Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis, Daniel Craig
Running Time: 107 minutes approx
Certificate: PG
Extras: Behind The Scenes look, Snowy: The Full Tail, The World of Tintin, The Who’s Who of Tintin, Designing Tintin, Animating Tintin
Motion Capture technology has been an integral part of Hollywood’s biggest films in the last ten years. From Gollum in the LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY (2001-2003), KING KONG (2005) to RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES (2011) each has utilised the advances to stunning effect, and given Andy Serkis some work. Now released on Blu-ray and DVD, THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN: THE SECRET OF THE UNICORN (2011) is looking to add its name to the growing list of motion capture success stories.
Herge’s Tintin stories have been enjoyed since 1929s; ‘Tintin In The Land Of The Soviets’ was first published to great acclaim – being followed by 23 further stories. Given the high esteem in which Tintin are held, Hollywood has taken its time in putting these adventures on-screen. With film giants Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson involved, the wait would surely be worth it…wouldn’t it?
Based on three Herge comic books:The Crab With The Golden Claws, The Secret Of The Unicorn and Red Rackham’s Treasure we follow our quiffed hero – and his awesome dog Snowy – as he goes about his journalistic work with far more gusto than I think any of us at The Hollywood News could be accused of: I love my work but I’m not going to go to the lengths Tintin does here. Well. unless there’s treasure involved perhaps. The story regards The Unicorn, a ship from the 1700s with a somewhat mysterious past that has drawn the attention of Rackham (Craig), whose obsession with the ship is rekindled when Tintin (Bell) purchases a replica model and refuses to sell it to him. From here we learn of scrolls that can be found within replicas of The Unicorn – three in total – that together hold a secret.
The first act of Tintin is unfortunately repetitive, with a couple of unnecessary scenes. Fortunately, the film livens up tremendously when the first of many tremendous chases takes place and from here we are taken on a thrillingly entertaining ride. The story is told brilliantly through an all British screenwriting trio of Steven Moffat, Joe Cornish, and Edgar Wright and the action outrageously overblown justifying the makers decision to use motion capture.
If there is one criticism of the film other than its first act, it’s the ending. After all the trials and tribulations Tintin, Snowy, and Captan Haddock (Serkis) have been through in the hour or so prior, the conclusion feels a bit simple and the last sentence tacked on for the inevitable sequel. But these are minor quibbles: any film that can make me smile and laugh as much as THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN: THE SECRET OF THE UNICORN did is a welcome addition to the film world and in truth its worth watching for Snowy alone.
THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN: THE SECRET OF THE UNICORN is available on Blu-ray & DVD from now
