The Adventures of Tintin: Review By Diaigma

Dec 19th, 2011 by Diaigma
Packed with fine performances and a smooth script, coupled with an unquenchable adventure, Spielberg and Jackson achieved in their first try with Motion Capture what Zemeckis failed to accomplish in almost a decade.
  • OVERALL
    4.5
    SUPERB
  • Story
  • Acting
  • Directing
  • Visuals
"How's your thirst for adventure, Captain?" - Tintin

Many iconic adventurers have made their fame over the years. Nathan Drake, Lara Croft, Indiana Jones, and James Bond come to mind, but few on this side of the Atlantic know of Tintin, the original globe-trotting, break-neck adventurer. Starting his beginnings in the small country of Belgium, Hergé's youthful redheaded reporter with a quaff and his faithful dog Snowy entered the scene in 1929 under a French publication. Since then, The Adventures of Tintin became one of the most popular comics of the 20th century. With its expressive illustrations and Tintin's travelings, readers of all ages have enjoyed and understood the action, humor, and many daring adventures without even having to read the words. This created an unprecedented success and massive world-wide appeal. Generations have come and gone since then, the comics made into animated shorts, a French film, and a TV series, but no medium has given Tintin the creative justice it deserves. Until now.

Packed with fine performances and a smooth script, coupled with an unquenchable adventure, Spielberg and Jackson achieved in their first try with Motion Capture what Zemeckis failed to accomplish in almost a decade.

After having his portrait drawn in the village market, young journalist Tintin is impressed by a Man-Of-War replica called The Unicorn. Seconds after purchasing the model, two different men try to buy it from him. Finding their behavior strange, Tintin returns home, where his dog Snowy accidentally breaks the middle mast. And something's inside the mast; a tiny cylinder that contains an old parchment. Sparking Tintin's lead for a possible story, he sets out to learn more about the ship when he is suddenly abducted and taken captive, along with Haddock, a drunken sea captain. This unlikely duo must rely on each other to escape with their lives and obtain the other scrolls before Sakharine collects on the greatest sunken treasure in history.

Shortly after Raider's of the Lost Ark's debut, Spielberg heard French critics compare the first Indiana Jones adventure to The Adventures of Tintin, something that Spielberg had never heard about. He looked into it, did some reading, and instantly fell in love with it. Naturally, Spielberg wanted to make a movie of it. And Hergé, Tintin's creator, was confident that only Spielberg could do the character justice. The rights were optioned and Hergé later passed away, leaving Spielberg with yet another legacy to film. The problem? How do you film a character like Tintin and maintain his cartoony charm without making it look ridiculous? If you have ever seen the live action French version, you'll know what I mean. One of the many joys of Tintin is its vast collection of characters with their unique body shapes and distorted noses. Spielberg also knew that Tintin deserved better than an animated interpretation. That's where Jackson's WETA came in. And Jackson, being a fan of Tintin his whole life, was more than ready to jump on board.

And a winning team they make.

This film is an adaptation of three Tintin adventures: The Crab with the Golden Claws, The Secret of the Unicorn, and Red Rackham's Treasure. As a fan of the material, I was surprisingly impressed and not at all dismayed by the film's interweaving of the three plots. And I'm glad some things were left out (no shark submersible - thank you). In a way, this story arrangement made the adventure come alive for me, all over again, not knowing it was going to take me beyond the edge of my seat. You should have seen the big 'ol smile on my face. I felt like a boy again.

Tintin is a gorgeous film. If you're near an IMAX, watch it there, and in 3D. I was lucky to get an early 2D screening (and plan on an IMAX 3D screening on opening day), and there is nothing in this film that would denote cheesy misuse of 3D. Tintin is not just an entertaining film. It's an experience. And I never use that term lightly. The settings are captivating, rich, and lavish. It is also incredibly texturalized, unlike any animated film to date. The characters are engrossing, engaging, and entertaining, right down to the kleptomaniac.

Williams returns with a unique score that echoes his trademark style, including an opening suite that pays tribute to the silhouetted title sequences of classic French caper films. There are touches of Harry Potter and Indiana Jones notes in Tintin's score, if you listen closely.

When it comes the acting, everyone is perfect. Jamie Bell gives Tintin the best voice of all the previous pretenders, youthful and non-wimpish. Andy Serkis, the master of Motion Capture, steals the show with his interpretation of Captain Haddock. Daniel Craig dons the villain cap as Sakharine, a crooked collector with a pet falcon. Even the voice of our present Mr. Bond sounds more animated and sinister than anything he's done yet. And the brief scene with Bianca Castafiore brings a little girl power to a male dominated cast.

