows how to bring in the funny. There's no shortage of laughs.
(Favorite recurring gag: The pigeons. Just...the pigeons.)
The characters are endearing. Bolt is noble and sweet, Mittens is the sole voice of reason for the zany goings on, and Rhino is pure fanboy Id unleashed.
As long as the focus is on the jokes and the cute animals, the film works.
Unfortunately, there are a couple of weak points.
1) Bolt's journey from delusional super-hero to accepting life as a normal, playful dog follows Buzz Lightyear's journey a bit too closely. Right down to the stirring speech about how great it is to be a loved child's toy/a loved canine pet. While I understand Chris Sander's original plot was discarded for being -too- original and out there, I would have liked something less formulaic.
2) Miley Cyrus. Disney will not rest until they've completely used her up in every conceivable way. The role of Penny, Bolt's adoring owner demanded a bit more heart and soul than she was able to give.
All in all it's a cute film. As far as Thanksgiving escapist entertainment goes, I give it a thumbs up.
Not quite the "Return to Greatness" for Disney Animation, though. Hopefully The Princess and the Frog will change that.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
So, anyone see it this weekend? Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
I think we all know where I was this weekend.
But we're taking the kids to see it at the Drive-In next Sunday, along with Madagascar 2. I'm really looking forward to it.
edit: Why did I capitalize "drive-in"? Oh well. I'm leaving it because it looks funny.
Posted by AvidReader (Member # 6007) on :
I saw it and it was cute. My depth perception isn't quite right for the 3D effect, but it didn't give me a headache like I've heard it can, so that makes me happy.
The backgrounds were strangely flat. I actually thought normal Disney animation has more depth to it than the 3D stuff did. Everything just seemed to sit in three planes.
The story was cute. The pigeons were hysterical. But what surprised me was how scary I found the climax. I actually had to grip the chair arms and say, "It's Disney; they wouldn't kill the girl," a couple times. I thought that was well done.
Not one of the greats, but certainly worth the price of admission.
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
quote: But what surprised me was how scary I found the climax. I actually had to grip the chair arms and say, "It's Disney; they wouldn't kill the girl," a couple times. I thought that was well done.
Based on this, I probably won't see it after all. My son doesn't do well with a lot of suspense.
Posted by Nighthawk (Member # 4176) on :
I loved it!
Yeah, the ending did have us kind of on edge. But we had a *little* faith that they wouldn't do the unthinkable.
What I didn't like about it is that they don't offer much explanation, and expect the audience to understand what's going on; for example, only until halfway through the movie is it directly explained that Bolt lives a false reality and doesn't have powers. Until that point you can kind of realize it, but it's never explained; my seven year old son didn't quite grasp that concept until it was explained to him.
And it was the first movie I saw in Disney 3D which was AWESOME. What was even more awesome is seeing the trailers in 3D: Up, Ice Age 3 and Coraline.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
quote:Originally posted by Nighthawk: What I didn't like about it is that they don't offer much explanation, and expect the audience to understand what's going on; for example, only until halfway through the movie is it directly explained that Bolt lives a false reality and doesn't have powers.
The movie directly explains it 8-10 minutes in. It was what the TV show director wouldn't stop harping on about. Posted by brojack17 (Member # 9189) on :
quote:Originally posted by Puffy Treat: (Favorite recurring gag: The pigeons. Just...the pigeons.)
2) Miley Cyrus. Disney will not rest until they've completely used her up in every conceivable way. The role of Penny, Bolt's adoring owner demanded a bit more heart and soul than she was able to give.
I finally had a second and went to watch this with the kids. The animation was great and the movie was pretty good. The pigeons were the best. I loved the last pigeons, the ones in the country. The middle one reminded me of Jack Nicholsons character in Goin' South.
I didn't care much for Miley as Penny. Her voice is too deep to play a 9-11 year old girl. She really has a pretty deep voice.
That's why I like Pixar better. They ONLY want to put out the best possible movie. They could care less about cross promoting with other shows and such.
BTW, I'll be back for real next week.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
We saw it in 3D by accident, having gotten there at the wrong time, but it ended up being quite excellent. 3D has come a long way. I don't think I'd pay extra every time for it, but it was neat.
I find it impossible to believe that the director or writer weren't directly referencing the Goodfeathers and Rita the Cat from Animaniacs. All that was missing were a couple songs from her.
I absolutely loved it though. The hamster was hysterical, and as a hater of cats, I loved all the anti-cat rhetoric from Bolt, even if they did try and make me feel bad for it later with the cat's sob story (which really was sad).
And I stand by the fact that I would love to actually watch the show with Penny and Bolt as actual superheroes. It was awesomely over the top, though one would wonder why he just didn't superbark everyone back to the Stone Age.
Awesome movie. Loved the preview for Up! too.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
I don't think it was an Animaniacs reference in either case. The Pigeon joke seemed more making fun of regional stereotypes than anything else...and unlike Rita and Runt, Bolt and Mittens were actually likable and -funny-.
(Bernadette Peters' talents were wasted so badly in that series.)
Posted by Trent Destian (Member # 11653) on :
There were a few parts in which I lost it right there in the theater. 1.) Bolt just clears the helicopter, missle collides. *camera pans out, see explosion from a distance and a water bottle falls over. Not sure why but that to me was incredibly funny. 2.) Rhino pumping himself up to save bolt from animal control, then letting lose with a tirade of visceral anger and fury. *pans out to mild peeps from the humans point of view. 3.) "...Aliens"
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
quote:Originally posted by Puffy Treat: I don't think it was an Animaniacs reference in either case. The Pigeon joke seemed more making fun of regional stereotypes than anything else...and unlike Rita and Runt, Bolt and Mittens were actually likable and -funny-.
(Bernadette Peters' talents were wasted so badly in that series.)
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