Please be more faithful to Herge, Mr. Spielberg....

Rating: 7/10 (5 December 2011)

Well, expectations were really high. Spielberg. Jackson. Tintin. What more can you ask!!! But sadly, I guess, you could have asked for a bit more faithfulness to Herge. The movie is worth a watch, but could have been loads better. Starting with the credits, you seem hopeful that the pace of the narrative will take your breath away from the word go. Yet Spielberg and company take their time, which is a good thing. People new to Tintin may need to tune up to his zest for adventure and story. Spielberg did try hard to break free from his Indiana Jones tradition, essentially upholding its roots, to showcase a comic adaptation which is worthy of his efforts. The animation is wonderful. Even without 3D glasses, it looked sharp and detailed. Still, there is not much to bring out in the 3D World, where I hope Jackson would prove his worth in the next installment. The hunt for the unicorns, in the first half, tries to hinge on Spielberg's plot turns from the original. The writing is a bit off in a few places as you miss out on some of Tintin's genuinely ingenious ideas. The best parts of the film all come in the second half in the form of Haddock's flashback in re-creation, the final port showdown, and the unbelievable single-shot chase scene which truly was the treat for me.
As far as performance goes, it's Jerkins' Haddock that is most faithful to Herge. His short-tempered madness, delusional frenzy is easily the driving force in the second half. Tintin is good for most parts, but I did feel he was an Americanized version lacking some of Tintin's Hergeian sensibilities. Thompson and Thomson were under utilized – I can't see the logic why, Mr. Spielberg. They are an integral part of the Hergeian world. But I am happy to see Snowy, Tintin's Man Friday, given enough screen presence. His antics were enjoyable and fun.
All n all, I guess, the creators missed out on building a coherent end. Combining Crab with the Golden Claws, Secret of the Unicorn and Red Rackham's Treasure, there seemed very little time to come to a lucid finality with this one. The reference to the Eagles' cross, which is scarcely stressed before, acts as a simple lucky find. The secret in the three notes were also given less attention. Maybe Mr. Spielberg thinks they are a bit outdated. Hope at least he is saving it for Peter Jackson to uncover its clues next time around. Hey Jack, show our Spielby how to make film adaptations, my man. You are exceptional at that. Ho, ho, ho, and a bottle of rumRed Rakham's treasure, here we come!!!!