Today’s quick review: The Adventures of Tintin. Tintin (Jamie Bell), an intrepid, boyish reporter, finds himself in the middle of an adventure when he stumbles across a model ship in a market: The Unicorn, a 17th-century man-of-war that was sunk in the West Indies. The model contains a secret message left by Sir Francis Haddock, the captain of The Unicorn and its sole survivor. But Tintin is not the only one after the secret of The Unicorn. He is pursued by a villainous man named Sakharine (Daniel Craig) who wants Tintin’s model and the message it contains. Aided by Captain Haddock (Andy Serkis), the last remaining descendant of Sir Francis Haddock; Thomson and Thompson (Nick Frost and Simon Pegg), a pair of bumbling Interpol agents; and his faithful dog Snowy, Tintin races to stay one step ahead of Sakharine and decipher the clue left by Sir Francis.
The Adventures of Tintin is an action adventure film based on the beloved Tintin comics by Herge. The adaptation features breathtaking CGI animation, outstanding prodution quality, and all the action and adventure one could hope for. Tintin himself drives the plot through his fearless investigative spirit, ably captured by Jamie Bell. No question can remain unanswered for long once Tintin is on the case, and his resourcefulness sees him out of the dangerous scrapes he finds himself in. Snowy is his constant companion, an intelligent dog who aids Tintin in his investigations. Andy Serkis plays the comical Captain Haddock, a blustering, jovial man who spends most of his time tipsy. The main cast is rounded out by Daniel Craig as Sakharine, a gentlemanly villain whose schemes provide urgency and danger for Tintin’s adventure.
The movie’s animation is a marvel of technology. Every detail is rendered with the kind of fidelity that only the largest productions can afford, and even the most difficult problems of lighting, water effects, reflections, and particles are handled with ease. At the same time, The Adventures of Tintin preserves its cartoonish origins with clean character designs, exaggerated facial features, and energetic action. The combination of hyperrealism with cartoon elements can be difficult to get used to, but the reward is animation that exhibits the best of both worlds, all the gorgeous detail that modern CGI is capable of combined with the color and energy of traditional animation.
The pedigree of the film’s production is impressive as well: Steven Spielberg as director, Peter Jackson as producer, a score by John Williams, and a screenplay by Steven Moffat and Edgar Wright. Spielberg takes full advantage of the freedom afforded him by a virtual camera, using sweeping shots, inventive transitions, and stunts that would be impossible in a live action film. The action sequences are elaborate, fast-paced, and entertaining, and they are linked by charming bits of comedy and adventure. The tone is one of bright-eyed adventure, the story one of mystery and travel, and all the peril of the genre comes across without destroying the movie’s innocence.
Fans of adventure, comedy, and visual spectacle will love The Adventures of Tintin. It captures the adventure genre with a quality and a spirit that few movies can hope to match. The film does have its limitations, however, depending on your cinematic tastes. The Adventures of Tintin subscribes to an unabashedly optimistic view of the world, where bravery is rewarded, setbacks are temporary, and peril is not something to be feared but to be embraced. There is no subversion here, only innocent comedy and excitement. For similar reasons, the plot is somewhat simplistic, though its individual stages are fast-moving and mysterious. The extent to which you can dive into the film’s world will govern how much you enjoy it. Anyone with an intact inner child is encouraged to give The Adventures of Tintin a try.
7.4 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it an 8.5 for gorgeous graphics, a vivid imagination, and a keen sense of adventure.