Spielberg's best since Saving Private Ryan

Rating: 9/10 (13 November 2011)

The movie opens with the classic 'Amblin Entertainment' logo, already the audience know they are in for something truly special. Then we have an opening title scene reminiscent of Henry Mancini meets Hitchcock in their hey day, oh how the cinematic juices are on overdrive. Then the story starts, bang wallop the pace is relentless, and the CGI just jaw dropping. In the first 20 mins I have my fingers crossed thinking don't stop, please, this is the most fun I've had in a cinema in a long time, please don't drop the ball, and the movies fast pace just keeps coming. Set piece after set piece, mcguffins, chase sequences, back stabbing, red herrings a plenty and jokes to boot. I haven't laughed this hearty in a cinema for a long time, and the jokes are spot on, not childish or aimed at the tween market but baldy, relevant and delivered with gusto.
The music sweeps me away, and as I'm watching all of cinemas finest moments come rushing back at me and I find myself comparing this movie with cinematic classics like Indiana Jones and Lawrence of Arabia mid movie. I fight the urge to make a conclusion just yet, knowing this movie is still not over and needs a final kick in order to make a final judgement call. I hold my breath as Tintin swerves and dives along sweeping me away into this scrumptious world and finally the movie closes. There's a climactic fight sequence at the end which I find a little out of place with the classier tone of the movie prior and I do wish there was time for a final hurrah something to take Tintin closer to a 10 rather than a 9, but it doesn't happen. The credits roll and the movie is over.
A part of me is sad that I didn't get that last cinematic slap in the face, but I'm satisfied. I think back to what other movie has taken me on such a journey and had made me smile and nothing comes to mind (not even Toy Story 3). I realise that for the duration of the movie I was a kid again, I had somehow gone back to my youth and was thrown back into Saturday mornings in front of the TV. holidays spent prowing the channels at mid day to find a movie treat, weekdays running home to catch the weekly cartoons. How long was I in that world for? 80 mins? maybe 90 mins? Tintin's run time is 104 mins, and none of it wasted.
Spielberg has returned to what he does best. For too long Spielberg has been preoccupied with being a different type of director, one that is more refined and tackling the political and the social, to the point where he was in danger of being forgotten Copolla or Lucas style into the great cannon of directors who were once great but now passed their prime. Tintin has him roaring back into the hearts and minds of the mainstream and will surely unleash a new franchise that will be eagerly anticipated in the years to come. Rumour has it Peter Jackson has secured the sequel, Guillermo DelToro is attached creatively. Spielberg has surrounded himself with the new crop of creative minds in the field and the results are sheer bliss for the cinema goer.
Special mention must go to Andy Serkis for delivering some high quality voice acting, this guy just keeps morphing into new and wonderful things, literally. JOhn WIlliams score is pitch perfect and again is a return to form.
The characters in this movie, from Tintin to the hired thugs are fleshed out and full of life, props to all involved. Spielberg conducts these elements like a true maestro. Classic. One to be cherished for years to come and quite possibly in the top tier of Spielberg's work.