"You care about something, you fight for it. You hit a wall, you push through it."

Rating: 8/10 (11 April 2012)

"You care about something, you fight for it. You hit a wall, you push through it." – Captain Haddock.
Check out my full review at: http://reelstorymovies.blogspot.com/2012/04/adventures-of-tintin.html
Steven Spielberg's computer animated children's movie, "The Adventures of Tintin" is a fun, thrill ride, which is suitable for older kids and adults all the same. The movie, fashioned from the most popular European comics in the 20th century, is a dazzling rendition of the famous Belgian artist Georges Remi (1907–1983), who published the series of comic albums under the pen name of Hergé.
As far as source material is concerned, Spielberg's adaptation of Remi's famous work revolves around the story of meeting, and then collaborating with the drunken, and kidnapped Captain Haddock, who has had his ship taken from him after a mutiny.
The classic Tintin character, Captain Haddock, played by Andy Serkis, escapes with Tintin and snowy (his white fox terrier dog) and embark on an adventure together to find Captain Haddock's grandfather's sunken treasure on the Unicorn.
The tale is engaging and exciting. It was well-directed and was filled with suspense. The action scenes, while implausible and hearkening back to Spielberg's days directing Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, draw you into the fantasy world unfolding on the screen.
The most impactful point of the movie is when it appears like all hope is lost. The bad guys have gotten away with the secret message Haddock left, Tintin and Haddock are stranded, and Haddock gives a rousing speech to encourage Tintin to push through this "wall" they face: "Failed. There are plenty of others willing to call you a failure. A fool. A loser. A hopeless souse. Don't you ever say it of yourself. You send out the wrong signal, that is what people pick up. Don't you understand? You care about something, you fight for it. You hit a wall, you push through it. There's something you need to know about failure, Tintin. You can never let it defeat you."
While the animation is similar to any other animated film, it lacks Hergé's signature ligne claire style, which characterized his comics. Tintin is easily recognizable by his red hair, and the front which sticks up, but Hergé's signature style is largely absent in the animation of Tintin.
Tintin and Haddock's "stick-to-it-ness" is a highlight of the movie as they endure impossible odds, are faced with countless detours and missteps, yet continue on in their pursuit of the goal.
It reminds me a lot of the Christian life. That it is a marathon, not a sprint. That there are ups and downs, there are failures and successes, and to continue to run the race, pursue the goal, that is key. That is and will always be the point: to never give up and to continue on until the end.
In Philippians 3, Paul urges his fellow followers of Jesus to press on, like him, even a great apostle who has planted several churches with great results. He tells the Philippians: Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 3:12-14
As Christians today, we need to follow Paul's example. We need to exhibit this same type of never give up, never say die attitude that Captain Haddock spurs Tintin on to, even when it looks like all hope is lost.
I also liked the team that Haddock, Tintin, and little snowy, formed as Haddock was a lost and drunken soul, desiring adventure and purpose, and snowy was a little dog, but both played a very important role in the trio finding what they sought: treasure.
In order for us, as Christians, to go the distance we need each other. We need people to keep us focused on what really matters. We need those around us to encourage us to continue when we are ready to give up. We need someone to tell us that we can do it and we must go on, and not let us settle for failure.
Haddock's word ring true for us too in this life: "There's something you need to know about failure, you can never let it defeat you."
My Score – Overall Rating: 8.25 out of 10 Plot: 9 out of 10 Character Development: 7 out of 10 Acting: 8 out of 10 Audio/Visuals: 8 out of 10