Unquenchable thirst
THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN
The Secret of the Unicorn
Director: Steven Spielberg
Certificate: PG
Running time: 107 minutes
Director Steven Spielberg and producer Peter Jackson’s adaptation of Herge’s classic Tintin comics uses the technique of performance capture animation.
This allows the actors’ performances to be translated very closely to the CGI in the finished film. This works effectively, though the design is still important, and not all of the visual details from the comics translate perfectly.
Technical excellence
The intrepid reporter Tintin (Jamie Bell) and his faithful dog Snowy, investigate scrolls hidden in replica ships, which purport to reveal the fabled treasure of Red Rackham. Along the way, they enlist the help of the drunken, blundering Captain Haddock (Andy Serkis) and the bumbling detectives Thompson and Thomson (Simon Pegg and Nick Frost), and come up against the mysterious Sakharine (Daniel Craig), who’s determined to reach the treasure first.
The technical aspects of the film are very well executed, though for fans of the comics, the visual faithfulness of the film varies. It’s clearly intended as a tribute, keeping very close to the comics’ visual style, but in the places where it falls short (particularly early on), this only serves as a jarring distraction, taking the viewer out of the film.
The humour of the books largely translates, though. The film is at its best when it settles in to action adventure, like a rousing sea battle and an audacious motorbike and airborne chase. The use of 3D is very effective, giving visual depth to the world of Tintin. Tintin is basically a straightforward adventure movie, with a couple of interesting thematic elements, though these are not explored all that deeply.
As in the books, Captain Haddock’s alcoholism is treated both as a joke and as a problem. Upon discovering a statue, Tintin exclaims: ‘St. John the Evangelist! I wonder what he’s trying to tell us…’ However, it turns out to be just a clue, rather than anything of theological significance.
The film ends on a note of ‘unquenchable’ thirst for adventure, which is fitting as it’s the first part of a proposed trilogy.
However, ultimately neither alcohol nor adventure nor anything else of this world will satisfy; only a relationship with Jesus through his death on the cross can do that.
Overall, Tintin is a moderately entertaining, semi-successful adaptation. And if you’re not familiar with the comics, it may in fact be more enjoyable than otherwise, without specific expectations to measure it against.
