Tin Tin Jones to the Rescue

Rating: 7/10 (22 December 2011)

This film is recommended.
The Adventures of Tintin is based on a series of classic comic books created by Georges Remi under the pen name of Hergé. The series was one of the most popular European comics around the 1930's and had a resurgence of popularity in the mid-fifties, when producers Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson were avid fans of the series. Their interest resulted in this starry-eyed 3-D adaptation of this fictional hero and his exploits.
This animated version of Tintin is an energetic lark. Back then, the stories were humorous adventure tales with a tinge of fantasy that fascinated children with their swashbuckling dare- doings. This film gives the characters a more modern look and realistic edge to the original source with a slight Indiana Jones flavor thrown in for good measure. While the film is not always successful in its trendy mix of state-of-the-art animation with its old-fashion storytelling of yore, it is still a worthwhile experience for children and parents to savor and enjoy.
Storywise, the film is a rather routine outing as our hero and his loyal dog, Snowy, go in search of buried treasure. ( The film is based on the first three books from the original series. ) Buying a model of a ship called The Unicorn, Tintin ( Jamie Bell ) encounters Mr. Sakharine ( Daniel Craig ), a baddie who will stop at nothing to find three scrolls that will lead him to wealth and riches. Soon they are all journey bound, along with a drunken Captain Haddock ( Andy Serkis ) and his motley crew, ready for adventure.
The screenplay adaptation by Stephen Moffet, Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish does a concise if not exciting job with its subject. There is enough fun and thrills provided for the kiddies, although the film's humor is forced and only moderately amusing. In this version as in the original source, Tintin is the serious type. So much of the liveliness comes from the supporting cast, including Inspectors Thompson and Thompson ( Nick Frost and Simon Pegg ). All of the voice-overs provide the needed zest to the animated characters and their dilemmas.
Yet, some of the charm has been lost in Spielberg's transition to update Hergé's original illustrations with more photo-realistic qualities, a decision that sometimes detracts rather than enhances the film's endearing characters. The realism of some of the film's characters seems totally artificial and contrived, and the rendering of authentic skin tones becomes considerably overambitious and fussy in its detailing. This results in more attention being given to the impressive technique and craftsmanship and less to the overall appearance of Tintin and his entourage. Many supporting characters are just stylized caricatures with exaggerated profiles and grotesque facial features that are at odds with the film's photo- realism emphasis. There remains an overall plastic vagueness in the film's main character, a blandness that persisted in the human forms of earlier computer generated animated efforts like Robert Zemeckis' The Polar Express (2004) and Disney's A Christmas Carol (2009) and here, the character design is only slightly improved. ( Perhaps, the media of animation cannot yet master the realities of live action subjects so easily. )
But the film does triumph in its action sequences. The camera's flowing movements and contrasting textures of objects, rather than people, is unparalleled in its artistry. The motion capture technology works more often than not. Shadows and lighting effects produce dramatic results, specifically with reflections found in windows and mirrors. Computer generated vistas of oceans and deserts supply enough local color and their transitions from one scene to the next are seamlessly achieved. The elaborate compositions and unique perspectives make one forget that what is being seen up there on the screen is purely imaginary in its execution. The background details of Hergé's comic book world are quite stunning to behold with certain individual segments generating much wonderment and awe. ( Snowy's car chase, Tintin's motorcycle escape, and the notable pirate sequences are memorable exercises in CGI advancement, skillfully directed by Spielberg and creatively drawn by his talented crew. )
The Adventures of Tintin is a delightful homage to Hergé's much loved classic tale. This film should result in an even wider audience of today's younger generation of moviegoers. We can now appreciate and admire the craft of two artists with their own worldly visions, brought together to create a lovely cinematic treat for this holiday season. GRADE: B
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