Biff! Bolt! Bang! Powell!
If we were to cross The Bourne Identity with a sweet-if-not-self-absorbed super pup named Bolt, the likely result
should equate to a furry-faced Mutt Damon who can't remember how to play dead or fetch the paper... right? Perhaps.
What we can be sure of are exciting action sequences, irrespective of mutt or man, thanks to
composer John Powell's excitingly thunderous musical energy. Having penned all of the Bourne scores, Powell
delivers authoritative action adventure tunes for Bolt's big unplanned journey back home after being accidentally shipped far away
from home and owner. The two voiceover stars, John Travolta and Miley Cyrus (aka Hannah Montana), kick off the
Bolt soundtrack CD with staple pop fab ("I Thought I Lost You"), followed by Rilo Kiley's
Jenny Lewis singing "Barking at the Moon." We love Jenny's lyrics, and always wondered what a younger Emmylou Harris might sound
like singing praise for the gift of home and family (even if disguised as puppy yearning). But by far the most important
musical moment (if an entire film can be a "moment") is Powell's crafty original score. Sure, we've heard the
Bourne-like action music before... it's just background stuff for wild visuals. What we don't hear very often in movies is when background music
becomes foreground anthem: in a moment of frenzy, Bolt gathers strength and courage to overcome by humming his own theme on screen.
Brilliant. We find great pleasure in listening to Powell's theme transform through music as the soundtrack unfolds: from a gentle
rendition on celesta ("Meet Bolt") to a fully energized super hero version ("Rescuing Penny")... it's all here. Cheering for a
dog has never been so easy... or fun!
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