Spielberg Returns with Visually Groundbreaking 'Tintin'

Tintin (Jamie Bell) and Captain Haddock (Andy Serkis) team up to find the secret of the Unicorn.

When two of Hollywood’s most acclaimed directors converge together, you simply expect a project that hoists itself above the ordinary and perhaps the extraordinary too. Steven Spielberg has proved time and time again, hardly without fail that he is the universal benchmark among directors. Whether tackling historical drama or sci-fi, Spielberg has brought to life some of most iconic films of the past forty years, but it is when he ventures back to those serials from the 30s and 40s along the lines of Indiana Jones does the timeless magic take shape once more. 

Now The Adventures of Tintin might not be a classic charismatic archaeologist with a bullwhip, but a Belgian boy detective and journalist, a drunken sea captain and cuddly canine companion are an equal fit for the genre and for Spielberg himself. The Adventures of Tintin is based on the Hergé comics from that serial era. Spielberg starts the adventure in the middle of the series with The Secret of the Unicorn, which also happened to be a temporary subtitle for the film as well.

The Adventures of Tintin whisks Tintin back into solving another mystery; only this time around it’s the secret of a model ship called the Unicorn. Of course in standard serial fashion, one clue leads to another and over seas and distant lands to uncover a lost treasure and a hidden past. Spielberg may be directing and producing Tintin, but Lord of the Rings and King Kong director Peter Jackson also has his hand in producing as well. Both Spielberg and Jackson know a little thing or two about film magic and scope and Tintin is a prime example of that. 

Tintin is a beautiful sight to behold, not only in its fast-paced narrative, but its stunning visual achievements as well. The film is the future of what motion capture can do for animated films and proves how far technology has come since the creepy deadpan performances in 2004’s The Polar Express. There are many instances throughout Tintin, where the audiences asks whether or not this is an actual animated movie. Not only have the characters realistically evolved, but the setting around have to, transforming into authentic locales for engaging action set pieces as well as quiet down moments.

The list of acclaimed individuals does not end at the film’s producers. Jamie Bell stars as the titular journalist, Andy Serkis, who is better known as Gollum, King Kong and Caesar, plays the drunken sea captain and Daniel Craig rounds out the trifecta as the villainous collector of treasures. All three actors are virtually unrecognizable in the physical performances. You look at Tintin and you don’t see Jamie Bell, you see Tintin. The voices are more distinguishable however, but that still doesn’t distract from the strong performances overall. Even if this is your first time experiencing Tintin, it’s easy to become quickly involved and understand the whos and whats of the world of Tintin. Such an endeavor isn’t handed to the audience as the plot moves along very quickly from action scene and location to the next, but it’s not like you have to keep a scorecard of what exactly is going on.

Like Hugo earlier this year, an impressive film like The Adventures of Tintin will be a difficult sell. It speaks to the inner child seeking adventure and mystery and wholesome entertainment, but at the same time strikes a strong chord of violence and more mature themes. Spielberg constructs Tintin as more of a kids’ film for adults and while older audiences may see it as just another animated movie, it’s more than meets the eye. The primary issue with Tintin is its choice of MacGuffin, which comes off as a “been there done that already” vibe with audiences hoping for something a bit more original. Granted, Spielberg does follow the comic and a change would have sparked criticism from Hergé fans, but it wouldn’t have been only alteration from the original source.

The Adventures of Tintin picks up the pieces of Sky Captain and Captain America by revitalizing a nearly archaic serial genre and transporting audiences to what could very well be the most realistic animated thrill ride in recent cinema. Hopefully Tintin will see more adventures to come in the future from Spielberg and Jackson as The Secret of the Unicorn and several segments from other volumes are just the beginning for the Belgian boy journalist. 

GRADE: A- (9/10)
This review is also available on Flixster and Blu-Ray.com