"The Adventures of Tintin" Review

The Adventures of Tintin was originally a classic Belgian comic book series that was released between 1929 and 1976. The series starred a young reporter named Tintin and his dog Snowy, and depicted their adventures as they travelled across the globe. The adventures depicted in the pages were a major influence on many stories produced thereafter, including the Indiana Jones series- so it's only natural that the long-awaited cinematic adaptation would be helmed by Steven Spielberg himself.

On paper, The Adventures of Tintin sounds like an absolute dream: Directed by Spielberg, produced by Peter Jackson, written by Doctor Who producer Steven Moffat, and starring cult actors such as Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, and Daniel Craig. Unfortunately, despite the roster of talent on board, the film fails to deliver; though The Adventures of Tintin is far from a total wash, it is simply not as epic or entertaining as it would like to be, or, indeed, ought to be.

One day in an unspecified European city, a young reporter named Tintin (Jamie Bell) buys an elaborate model ship, based on a ship called the Unicorn, from a market, rebuffing an attempt by the mysterious Ivan Sakharine (Daniel Craig) to buy it from him. Later that night, Tintin finds that the Unicorn model has been stolen, and when he tries to investigate, he is shot at and kidnapped. With the help of a drunken sea captain named Haddock (Andy Serkis), Tintin must escape confinement and discover the secrets behind the Unicorn.

The first issue with Tintin is that it begins too quickly. The character of Tintin isn't really introduced before the main plot gets underway; the only clues as to who he even is are a series of newspaper clippings hanging on his wall, which only explain that he is a reporter and has already had several adventures to his name. In the very opening moments of the film, Tintin buys the Unicorn model and the main plot begins immediately. Some build-up and introductions are sorely needed.

The second issue with Tintin, ironically, is that it ends too quickly. The film's running time is a brisk 100 minutes, which doesn't feel like nearly enough time. The characters dash about from one locale to the next at breakneck pace, and explanations of key events occasionally seem rushed. Overall, I would say that the film could stand to have a good 20 extra minutes.

Despite its shortcomings, however, The Adventures of Tintin has its high marks. The performances are, by and large, excellent- particularly Andy Serkis (best known for his past portrayals of Gollum and King Kong) as the lovable drunk Captain Haddock, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost as the bumbling police officers, Thompson and Thomson, and James Bond himself, Daniel Craig, playing the villainous . The choice to use motion capture technology seems somewhat pointless (the characters all look mostly realistic), but regardless, the actors all play their parts well in terms of both voice acting and motion.

The action sequences are phenomenal- this being a Spielberg film, that's a given. One standout scene has Tintin chasing bad guys on a decaying motorbike through the streets of a Middle Eastern city, and it absolutely must be seen to be believed.

Ultimately, The Adventures of Tintin is worth a look if you're into adventure films, but if you're hoping for the next Indiana Jones, look elsewhere.

All Right