This is the much anticipated nostalgia-adventure motion-capture-animation extravaganza from a pair of superstar producers: StevenSpielberg (Jaws, E.T., Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan, etc.) and PeterJackson (Lord of the Rings Trilogy, King Kong). Spielberg is the director on this project. Tintin the movie derives from the 23 volume comic book adventure series by the Belgian illustrator Herge, about the "boy reporter" Tintin, who, along with his dog Snowy, has adventures and solves mysteries. The Tintin books, most of which were written between 1930 and 1960, are generally set in the 1930's and 40’s, and feature glorious artwork and lots of globetrotting travel to exotic locales via conveyances of the day, such as trains, steamers and aeroplanes.
Tintin the movie is derived/adapted from the 11th book in the series: The Secret of the Unicorn (1943), about the search for a hidden treasure. The look of this film truly captures the period nostalgia, the remarkable color palette, and the humor/adventure tone of Herge’s books. If you enjoyed the books, you'll want to check out the movie.
This film reminded me a lot of Spielberg's Indiana Jones franchise, particularly the first of those pictures: Raiders of the Lost Ark. It’s an affectionate homage to bygone adventure stories, with a blend of non-stop, Perils of Pauline action and exotic, drolly humorous characters and villains. There's Cap'n Haddock, an alcohol addicted seafarer, living with a family curse; Red Rackham, a shrewd and colorful pirate, and his 20th century descendant, the scheming Ivanovich Sakharine; and two ridiculous detectives, Thomson and Thompson, haughty and mutually blockheaded. There's treasure to be got, and hidden parchment clues to be found and fought over.
Like Indiana Jones, Tintin is plucky, smart, and ludicrously resourceful, yet often overlooks important clues and jumps to mistaken conclusions, which leaves us, by turns, amused and exasperated. Unlike Indy, however, the protagonist-hero of this adventure has little personality, and is invariably far less interesting than the rest of the animated ensemble. Snowy, for one, has more personality than Tin Tin - imagine Nick and Nora Charles' Asta on steroids. And Haddock steals every scene he’s in.
The true star of Tintin, however, and the reason to see the movie (unless you've got a 12 year old in tow), is the eye-popping detail and realism of the animation. The use of 3-D techniques is sophisticated and enhances our appreciation, without calling attention to itself. The rendering of the physical environment - a roiling sea, sahara dunes, clothing, skin, etc. - is fantastic. The action sequences have a physical reality to them that CGI effects in live action pictures often lack. Yet, thankfully, it always feels like an animation - it edges closer, but does not attempt cross that (increasingly notional) line separating the "real" world from the cartoon world.
The picture is not dull; it is pure plot-driven action-adventure, from the opening frame to the end. Given the Spielberg - Jackson collaboration, neither the galloping story line nor the remarkable look and feel is surprising. What is surprising, and disappointing, is the lack of heart in this film. This is very much a "comic book" movie (in the pejorative sense), despite its splendid trappings. But it’s a fun ride while it lasts.
In general release in the UK and parts of Europe; opening in the U.S. on December 21, 2011.
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