BOLT (formerly American Dog) Discussion

Mooky · Post by **Mooky** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 3:42 am

Julian Carter wrote:Unfortunately, I've just found out it'll be released here even later: 18th February.

Trust me, it will be well worth the wait

.

The_Iceflash · Post by **The_Iceflash** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 5:53 am

MrIncredible wrote:
magicalwands wrote:All this time I thought the second disc would be full of bonus features...but it is only a Digital Copy!

This makes buying all the more easy. If there is a one-disc Blu-Ray, I am going for that. Otherwise, I am sticking to the one-disc DVD. I thought Bolt was good enough for 2-discs!
So, basically you're willing to go with the DVD just because you don't want the digital copy? Just buy the Blu-ray, and not use the digital copy, you get the better quality version, plus a couple of days early. And all the bonus material on the 2 disc one is on the BD, cause remember, one Blu-ray equals 5 DVDs.

A couple of days early don't matter at all since a couple of days later most of us are going to be back at the store to buy Lilo and Stitch.

The_Iceflash · Post by **The_Iceflash** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 5:55 am

blackcauldron85 wrote:Yeah, that's what I had thought. Thanks for confirming, Neal! I will be buying the 2-disc version.

As will I.

blackcauldron85 · Post by **blackcauldron85** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 10:49 am

Here's a little info on how Bolt is doing overseas:

http://animationguildblog.blogspot.com/ ... lands.html

Jules · Post by **Jules** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 1:03 pm

Amy, how exactly should a film get promoted, besides trailers and posters? BOLT will open in two days here (finally!) but do people know about it? In 2007, Meet the Robinsons was a box office disaster here. It didn't even make the Top 10, and was out of theatres in 10 days!

Then again, both Kung Fu Panda and Madagascar 2 spent loads of time in the no. 1 spot in Malta. So what made people notice those, if you never see promotional stuff on TV or newspapers (except reviews)?

I'm aware that in the US movies are advertised on TV spots, billboards ... even on bus stops! You get none of that in Malta, yet movies perform more or less like the rest of the world (with a few exceptions, like MTR). Ugh, I don't get it ...

PatrickvD · Post by **PatrickvD** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 1:23 pm

Disney opted not to promote Meet Th Robinsons outside the United States. It was a blink and you miss it Box Office run.

I wanted to see it, but it only played in Dutch. So I passed. Bolt is playing in the original version and the ads are on tv constantly. It had a decent opening weekend a week before the school holidays. It's set to be the biggest Disney flick since brother Bear.

blackcauldron85 · Post by **blackcauldron85** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 4:06 pm

Julian Carter wrote:Amy, how exactly should a film get promoted, besides trailers and posters?

I think that the Internet can play a huge part. There apparently were Bolt ads on IMDB.com, for example. I know that Disney Channel has "Movie Surfers" and the "Super Short Report", which highlight upcoming movies ("Super Short Report" seems to focus on home video releases, though, versus "Movie Surfers", which seems to focus on theatrical releases). Contests could be helpful promoters; sometimes in the coupon inserts in the Sunday paper, companies will advertise a contest they're having; a cheese brand is even offering a HSM3 poster for $1.50 when you submit 2 UPCs (or something)...it's sometimes just about getting the word out any way how. Obviously people watching Disney Channel are a big market for a movie like Bolt, so the ads in the coupon inserts in the Sunday paper, or posters in a bus station, are ways to inform people who aren't necessarily paying attention to other Disney media (be it Disney Channel, Disney.com, or Radio Disney). Trailers are usually the initial way people find out about movies (unless they are 'movie geeks', who find out a lot of info online).

I think that the economy may be changing how movies need to be promoted, though...many people just aren't going to the theater anymore due to high prices, so they are opting to buy or rent the DVD when it comes out. In my opinion, trailers need to be amazing these days, to really get the word out. But, what excites one person doesn't excite another person. I had been really excited for the movie Australia, for example, but it didn't do too well at the box office; granted, I had wanted to see it before I had even seen a trailer for it, but maybe if the trailer focused on different elements of the film, it could have done better at the theater.