The small things that irked me from giving The Adventures of Tintin a perfect score has nothing to do with the animated eyes or the captured motion, but rather, the "constant" motion. Though understandable on a sea-fairing vessel, the camera sways and moves throughout the entire film. You can literally count the number of still shots on one hand. Thankfully, the camera work is smooth and never jostles, keeping the action and details from blurring into obscurity. But that constant camera sway left me feeling a little seasick, albeit, after returning from an unforgettable journey.

Spielberg did not lie when he promised that Tintin would be filled with shameless adventure, including a few thrilling action sequences and one of the longest continuing action sequences of his career (it's seriously four minutes long without ever cutting the camera to another angle). As a lifelong Tintin fan, I am deeply satisfied and thirsty for more. And thanks to its overseas success, I can look forward to another swig with Jackson's directorial take on Tintins next adventure, Prisoners of the Sun.

Don't be a tin-hatted troglodyte. Go see Tintin!

(By Movieweb's Diaigma: resemblance to other reviews is coincidental)

Do you like this review?

Comments (34)

  1. Diaigma

    @Zak-F - I don't have a problem being harsh. You make something and put it out there, it's up for public scrutiny. It's just that Zemeicks literally spent ten years working with a promising technology to compensate for storytelling. Someone has to step up and say, "I think you're better than this, sir." This is just my way of putting it.

    And thanks, man. As busy as I've been, I'm afraid my reviews will be limited to the films I'm most passionate about seeing. Stay tuned :)

    4 months agoby @diaigmaFlag

  2. Bane. Ferguson

    Again a great review, one of which i bet you were dying to pour your heart and soul into

    4 months agoby @Zak-FFlag

  3. Bane. Ferguson

    That is a tad harsh @diaigma
    Zemeicks did introduce us with motion-capture in film! As bad as it might have been and point logic- was he the one animating?- no!
    Without "his" failures there may never have been The Adventures Of Tin-Tin! Also i quite liked A Christmas Carol

    4 months agoby @Zak-FFlag

  4. XxNickTheFilmCriticXx

    @diaigma -- Outstanding review, sir.

    5 months agoby @XxNickTheFilmCriticXxFlag

  5. IlikePie202

    @diaigma Excellent job, will see this tonight!

    5 months agoby @Ilikepie202Flag

  6. Diaigma

    @mattbierwagen - thank you! I need to get back into the groove. My review writing is lacking.

    @slysnide - I'll be the first to tell you it's not the greatest film I've ever seen, but it sure was good and beautiful. I totally want seconds!

    5 months agoby @diaigmaFlag

  7. slysnide

    @diaigma: I was blown away by the animation in the trailer. To put it in perspective, last saturday night I was watching "Toy Story" on tv and thought, "damn that really was good animation," and during the commercials the "Tintin" tv spots would play and I'd just be blown away at how far animation had come in 16yrs. Seeing as "Toy Story" was the first full length, and this was the latest and first to use such superb animation. I do wanna see this movie. It looks and sounds pretty good.

    5 months agoby @slysnideFlag

  8. Worth5Bucks

    @diaigma ITS IT! ITS HERE! THE REVIEW WEVE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR! Fantastic return! Well done!

    5 months agoby @mattbierwagenFlag

  9. Diaigma

    @slysnide - wow! Thank you. I didn't know anyone was actually waiting for this review, especially that long. I'm glad you enjoyed the read. And the movie, when you get a chance, eh? ;)

    This is seriously one of the best and most faithfully inventive adaptations I've seen in years.

    5 months agoby @diaigmaFlag

  10. slysnide

    @diaigma: I've seriously been waiting almost all year for you to write this review. From the moment you expressed how much you loved the material, and how faithful you felt the adaptation would be based on trailers and news articles, I knew this review in particular would be something special. Nice job. ~sly

    5 months agoby @slysnideFlag

  11. Diaigma

    @moviegeek - I remember that now. It's a stretch, but it ended before there was anything concrete.

    A man getting shot isn't all that noteworthy?

    ...

    You're cold, man :P

    5 months agoby @diaigmaFlag

  12. moviegeek

    @diaigma Have you read Tintin and the Alph-art? Because there's kind of a love interest there for him. Not really, but definitely a possibility. Herge obviously wasn't around to clarify his rough draft in a sense.

    I think Calculus would be irritating in a movie. He's more essential in Picaros anyways, which, from the sounds of it, is what they're targeting in the second film?

    The guy entering Tintin's apt got shot, yea? Was that the first time that happened or something? Because that still doesn't seem all that noteworthy :P

    5 months agoby @moviegeekFlag

  13. Diaigma

    @moviegeek - Man. Gets. Shot.

    And I like history. And Calculus :P

    (fair warning, he's not in this movie)

    As for Tintin, good point. Considering he's a young man with a dog and he never has a girlfriend, or even a love interest in any of the books, maybe we don't want to know :P

    5 months agoby @diaigmaFlag

  14. moviegeek

    @diaigma I like Red Rackham's Treasure (partially because I love Calculus).

