How’s your thirst for adventure? Steven Spielberg takes us back in time not only for a film inspired by one of the most popular comics of the 20th century but back to a time of a true action and adventure experience wrapped in a thrilling mystery. Produced by Peter Jackson, written by Steven Moffat, Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish and animated by Weta Digital, The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn had a dream team working on it from top to bottom. It mainly mixed three of the original comic books: The Crab with the Golden Claws (1941), Red Rackham’s Treasure (1944), and of course, The Secret of the Unicorn (1943). While the precise motion-capture couldn’t compare to Hergé’s original execution of his characters, it delivered a new fascination for the current generation to enjoy. So don’t expect as much nostalgia but do expect a great viewing experience.
The script does a wonderful job introducing the audience to Tintin and the whole premise quickly. Even if you have no idea what the source material is about, you will get it within the first 10 minutes where you see the new animated Tintin get a caricature of himself which shows the original inked boy journalist. You meet his amazing dog Snowy and get swept right into the mystery of the Unicorn. From here, the story never stops and you’re taken on a whirlwind adventure by sea, air, and everything in between. By mixing many different plots in one, the filmmakers were able to explore more of the Tintin universe and splice together various story lines to keep the momentum and the pace quick. However, you never forgot the main story at hand.
Tintin with Captain Haddock
The cast was as impressive as the men behind the scenes. The motion capture and voices were provided by the likes of Daniel Craig, Jamie Bell, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, and motion capture legend/guru Andy Serkis. With every mocap film, Weta Digital somehow tops itself and delivers a more seamless experience letting you forget your even watching an animated feature. It was a weird mix…even though it looked extremely lifelike, The Adventures of Tintin still had it’s cartoony feel. That is, except for Thompson and Thomson (whose slapstick I thoroughly enjoyed) who looked like they still belonged in the comics. Captain Haddock is also on board as the alcoholic that doesn’t remember anything about anything. Along with him comes overbearing themes of alcoholism, responsibility and self-empowerment making the movie a lesson for kids.
Thompson and Thomson or is it Thomson and Thompson
The 3D was used well but again, not drastically enough. The best implementations were the particle effects that were unlike any other movie. They added a strong feeling of depth in their scenes that can’t be duplicated using 2D cameras. Even with the fast moving action scenes, the 3D didn’t get too crazy or give headaches so in the end it just made the visuals pop that much more. I would actually recommend watching this one in 3D because animated films do gain the most from the 3D technology. The score was very ominous and orchestral making it seem like you were watching something more epic than it actually was. It did create a great mood though and when the big action scenes took place, it was the perfect match.
Blistering Barnacles!
The biggest win for this production, however, was a chaotic sequence which never seemed to end. It was very reminiscent of the Indiana Jones days where everything fell into place and the characters had to pull off stunts just at the nick of time. Of course, this is a lot easier to accomplish when every movement is animated by a computer rather than a stunt double. In the end though, the action scene came out so well that it makes you want to watch the entire film again just to watch that portion. If it was on DVD or DVR, you would instantly rewind it back to see again. The whole movie is ok up until that point but then Tintin blasts into full force and dazzles you with the unbelievable. It was really fun and that alone made the movie enjoyable for me. If you’re ready for a big dose of action adventure, The Adventures of Tintin is an amusement ride in the form of a movie and you should probably watch it because the sequel is already in the works. Great Snakes!
Tags: Andy Serkis, Daniel Craig, Edgar Wright, Jamie Bell, Joe Cornish, Nick Frost, Peter Jackson, Simon Pegg, Steven Moffat, Steven Spielberg, The Adventures of Tintin, The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn, Weta Digital
Matthew Fong created advancescreenings.com and is the lead contributor. He watches every type of movie and will try almost anything twice. You can follow him on twitter here: @matthewfong