I wish that companies would realize that the theatrical box office isn't necessarily representative of how well a movie is doing or how a movie will do. Prince Caspian didn't perform as well at the box office as Disney would have liked, and they decided not to continue the series, but wasn't the DVD one of the top-selling DVDs of 2008? Companies just need to be aware that they need to pay attention to DVD sales as much as, if not more than, the theatrical box office numbers.

ajmrowland · Post by **ajmrowland** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 10:37 pm

blackcauldron85 wrote:
Julian Carter wrote:Amy, how exactly should a film get promoted, besides trailers and posters?
I think that the Internet can play a huge part. There apparently were Bolt ads on IMDB.com, for example. I know that Disney Channel has "Movie Surfers" and the "Super Short Report", which highlight upcoming movies ("Super Short Report" seems to focus on home video releases, though, versus "Movie Surfers", which seems to focus on theatrical releases). Contests could be helpful promoters; sometimes in the coupon inserts in the Sunday paper, companies will advertise a contest they're having; a cheese brand is even offering a HSM3 poster for $1.50 when you submit 2 UPCs (or something)...it's sometimes just about getting the word out any way how. Obviously people watching Disney Channel are a big market for a movie like Bolt, so the ads in the coupon inserts in the Sunday paper, or posters in a bus station, are ways to inform people who aren't necessarily paying attention to other Disney media (be it Disney Channel, Disney.com, or Radio Disney). Trailers are usually the initial way people find out about movies (unless they are 'movie geeks', who find out a lot of info online).

I think that the economy may be changing how movies need to be promoted, though...many people just aren't going to the theater anymore due to high prices, so they are opting to buy or rent the DVD when it comes out. In my opinion, trailers need to be amazing these days, to really get the word out. But, what excites one person doesn't excite another person. I had been really excited for the movie Australia, for example, but it didn't do too well at the box office; granted, I had wanted to see it before I had even seen a trailer for it, but maybe if the trailer focused on different elements of the film, it could have done better at the theater.

I wish that companies would realize that the theatrical box office isn't necessarily representative of how well a movie is doing or how a movie will do. Prince Caspian didn't perform as well at the box office as Disney would have liked, and they decided not to continue the series, but wasn't the DVD one of the top-selling DVDs of 2008? Companies just need to be aware that they need to pay attention to DVD sales as much as, if not more than, the theatrical box office numbers.

Yeah, ya got banners on the web, magazine ads, and Windex promotions.

As for Narnia being discontinued, IMO, Disney was(and still is) being really stupid with such a decision, made for stupid reasons. They DO need to focus more on DVD.

Jules · Post by **Jules** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 4:20 pm

Thank you Ames, for your extemely thorough reply!

I'll be monitoring how BOLT is doing at the local box office via this site: www.krsmalta.com. Keep your eyes peeled!

Now, today I ... FINALLY SAW BOLT!!!! Yahoo!!

I enjoyed it immensely! Although it sort of lacked the magic of Meet the Robinsons (which I loved), I couldn't help feeling that this was the better, more consistently plotted film. It seemed to scream Oscar material.

1) The animation is stellar. Don't know if it's just me, but I've been deeply impressed with the visual offerings of all three Disney CG features (even the much maligned Chicken Little). The character animation in this film is nothing short of superb. If only I wouldn't get pelted with tomatoes on uttering it, I'd say Walt Disney Animation Studios offers computer animation that supersedes even Pixar. Perhaps my only disappointment was the supposed painterly backgrounds. Where as they are there, and are definitely painterly, you have to look and concentrate to notice the effect. If, alternatively, you lose yourself in the film (which is what should happen) you won't catch a glimpse of one brushstroke.

2) The plotting is tight, the movie avoids cliches (save for a few) and surprises with unpredictable situations, which are incredibly poignant (those who have seen the film know what I'm referring to). Leonard Maltin disliked the "mature" and "insidey" opening of the film, which is what I really liked! It shows territory (grown-up greed, a threatning studio executive ...) which I've never encountered in a mainstream animated film. Kudos to Chris and Byron!

HOW I SAW THE FILM

I saw the movie in Disney Digital 3D. This was my first ever 3D experience, and I was very excited! I went to "Empire Cinema", a cinema multiplex to the north of Malta, which is the only cinema in Malta equipped with Real D 3D. It has 7 screens, 2 of which have been equipped with Digital 3D ... the rest use regular 35 mm.

