Any of my regular readers know just how strongly my faith in Steven Spielberg was shaken after the thoroughly unoriginal summer “blockbuster,” Super 8, so while having his name attached to a project used to guarantee cinematic magic, I wasn’t necessarily convinced when I first caught wind of The Adventures of TinTin. Granted, having incredibly talented filmmakers like Spielberg and Peter Jackson work together should have been more than enough to sell even the most casual of film fans, but the subject matter was a little bit of a hurdle. Now, The Adventures of TinTin comic book series is insanely popular in Europe, thereby guaranteeing a strong international presence, but North American audiences would clearly have trouble distinguishing the red-headed detective from Rin Tin Tin, the famous German Shepherd. These hesitancies aside though, the film was going to be showcasing cutting-edge motion-capture technology, and critics were raving, so this Christmas release did seem to deserve a respectable crowd. Even though I myself was vaguely familiar with the Belgian comic book, I wasn’t exactly chomping at the bit to see The Adventures of TinTin, but in all honesty, I still had to see what Spielberg and Jackson could produce together.
Skeptical as I may have been beforehand, I can say gladly that I was immensely entertained by The Adventures of TinTin, a fun and pure adventure that echoes the best work of both of these talented filmmakers. I thought that certain critics were laying it on a little thick when they described the film as a perfect blend of Indiana Jones and Pirates of the Caribbean, but in retrospect, that is a very apt description, as mystery, action, humor, and wonder are all present and prevalent. As expected, the state-of-the-art animation is spectacular, but it is further enhanced by stellar voice-acting, the standout being motion-capture veteran Andy Serkis (as if that surprises anyone). If I had any criticism, narrative momentum does take a little time to build, as does a certain tolerance to the lead character’s distinct personality, but other than that, the film is incredibly strong. All-in-all, even though, in all probability, few audiences have any loyalty to the core material, filmgoers of all ages deserve to see and enjoy The Adventures of TinTin.
Overall Recommendation: Very High
