Didn't secure even a nomination for Best Animated Feature at this year's Oscars!

Rating: 8/10 (27 February 2012)

'THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN': Four Stars (Out of Five) .
Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson produced this modern American adaptation of the popular long-running Belgian comic series (of the same name) by Georges Remi (who used the pen name Herge). The comics were about a young Belgian reporter named Tintin who got into many adventures with his dog Snowy and other companions he met along the way. Spielberg directed this first film in a planned trilogy under the agreement that Jackson will direct the second. He's been a fan of the series since 1981 when his classic action film 'RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK' was compared to it by critics. This 'performance capture 3D film' has been seen by many to be very much like another Indiana Jones film for Spielberg (except in animated form). I'd have to agree; if you're a fan of Tintin or Indiana Jones you're almost sure to enjoy this action adventure.
The screenplay was written by Edgar Wright (of 'SHAUN OF THE DEAD', 'HOT FUZZ' and'SCOTT PILGRIM' fame), Steven Moffat and Joe Cornish and based on three comic books from 1941 to 1944 ('The Crab with the Golden Claws', 'The Secret of the Unicorn' and 'Red Rackham's Treasure'). The story revolves around a clue to hidden treasure that Tintin (voiced by Jamie Bell) unwittingly comes into possession of when he buys a model ship, known as 'the Unicorn', at a market stall. He discovers that many want this clue, especially a man known as Sakharine (voiced by Daniel Craig) who will kill to get a hold of it. Tintin soon finds himself kidnapped (as well as his dog Snowy) by Sakharine and his men and aboard a cargo ship sailing to Morocco. On the boat Tintin teams with it's drunken Captain, Haddock (voiced by Andy Serkis), and together they try to beat Sakharine to the treasure by escaping and finding the other clues.
Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Toby Jones also do nice voice work in the film. The movie is a tad slow-paced at times but for the most part it's pretty action packed. The 3D animation looks spectacular and it's easily the best animated film I've seen all year, which makes it surprising that it didn't secure even a nomination for Best Animated Feature at this year's Oscars (especially when films like 'PUSS IN BOOTS' and 'KUNG FU PANDA 2' did!). It did get an Oscar nomination for Original Score though (by Spielberg's usual partner in crime John Williams) and won Best Animated Feature Film at the Golden Globe Awards. It should be seen as an impressive achievement by just about anyone's standards and deserves much more recognition. Hopefully more new fans will discover it over time.
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