Soundtrack Review: Bolt (2008)

Posted by Jorn Tillnes

December 19, 2008

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112508 0806 soundtrackr12 Soundtrack Review: Bolt (2008) This is a review of the motion picture score for Bolt by John Powell.

“There is no doubt that John Powell has managed to compose another great animated movie score”

John Powell has had a very busy year with release after release. This is his third score for an animated movie coming out this year. He seems to be an expert in that field by the looks of it. First there was the great “Horton Hears a Who” and then there was the almost equally great collaboration with Hans Zimmer for “Kung Fu Panda”. Previously he has composed for Chicken Run, Ice Age and others so his pedigree is certainly not in question. See what I did there? Bolt is Disney’s latest movie about a dog who has powers, superhero powers, or does he? It was interesting to hear John Powells approach to this score and I feared it might be the same like Hancock, but luckily I was mistaken.

Track List

I Thought I Lost You (by Miley Cyrus & John Travolta)
Barking At The Moon (by Jenny Lewis)
Meet Bolt
Bolt Transforms
Scooter Chase
New York
Meet Mittens
The Rv Park
A Fast Train
Where Were You On St. Rhino’s Day
Sing-Along Rhino
Saving Mittens
House On Wheels
Las Vegas
A Friend In Need
Rescuing Penny
A Real Live Superbark
Unbelievable TV
Home At Last/Barking At The Moon (Reprise) (By Jenny Lewis)

Action-Oriented

John Powell’s approach to this score is not in the way of Horton, or Hancock, but a more action-oriented superhero like score which sends a message to The Incredibles composer Michael Giacchino: That’s the way to do it! Now it’s not all fun and games here either as some cues suggests. The score itself starts with “Meet Bolt” and by the look of things, we don’t have much to look forward too, but there’s more than meets the eye because even though the first cue is a bit weak around the ankles Powell delivers true Jason Bourne greatness with “Bolt Transforms”, which in fact sounds like it could have been in one of the Bourne movies. A great cue which pretty much sets the standard with an awesome intro that transforms into a top action cue with horns, percussion and strings. The best cue on the score.

“Scooter Chase” is another good action cue from Mr. Powell as he keeps on delivering with these rather short, but enjoyable bits of music. It’s Powell where we want him, and he is hungry for more. It’s quite delightful to hear some really good action from John Powell again after the disappointing Jumper and Hancock earlier this year. By this time in the soundtrack you might be forgiven for thinking that there is no way he can slip up, but that’s exactly what he does, but not quite yet. “New York” is a slow comedic cue which reminds me of those old Tom & Jerry cartoons at funny moments, at least the fist half. It’s a sleeper, but wait, it gets worse.

Don’t Do Waltz Mr. Powell

Waltz isn’t John Powell’s forte and it shows in “Meet Mittens” which can be forgiven because the cue is only 1:26, but he can do a lot better than this. Where’s the excitement? It’s a lifeless cue which is best forgotten. The misery doesn’t end there though as he delivers yet another disappointing track in “The RV Park”, which is a slow oboe filling in over some stick drums with a terrible piano theme for good measure. It adds to the pain that the cue is over 2 minutes. Enough already! We want Powell back! Luckily like Bolt, he transforms, at least gliding just above passable.

Action-Powell is back again with “A Fast Train” which is quite enjoyable, although doesn’t quite reach the level of excitement as his previous action cues. You have all the elements of hurried composing here, perhaps too hurried, but it does have the pace of a fast train. To all of you who wonders if this is all action, I can happily reply to you that it’s not all that and I am glad that it isn’t even though I love Action-Powell. He provides us with a nice emotional cue in “Where Were You On St. Rhino’s Day” which plays on emotions with a nice heroic French horn with sweeping strings. It’s a very nice cue which almost sounds like something Bill Conti would make in his glory days.

A funny cue is “Sing-Along Rhino” which invokes many fun things in my mind, but anyway, there is this crazy singing in the beginning of it, almost like a hero gone mad. I like it! Mittens is back, but don’t worry folks. Mittens have learned his lesson in “Saving Mittens” which is a very hurried action cue, which at times leaves me without breath, but not for it’s greatness, but it’s so quick and fast, phew. “House On Wheels” we get to hear a little of the deeper emotions of this movie, which isn’t far of “Where Were You On St. Rhino’s Day”, but just as it is about to fly it falls a little flat. We are going to Las Vegas next in the cue called, yep you guessed it, “Las Vegas”. It’s also a more slower cue built on a more joyful theme which transcends into the deep mind of John Powell. He certainly has a lot of imagination, which certainly helped for Bolt.

The Themes

I haven’t talked much about themes, but there is an underlying theme and it’s quite complex, but it isn’t really used in a way that makes it memorable. Perhaps closest is “A Friend In Need” who tries to make it bigger than it is and it partly works. Powell opts to use more force from his orchestra and it pulls off quite nicely. Did anyone say action? There’s nothing slow and somber about “Rescuing Penny” as you’ll find out if you get the score. I’m sure I’ve heard the theme material Powell uses here in that song, but unfortunately I can’t place it. Aah now it dawns on me, it’s from Pirates Of The Caribbean and some other movies, which makes it very interesting to see the actual scene where Penny is rescued. Very interesting choice by Powell to use themes from previous work done by other composers, a bold move in the current landmine of academy award disqualifications.

We are nearing the end to this lengthy review, sorry about that folks, I just felt the need to really write something and Bolt (and you) were the victims. Bear with me just a little longer as “A Real Live Superbark” takes us in, like an intro to a magical ending, an ending only worthy of Disney. In a few cues he uses the traditional Disney glitter sound by the way. “Unbelievable TV” it may be, but it’s not so unbelievable that John Powell has made this awesome action cue which has an action theme on it’s own, I call it the superhero theme, and Volt might have the best of them all. For me, it’s the climax of the score and please play it loud and wake the neighbours. It’s really really good. We end peacefully in “Home At Last/Barking At The Moon (Reprise) also sung by Jenny Lewis which has another song on this soundtrack called “Barking At The Moon” which is a decent folky kind of song, but the real highlight (dare I admit it?) is John Travolta(!!!!) & Miley Cyrus (!!!!!!!!!!!) supercatchy song “I Thought I Lost You”. It’s made just for being that annoying tune that will be on my mind for weeks. Once more the record industry fools me!

Conclusion

There is no doubt that John Powell has managed to compose another great animated movie score. Is it better than Horton? What about Kung Fu Panda? Maybe, maybe not. All I know after hearing Powell’s greatest and latest, I salute this great master of scores such as this. I am so happy Powell has gotten back to match-winning form after the whole Jumper and Hancock debacle. Bolt is bold and full of great Powell action cues, so what are you waiting for? Don’t wait for another Bourne to come out and get an early preview!

112508 0806 soundtrackr21 Soundtrack Review: Bolt (2008)