    But why did we need to know Haddock's heritage? I mean, we never hear anything about Tintin's heritage? :P And sure, the klepto is funny. Not really 'something happening' though.

    5 months agoby @moviegeekFlag

  15. Diaigma

    @moviegeek - Seven Crystal Balls. I can't argue with you there.

    Unicorn and Treasure are like one story in two parts. And really? Nothing happens? Haddock's heritage? The kleptomaniac? Even a man get's shot, man! :P

    5 months agoby @diaigmaFlag

  16. moviegeek

    @diaigma The moon one is the worst by far. I like tintin in America!

    You have to be kidding me! Secret of the Unicorn is SO wordy and dull. Hardly anything happens in it! About a third of it is that pointless flashback to Sir Francis Haddock. It's some neat history, but it really doesn't add to the story at all in the long run.

    Seven Crystal Balls is the best I think.

    5 months agoby @moviegeekFlag

  17. Diaigma

    @moviegeek - blasphemer! :D

    It's way better than the Moon one. And the American one. You can't argue with that.

    5 months agoby @diaigmaFlag

  18. moviegeek

    @diaigma *pulls foot out of mouth* Coulda sworn you had it. Guess that's a good and bad thing :P

    And, yeah, I can agree on Zemeckis going over-the-top. Especially with beowulf. Yikes.

    5 months agoby @moviegeekFlag

  19. moviegeek

    @dan1 Freshen up! (though I will note The Secret of the Unicorn is one of my least favorite TinTin books)

    http://www.scribd.com/doc/10202942/09-Tintin-and-the-Crabs-With-the-Golden-Claws

    http://www.scribd.com/doc/10204893/11-Tintin-and-the-Secret-of-the-Unicorn

    http://www.scribd.com/doc/10207009/12-Tintin-and-the-Red-Rackhams-Treasure

    5 months agoby @moviegeekFlag

  20. Diaigma

    @moviewiz001 - episode? You mean the animated show from the 90s? Those episodes are practically identical to the comics.

    @dan1 - get ready to have your blank mind blown! :D

    5 months agoby @diaigmaFlag

  21. Dan

    @diaigma I'm glad I know virtually nothing about Tintin. I get to go in with a blank mind and have the movie fill in the details. Excellent review.

    5 months agoby @dan1Flag

  22. Diaigma

    Thanks, @corey @bawnian-dexeus @moviewiz001 @forrestgump1- I have a lot of catching up to do. More reviews coming.

    @moviegeek - I didn't actually have a problem with Zemeckis' motion capture. It was his gimmicky approach to it. All show and no story. Or slaughter classic stories. But, dude. Jackson and Co REALLY took MC to the next level. It's brilliant. You'll love it.

    Nope. Snowy doesn't talk to us.

    Wait, I became official? *looks up* where's that little red stamp? :/

    5 months agoby @diaigmaFlag

  23. moviegeek

    Oh, and I love how you became official, and then wrote like one review from then until now :P

    5 months agoby @moviegeekFlag

  24. moviegeek

    @diaigma Okay so many things!

    1) I've been curious how they would handle Snowy. In the comic he always makes asides and comments to the reader, but I was hoping they would eliminate anything like that from the film.

    2) IMAX has bailed on Tintin and gone for M:I. I can't find an IMAX (legit one, not "lie"MAX) showing this at any time :((

    3) I know you don't like Zemeckis' motion capture, but i don't think you give it enough credit. It really did pave the way for what Spielberg managed here.

    4) I hate you for getting to see this early. GAH. I may not even be able to go until Thursday!!

    5 months agoby @moviegeekFlag

  25. Bawnian©-Dexeus

    @diaigma Bro, welcome back. Splendid review. I will see this christmas day. I am now 100% sure to do what it takes to see this

    5 months agoby @bawnian-dexeusFlag

  26. MovieWiz001

    @diaigma Great review, dude. And thanks for the info about Spielberg's interest. And one more thing: Was the episodes The Secret of the Unicorn and Red Rackham's Treasure just like the books

    5 months agoby @moviewiz001Flag

  27. Forrestgump1

    Seeing this FRIDAY! .. great review as always

    5 months agoby @forrestgump1Flag

  28. Corey

    Excellent comeback review @diaigma. Its going into my favorites. I absolutely loved this film and cannot wait for the second one! Seeing it again Wednesday night (possibly) in IMAX, the way I should have seen the first time.

    5 months agoby @coreyFlag

  29. Diaigma

    Oh, yeah. @corey won't want to miss this :P

    5 months agoby @diaigmaFlag

  30. Jay.A.Ottley

    Ahhhhh because the way the expression was made, sounded it was about the rights.

    But i agree, Tin Tin is the finest motion capture technology to date, in my opinion.

    5 months agoby @jayaottleyFlag