Spielberg delivers a rollicking adventure that never loses sight of its source material

Rating: 8/10 (2 January 2013)

Prior to watching Steven Spielberg's 'Tintin' adaptation, I decided to read the three Hergé stories upon which it is based, 'The Crab with the Golden Claws', 'The Secret of the Unicorn' and 'Red Rackham's Treasure'. I instantly fell in love them, finding them to be simple and innocent yet rollicking and charming adventures nonetheless. Despite the mixed response to their big screen counterpart, I felt at ease going in; why? Well, a film directed by Steven Spielberg, produced by Peter Jackson, scored by John Williams and written by Steven Moffat, Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish couldn't be bad could it? Thankfully, the answer was positive, with the film turning out to be far more enjoyable than expected.
'The Adventures of Tintin' follows the eponymous character (Jamie Bell) and his dog and loyal companion Snowy as they stumble across a model of a sailing ship called the 'Unicorn', this attracts the attention of the villainous Ivan Ivanovitch Sakharine (Daniel Craig) who desperately desires the secrets it holds, which results in a globe-trotting adventure as Tintin encounters the not-exactly-sober Captain Haddock (Andy Serkis) whilst attempting to foil Sakharine's plan to stop them as they try to uncover the mystery the 'Unicorn' has to offer...
It's been quite a while since Spielberg last delivered a rollicking romp – War of the Worlds was let down Dakota Fanning's never ending screams and a too convenient ending, Munich was rather good but not exactly classic Spielberg and as for 'Crystal Skull', well, let's not go there. So it was time for the Maestro of the Blockbuster to make another adventure that could sit nicely alongside 'ET', 'Jurassic Park', 'Jaws', etc, and with 'Tintin' he has done exactly that. Of all the Spielberg films, 'the Adventures of Tintin's' closest cousin is (unsurprisingly) 'Raiders of the Lost Ark'. In fact, no more than two years after Indy's debut on the silver screen did Hergé give the director his blessing as the only man capable of successfully translating his creation to the big screen.
Spielberg is a man who knows how to handle the beloved Belgian reporter and it is clear that both he and his key companion, producer Peter Jackson adore the source material. Whether it's Hergé's 'cameo' at the beginning of the film, the blink-and-you'll-miss-it inclusion of 'Le Vingtième Siècle' (the first paper Tintin appeared in) or the similarly fan-pleasing appearance of Bianca Castafiore, it is undeniable that the dynamic duo possess deep reverence for the original comics.
However, Spielberg and Jackson understand that Hergé's creation and most of the world outside Central Europe have not enjoyed a lengthy waltz, so this is more than just a film for Tintinologists, presenting newcomers with a fast-paced and deeply enjoyable adventure tale. It has moments of humour that children and adults can enjoy simultaneously and great set- pieces, most notably the breathtaking Baghar-set chase sequence, which is, in my opinion, one of the finest actions sequences Spielberg has ever produced.
After Robert Zemeckis' 'The Polar Express' retreated into 'uncanny valley' with a one-way ticket, some doubted the potential of fully mo- capped feature films. Spielberg has learnt from Zemeckis' unfortunate mistakes, utilizing the technology by portraying things quite unfilmmable (an army tank unwillingly carrying a hotel through a busy market anyone?) and performing wonderful camera moves, best seen where Haddock tells the intrepid reporter of his ancestor, Sir Francis and the sea battle he was part of, with the lens seamlessly flowing between his telling of the story and the battle itself, helping to build momentum retain the brisk pace and immerse the viewer in the heart of the action.
The film has its flaws though; Daniel Craig's villain is somewhat drippy and bland, the final set piece is a bit anticlimactic and some of the Thomson's gags fall flat, but in the end, these minor problems do little to affect the movie as a whole. Jamie Bell remains the "blank canvas" of the comics and is likable all the same, however it is Andy Serkis who stands out in the cast; no surprises there. He is perfectly suited to the role of Haddock, giving the character a Scottish accent, but the film its heart. Overall, this is an enjoyable romp for viewers young and old, both familiar and not with the source material. It's action-packed, visually beautiful, light in tone and great entertainment. When choosing a suitable filmmaker, Hergé couldn't have been more right.