| The Adventures of Tintin (2011) | |
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Rating: 7.3/10 (243,278 votes) Director: Steven Spielberg Writer: Hergé, Steven Moffat, Edgar Wright Stars: Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis, Daniel Craig Runtime: 107 min Rated: PG Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure Released: 21 Dec 2011 |
| Plot: Intrepid reporter Tintin and Captain Haddock set off on a treasure hunt for a sunken ship commanded by Haddock's ancestor. | |
My history with Tintin in book and animated form to date goes back to my very first library card, and was the subject of a previous article entry (so I won’t go into repetitive detail here). Suffice to say that this was one of the most anticipated films this year for myself. If it managed to capture the book well enough, it would be classed as one of the top cinematic moments of 2011. If it missed the mark, it would become as lambasted as the Transformers franchise, or Indy 4 are.
Well, if I start my review by saying, “Thank you Spielberg and Jackson!!” then that should give you an idea as to what this fan of Tintin thought overall. Before I go on any further, it is worth noting that I am a bit of a fan or the character and adventures that Herge wrote, and so may be a tad over-enthusiastic at parts.
Secret of the Unicorn was actually the 11th book in the series to be released, so outsiders to the franchise may wonder why the decision was made to start off so far into the saga. After all, there are some amazing adventures before this book, such as The Black Island, The Blue Lotus, or King Ottokar’s Sceptre. However, this book is seen as many fans as the moment when the characters all gelled together, with Haddock (who had been brought into the series as a support for tow book previous) becoming a partner and counter-foil to Tintin, adding a different dynamic to the adventures. In order to make the introduction of Haddock fit, elements of Crab With The Golden Claws have been written into the film, and the tweak works well without slowing down the core story.
The basic story sees Tintin purchase a model ship, and immediately find himself hounded by others who want to buy it from him. Sensing a story, he begins to investigate the mysterious Unicorn (the name of the ship), and finds himself embroiled in an adventure which will throw him, and his faithful dog Snowy, into peril and danger at every turn.
“It’s your finger, you fool!”
Utilising a motion-capture CGI method of film-making, with the CGI characters given a hyper-real look, really manages to keep the tale cartoon-like, but also beautifully realistic. The level of detail in every frame is simple staggering. A sly reference to the look of the original comic serials is proffered at the start of the film, with Tintin being sketched by a street caricature artist. There was some hesitance from the fan community to the look of the film, but I honestly say that it really works to capture the characters perfectly, whilst not alienating audiences not familiar with the adventures. The Thompsons in particular are finely represented in all their bumbling glory.
But it is the action, set pieces, and rapid pace that really make the film work. The story never slows down, and some action sequences are so filled with detail and complexity that it demands multiple viewings to really appreciate all the elements of the chase or fight. One particular scene, involving the chase after a falcon to get back some parchment scraps is gloriously packed with comedy, tension, action and thrill as the multiple characters all fight past each other to retrieve the bird and the parchments.
Back when Raiders of the Lost Ark was released, one critic described it as being similar in style to the Tintin adventures. Spielberg sought out the books and realised that they were right – the stories of Tintin had so much in common with his Indiana Jones film, from adventure, clue hunting, lost treasure, globe-trotting, and fiendish villains working against them. Now, in 2011, Spielberg has crafted the best Indiana Jones film since Last Crusade, only the character of Indy is played by Tintin, and Sallah has become Haddock.
This is a great action adventure for all the family to enjoy, and is unmissable for fans of Herge’s young reporter. A glorious adventure for all ages.
