The Adventures of Tintin: for fans and newcomers alike
by Alexis M. Dy on December 11, 2011
Photo from the Internet
Too often, film adaptations of beloved books, comics and television shows fall short of the expectations of loyal fans. Steven Spielberg’s faithful on take The Adventures of Tintin, offers a charming big-screen version of the classic comic book series. We see Tintin unravel a mystery in a variety of locales, from the pirate lore of the high seas to the Sahara’s dry deserts.
Early on, it becomes clear that the big-screen version strives to be faithful to the comic book tales of the young journalist (voiced by King Kong’s Jamie Bell) and his dog Snowy. The opening credits itself pay homage to several of Tintin’s past adventures from the comic books. There is also a scene where a street artist reveals his portrait of the protagonist, and the caricature looks exactly like the Tintin from the comics, drawn by Belgian artist Hergé.
As the movie goes on, there are plenty more references to the original series for Tintin fans to enjoy. Some are more overt than others, such as the fact that the film is based on three of the comic books (The Crab with the Golden Claws, The Secret of the Unicorn and Red Rackham’s Treasure). Familiar supporting characters also appear, such as the kleptomaniac pickpocket Aristides Silk (Captain America: The First Avenger’s Toby Jones) and Thomson and Thompson (Star Trek’s Simon Pegg and Nick Frost), the blundering, mustached pair of detectives.
However, this is not to say that those new to the Tintin fandom will have a hard time getting to know the intrepid redhead. The film’s quick-paced plot will draw you in, making it impossible for viewers to resist rooting for the clever detective.
Central to the swashbuckling, globetrotting plot are the whiskey-loving seafarer Captain Haddock (Andy Serkis from The Lord of the Rings) and the slick Ivan Ivanovitch Sakharine (current Bond actor Daniel Craig). When a model of Sir Francis Haddock’s sailing ship, the Unicorn, is purchased, Tintin is pulled into a mystery left behind by its captain. As he tries to help Captain Haddock figure out his ancestor’s clues, he must also foil Sakharine’s attempts to beat them to the punch and determine the reasons behind his involvement.
The all-star effort behind The Adventures of Tintin shines through as well. Craig lends his voice to the villain Sakharine, and plays up the character’s sinister nature. Steven Moffat (Doctor Who) pens a script that contains equal parts action, humor and suspense. With the skillful hands of Spielberg, Peter Jackson and Kathleen Kennedy, the combination of motion capture and animation make a visually stunning watch. Despite being computer-generated, Snowy’s silly antics and anthropomorphic facial expressions often steal the scene.
The film’s photorealistic treatment is more than enough to make the elaborate action sequences leap off the screen, so watching in 3D doesn’t make that much of a difference. All these elements are brought together by John Williams’ (Harry Potter) masterful score, which does its part in setting each scene’s mood.
Overall, The Adventures of Tintin is a fun, thrilling film that everyone will enjoy. With an ending that leaves room for at least one sequel (Spielberg plans for the franchise to be a trilogy), there will surely be more Tintin to look forward to. In the meantime, the comic books are always there to relive the childhood memories.
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Produced by Peter Jackson, Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy
Screenplay by Steven Moffat, Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish
Starring Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis, Daniel Craig, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost
Music by John Williams
Distributed by Paramount Pictures and Columbia Pictures
