Tintin and the Secret of the Unicorn

Today we went to watch The Adventures of Tintin and the Secret of the Unicorn.

As a childhood fan that grew up on these comics, I was slightly hesitant to watch the movie. To be honest, I was afraid that it would disappoint, because in so many ways, the comics are timeless and perfect. There's just something about the pen and paper copies that seem to bring Tintin to life in a way cartoon and film can not. But the movie didn't disappoint. In fact, I was quite happy and pleased with how Spielberg portrayed the characters.

Firstly, the cinematics of this movie were pretty awesome. Rather than using normal actors for the movie, Spielberg transformed the actors into 3D CGI cartoons using motion-captured technology like the ones they used in Avatar. The result are very life-like characters that are believable, but also other-worldly. You know what you are watching is purely imaginative and fictional, as real and believable as it seems, but that's precisely the allure of the original comics as well.

Spielberg does a good job with the characters, staying faithful to how Herge portrayed them originally. Tintin is the innocent boy reporter who seeks the truth, Snowy is the faithful and sometimes mischievous sidekick, and Haddock is still the fiery drunken captain he is in the books. And of course the twins are the bumbling idiots they are as well.

The plot gets changed quite a bit and I think appeals to the audience more. For those who haven't read the comics, it has all the blockbuster thrills, turns, and chase scenes you would want. But for the comic faithful, it has the majority of the plot and inside details that make the movie nostalgic. Spielberg adds some deeper layers to the characters through their interaction (we learn more of Haddock's past and see him grow) but we never learn anymore more about Tintin's past - which is the way it's supposed to be.

Overall, I was quite happy to watch the film. It is a faithful remake of a timeless and classic comic. It doesn't seek to improve on what Herge created- it simply and effectively pays homage to what he has done. What Herge did was create a comic that was escapist in reality and Spielberg simply explores that more, with the technology we have available 80 years later. The movie won't blow your mind, but it does entertain. For what its worth, it'll likely make the old fans happy and come out with a few new ones as well.