The Adventures of Tintin

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Rated PG, Adventure/Animated

Opinion going in: Neutral, "maybe this may be KIND of entertaing"
Opinion going out: Indiana Jones just got frickin' SERVED!!

Language: Beyond a "hell" or "damn" here and there, not much. LOTS of creative curses though. ("Great Snakes!" "Blistering Blue Barnacles!!" come to mind...)

Violence/Gore: Its there, but it's clean...like in Princess Bride when Inigo kills a whole MESS of palace guards yet his sword remains utterly clean the whole time.

Sexual content: What, are you kidding me here??

REVIEW

The Adventures of Tintin is not EXACTLY a name thats going to carry a whole big pile of weight with most people, generally speaking. At most the folks who I saw going into this movie were somewhat more on the side of simply wanting to go out and watch...something. Little knowing what they were getting into. What they WERE getting into, as was I, was something incredible.

Now historically speaking, Tintin is an OLD and semi-controversial comic series that started in the 1920's in Belgium. Still with me on this? Okay. The stories highlighted the adventures and travels of the titular character's quest as a young reporter who consistantly gets in over his head and then works his way back out...usually with a whole whack of fighting and action sequences that would make a certain archaologist take a moment to think if its REALLY a safe idea to do this.

As far as the film goes, just go see it before it's gone. The beginning of the film is a bit shaky and weak as the audience is started from zero to "international intrigue" in under 2 seconds. Given that sudden throttling opening, and the general unfamiliarity most audiences will have with the characters, its a tough sell at first. Once you get past the opening though, and you're about 20 minutes into the film, you truely get your bearings and realize you're in for a spectacular ride. Escapes are incredible, car chases are fantastic, and a flashback pirate battle scene leaves your jaw on that dangerously sticky movie theater floor. The only other somewhat big negative to me, is the nessicary evil of including Tintin's dog, Snowy to the mix. There has never been a fuzzier deus ex machina device QUITE like this dog that I have ever seen, and it does become a bit distracting after a time. However, as was in the comics, as shall be in the film. Although, Snowy DOES redeem himself in later scenes, and makes a fairly valuable addition to the cast if only to further the plot at times. One other negative is the rather blatant alcoholism of the character of Captain Haddock. Which wouldn't be so much an issue if it wasn't for the fact that he happens to be one of the main characters in the film. Typically his constant boozing is played up for laughs, which it really shouldn't be, but unfortunately it is there.

The entire film, overall, felt to an extent as if it was Steven Spielberg making a full-blooded appology to the entire audience for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, such was the level of adventure and excitement that was contained therein. This truely is a movie worth watching, if only for the glories of the whole edge of your seat, globe-spanning adventure aspects. Do not be mislead by the fact it is animated decieve you this is high-octane adventure fuel. Likewise, it really isn't bad in the way of a family affair. Just make sure that the kids are old enough to understand what is going on, and everything will be fine. And better news yet...Both Peter Jackson and Steven Spielberg have committed themselves to both directing one more Tintin movie each. I can't think of a better directing duo to cover the adventures of the young belgian reporter...

Sounds like they stayed pretty true to the original characters. I know this may sound wrong, but I don't think I would have liked it as well if Captain Haddock wasn't swearing and drinking or if Snowy wasn't so kick-butt (though I am surprised that he didn't get drunk as well. I do remember that dog loving the taste of scotch. ). I can't wait to see this movie, especially since Tintin was almost the only comic book I read growing up. Woot for knowing more about the story than most going into it.

Well in all fairness Snowy and Captain Haddock DO have a little duel over who gets to drink some free-floating booze while a plane everyone is on is in the act of crashing. So yeah, I guess there is that.

Excellent review!

I've been kind of on the fence about this one... as I know NOTHING about the show other than what you had mentioned (Reporter doing adventures.... GO!)

I will say that Peter Jackson and Speilberg had 'intrigued' me... But the real kicker was that Stephen Moffat wrote the screenplay.... THAT makes me actually WANT to see it.

Does it still have the same kind of witty and hilariousness that I've come to expect from him with the Dr.Who/Sherlock/Jekyll/.... everything BBC that I've come to expect?