While hectic at times, The Adventures of Tintin is a fun, energetic, and faithful adaptation of a beloved character.

Film Review

Title: The Adventures of Tintin

Director: Steven Spielberg

Cast: Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis, Daniel Craig

Runtime: 107 minutes

Release Date: December 21, 2011

Reviewed by Rhys Dowbiggin 

Any child raised without the entertainment of the Tintin franchise should feel robbed. For any child with a hint of imagination and grandeur, Tintin is one of the best characters. He traversed the globe with his trusted pooch Snowy, unraveling mysteries - an Indiana Jones on paper. Of all the great cartoons of my youth, Tintin may be the best.

The Adventures of Tintin is based on the classic Tintin story, the Secret of the Unicorn, as our hero searches for the treasures of a lost ship. Naturally, with the assistance of Snowy, the sobriety-challenged Captain Haddock, and the clueless sleuths Thompson and Thompson, Tintin follows the trail doggedly. 

The story itself is wonderful and fun. That can easily be said. What really matters is the execution of the technical aspects of the film. In the hands of technical wizard Steven Spielberg, one can make the assumption to expect good things. You would not be disappointed for placing your trusts as such.

An aspect of the film that worked sensationally was the animation. Few CGI films released over the years genuinely make leaps in the animation department. One tends to look like the other. The Adventures of Tintin is the rare film that provides the benchmark that all subsequent CGI films need to be judged against. Sharp and remarkably fluid, the animation tends not to be used as a gimmick but an advantage. That can also be said about the 3D technology. Mostly relegated to a marketing ploy, the 3D in this film (and similarly in the hands of true filmmakers and not the studios) is noticeably complementary of the composition. It adds depth and layers to the sets, rather than having images jump on top of us. Top-quality work here.

The voice-work is sensational, with Andy Serkis stealing the show as Captain Haddock. The motion-capture is also tremendously fluid, with the characters being incredibly dynamic for an animated film. Spielberg, as he usually does, continues to champion the technological advancements of the film industry. And he collaborated with Peter Jackson on this one, another filmmaker who has always been on the cutting edge.

That said, Spielberg sets the action on overdrive. Running a mere 107 minutes, the film contains nearly as much action as a film 45 minutes longer. Scene-to-scene is set to a breakneck pace which, at times, can be draining. While entertaining, one feels as if they should take a nap when it is all said and done.

The Adventures of Tintin is well worth your money (taking into account the 3D price is ridiculous in the first place). While hectic at times, it is a fun, energetic, and faithful adaptation of a beloved character.

Written by :

rdowb