CAST: Jamie Bell, Daniel Craig, Andy Serkis,Simon Pegg, Cary Elwes, Nick Frost
DIRECTOR: Steven Spielberg; WRITER: Edgar Wright, Joe Cornish, Steven Moffat, based on the classic work of Herge; FILM PRODUCER: Kathleen Kennedy, Peter Jackson, Steven Spielberg
Technical Assessment: 3.5
Moral Assessment: 3
Cinema Rating: PG 13 (For viewers 13 and below with parental guidance)
The adventure begins when young Belgian journalist Tintin (Jamie Bell) buys a model of the ship Unicorn for a pound. His curiosity is aroused when Mr. Sakharine (Daniel Craig) eagerly offers to buy the model ship from him—so he decides to keep the ship to get at the Unicorn’s secrets. Seeing Tintin as an obstacle to his schemes, the cunning Sakharine has Tintin kidnapped but Tintin’s dog Snowy, a while fox terrier, doggedly chases the kidnapper’s van unnoticed until dog and master are reunited. Tintin and his four legged sidekick soon team up with Captain Haddock (Andy Serkis) who can unlock the secret behind the Unicorn, if only he wouldn’t always be drunk! The odd trio face off against Sakharine for whatever treasures the Unicorn hides.
Those who watch movies purely for the moment’s entertainment and so do not bother about film history might initially think this is another “pet movie”, confusing it with Rintintin, a dog saved as a pup from World War I battlefield that became a Hollywood star of 23 movies. There is a dog all here right, but its name is Snowy and Tintin is his master. The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn is but one of the 24 classic comic books created by “Herge”, penname of Belgian artist Georges Remi (1907-1983). Even the current blogs today discussing the 2011 movie would reveal that the “Les Aventures de Tintin” series was a most popular comics in 20th century Europe; it was so popular it has been translated in over 80 languages and has sold 350 million copies to date. Since most of us may not have seen those comics, we would have no basis for comparison, and will just have to take The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn on its own merits.
Those who watch movies purely for the moment’s entertainment and so do not bother about film history might initially think this is another “pet movie”, confusing it with Rintintin, a dog saved as a pup from World War I battlefield that became a Hollywood star of 23 movies. There is a dog all here right, but its name is Snowy and Tintin is his master. The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn is but one of the 24 classic comic books created by “Herge”, penname of Belgian artist Georges Remi (1907-1983). Even the current blogs today discussing the 2011 movie would reveal that the “Les Aventures de Tintin” series was a most popular comics in 20th century Europe; it was so popular it has been translated in over 80 languages and has sold 350 million copies to date. Since most of us may not have seen those comics, we would have no basis for comparison, and will just have to take The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn on its own merits. As far as that goes, the animation tops the list. With such hand-drawn characters engaging in chases and swashbuckling a la Pirates of the Caribbean and Raiders of the Lost Ark. Many times the animation’s realism would make the viewer forget he is watching cartoons in motion.
Adults may find the story engaging. Young adults will be amused by Haddock, the hero with a vice. Children will clap their hands over the Snowy, the dog with an almost human intelligence.