Anyway, the 3D was ... very interesting! But ... I don't want to see every film this way. So for those who say Real D 3D is the future of movies, I say no way. I want it to remain a novelty. And, I reiterate ... I really don't want to see all movies that way. Just 1 in 50, perhaps.

Unfortunately, the ONLY theatre in Malta capable of showing Digital 3D is also run by inept people. There were technical problems before the movie started, and we were subjected to the 3D trailer of "Journey to the Centre of the Earth" three times! Also, the framing of the main film itself was incorrect. I saw the film cropped from the top and bottom. The cropping was severe enough to totally eliminate the word "PICTURES" from the screen on the opening Walt Disney Pictures Logo.

Shouldn't I expect a theatre to fix problems like this? If I weren't in such a hurry after the film, I'd have gone to speak to the projectionist!

Anyway, just for the heck of it, here's a review of the film from The Times of Malta:

blackcauldron85 · Post by **blackcauldron85** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 6:15 pm

You're welcome, Julian! And I'm so happy that you finally saw Bolt- you've been excited about the movie for quite a long time!

Question: Why is the Bolt review in the Malta newspaper in English? I'm guessing that the whole newspaper is in English...do you have some newspapers in English and some in Maltese (that is your language, right? Excuse my ignorance...

)?

Oh, and I agree with you on the painterly style: especially on your first viewing of a film, you're paying attention to the story, and not so much on anything else.

ajmrowland · Post by **ajmrowland** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 9:06 pm

I tried to see BOLT in 3D, but got a wrong showtime.

However, Meet the Robinsons was an amazing 3D experience that did not feel gimmicky, but actually felt real.

I personally think that 3D should be an occasional thing. BatB in 3D might look nice, but will not be the definitive version of that film. As for new releases, I think this is still only a fad(insert tomato throwing here). Like I posted on previous topics, too many new technologies become the norm and lose their charm in the process(see CG Animation for details.)

Widdi · Post by **Widdi** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 3:16 pm

Review is posted. If the 2-Disc set is more than 5 dollars more than the 1-Disc I'm buying the standard DVD.

This whole Digital Copy fad needs to die.

blackcauldron85 · Post by **blackcauldron85** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 3:47 pm

Nice review, Luke! What will be on the standard plain DVD?

tlc38tlc38 · Post by **tlc38tlc38** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 4:21 pm

Widdi wrote: This whole Digital Copy fad needs to die.

AMEN! Thank you for letting me know I'm not the only person who thinks this is stupid and a waste of disc and space.

SpaceAce · Post by **SpaceAce** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 4:55 pm

Not sure if it's been posted before, but I was just at Walmart and saw a poster advertising the DVD and Blu-ray. It said theyr bonus for Bolt will be a Bolt comic book.

jediliz · Post by **jediliz** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 5:07 pm

I'm getting the Blu Ray version (probably for Easter) and I want the digital copy for my iPod. I am flying to Disney World in May and I am not hauling my Portable DVD player along. Plus, they still haven't created a portable player that plays BLU RAYS in addition to DVDs.

The digital copy thing can't die yet, as there will be people who want to watch the movie in a more portable environment.

A copy of the movie will cost at least $15 on iTunes. For $25/$26 I can get a copy of the movie to watch on my Blu Ray Player and I can get a FREE copy of the movie to put on my iPod.

Widdi · Post by **Widdi** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 6:00 pm

blackcauldron85 wrote:Nice review, Luke! What will be on the standard plain DVD?

Just the movie and the new Rhino short.

blackcauldron85 · Post by **blackcauldron85** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 6:08 pm

Widdi wrote:
blackcauldron85 wrote:Nice review, Luke! What will be on the standard plain DVD?
Just the movie and the new Rhino short.

Oh, okay. Thanks! I'll be getting the Deluxe Ediiton, then. I just hope that WDW has it 2 days after it comes out (they don't usually have new releases out when they come out, but I'll be getting a gift card for my birthday...).

ajmrowland · Post by **ajmrowland** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 6:49 pm

Widdi wrote:
This whole Digital Copy fad needs to die.

Or at least needs to be limited to Blu-rays that dont have dvds.

When is Easter, anyway? I can never keep track of the changing dates.

ajmrowland · Post by **ajmrowland** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 6:53 pm

Oh, and for those who haven't seen, I'll post this. I've already posted it on the other thread.

http://www.traileraddict.com/captions/19

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