A welcome eye opener to where the animated film industry may be headed.

Rating: Null/10 (6 February 2009)

It's getting to the point now where, introducing the latest three-dimensional feature with an introductory paragraph relating to the history and general makeup of the 3D movie is becoming redundant. In today's cinematic climate, it is quickly becoming common to see 3D glasses being handed out every month or so; for those of us who have shared in the gimmick up until now, it's not exactly a promising sign, but it's a product of change we must accept nevertheless. Yet there are reasons as to why I always discuss the similarities between such features before going into details and that is simply because, like many other subgenres such as the "J-horror", the 3D movie usually sticks to traits which work as a deterrent to entertainment. Sure, the images are stark and glossy- they pop out at us and briefly take us aback, but then we slowly begin to realise that everything behind all this glitter is ironically flat. Of course, there have been rare exceptions to this general rule of thumb, and yet most seem to the stick to the same adage of your average 3D attraction at theme parks; distract first- tell a 'story' second.
Then there's Bolt; Disney's latest animated feature touting anthropomorphised melodrama aimed at kids but not completely useless for adults. They're been doing it for a while now, but not necessarily in "true 3D". As a somewhat sophomoric experiment for Disney, one would expect Bolt to be hard pressed in finding its feet, and yet this is thankfully not the case. Instead, those guys from the Magic Kingdom have delivered a 3D experience that although suffering from many defects- at least doesn't pander to the technology that drives it. Indeed, rather than tell a story that feels weak and formulated for the sake of dazzling, Bolt dazzles through its characters and story which although comes off as tiresomely derivative and predictable at its worst moments, at least delivers on something other than cheap sparkle distractions. The result is a heart-warming experience that engages for the most part in a traditional manner whilst providing some awesome sequences for the eyeballs to chew up all the same. It certainly isn't perfect, no, but it's a fine effort nevertheless and a welcome eye opener to where the animated film industry may be headed.
For all intents and purposes however, it 's certainly worth noting that while Bolt certainly does offer a breathtaking and very impressive tour de force of animation technology, the spectacle of the movie could still be just as effective in regular two-dimensional rendering. The movie's plot which centres around a brainwashed dog who goes astray in the real world only to find out he's not what he thought he was, is the first and foremost attraction to what is on offer here. Following a sweet, albeit overly familiar Buzz Lightyear complex of realizing your disillusions have been brought on by outside forces (here, they are represented by the special effects of Hollywood), Bolt tells a story that works on a literal and very touching, emotive manner for those less occupied with the intellect; granted, the pacing is irregular throughout act two which mostly follows a mundanely formulated animal-buddies-road-trip structure, but bookends one and three deliver many punches that never feel as cheap as those moments within the middle. Most importantly however, children will love it; it's sweet, funny, thrilling, slapstick and emotionally rewarding.
For all the more reserved of viewers however, perhaps escorting the little ones to the cinema selflessly, Bolt isn't a misfire by any means. Sure, around half of the aforementioned qualities won't do much to invigorate the senses, yet the movie does well to work in a simple, albeit welcome allegory of disillusionment caused by the glitter and glare of TV screens, movies and celebrity magazines. In a sense I was taken aback when I was suddenly thinking about Fight Club in all its counterculture, frustration-and-disappointment-through-false-expectation thematic material, but pleased all the same. That's not to say that Bolt in any way starts overtly preaching or giving lessons on the crushing realities of life in the manner to which Fincher did ten years back; no, here the moral is closer to that of The Wizard of Oz than Jack's gloomy existentialist nightmare, yet it's this fine blend of intellectual substance loosely tying together a soft, sugary story that makes Bolt a much more rewarding experience than your average tepid animated fare.
As previously mentioned, the aesthetics present here are wonderful; in fact, I feel no unease at claiming Bolt to be the best looking 3D animated film to date. Sure, it's a niche market at this point in time, but that doesn't detract from some of the movie's breathtakingly crisp action sequences that test the medium to its capabilities. The performers do a fine job too; it's nothing as remarkable as everything that surrounds them, but most do a fine job with what they are given and never succumb to the distant numbness sometimes associated with big stars playing polygon puppets.
Conclusively I must reiterate that while Bolt does have its fair share of wonderful moments, a distinct lack of such during the movie's middle act inevitably hurts the momentum and overall impact of its greater parts. Nevertheless, those looking for a heart-driven tale filled with sweet characters, thrilling action and some genuinely laugh out loud gags, could certainly do a whole lot worse than taking a trip to catch Bolt. That being said, it's also a testament to the movie that I didn't grumble on and on about the evils of that often flat third dimension; Bolt showcases the idea that 3D can be more than a cheap gimmick to sell tickets. Instead it offers such technology as a well intended after-thought that only adds rather than detracts to the real reasons we as audiences sit down to watch movies in the first place.

A review by Jamie Robert Ward (http://www.invocus.net)