The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn
Part Indiana Jones and part "Up," "The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn" is a top-notch animated adventure unlike any other. Much like 2007's "Beowulf", the film is a dizzying blend of live action and animation. Shot using real actors and then later animated in post-production, the film comes off with a stunning presentation. It's the first non-Pixar animated film in nearly a decade to leave me feeling childlike and uncontrollably giddy.
Directed by some guy named Spielberg, produced by another no-name (Peter Jackson) and featuring music composed by one John Williams, it's quite surprising this became a worldwide blockbuster. All joking aside though, this is quite the cinematic treat. The experience of seeing this in theaters in 3D cannot be matched, but the stellar Blu-ray edition is a singular experience in and of itself. I don't often drool over the sleekness of Blu-ray, but this movie is deserved of such praise. I can't imagine viewing this in any other format aside from mind-blowing 3D. The film itself is so visually resplendent that picking up the Blu-ray is a must.
Based on the comic-book series of the same name, "The Adventures of Tintin" manages to stay true to its roots. The film itself is based upon three stories in particular melded into a single storyline: "The Crab with the Golden Claws," "The Secret of the Unicorn" and "Red Rackham's Treasure." Tintin is a young journalist/secret sleuth who stumbles upon a scroll hidden in the mast of a model ship. Upon further inquiry, he soon finds out that there exists three scrolls that, when collected, will lead to a hidden treasure. Of course, the menacing Ivan Sakharine is also in search of the treasure for himself. Tintin recruites the help of drunken mariner Captain Haddock, and together the pair stays hot on the heels of Sakharine and the treasure hunt.
Despite flowing effortlessly from act to act, you can definitely tell that the story is made up of three separate comics. In fact, the film has three very distinct acts marked by a change of scenery. From the urban streets of Europe to setting sail on the high seas to the film's harrowing climax in desert-blown Morocco, "The Adventures of Tintin" is the ultimate animated thrill ride. The beautiful musical score, the sublime visuals, the perfect pacing ... it's a magnificently crafted piece of cinema. I couldn't help but be reminded of the first time I watched "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" or "The Goonies"; it was simply a transformative viewing experience. Spielberg arguably hasn't directed a film worth watching quite like this since maybe "Catch Me If You Can." Nobody, and I mean absolutely nobody, develops thrilling action/adventure movies quite like Spielberg. It's ironic that it took an animated picture to see his return to form, but this is easily his best effort in years.
When it comes to family films, this is about as good as it gets. At its very core, "Tintin" is a movie for kids, but there are plenty of overarching themes and depth to keep adults satisfied as well; especially with the various nods to the original comic books, this has big laughs for the entire family. The film's quirkiness and offbeat humor is certainly influenced by slapstick and British humor, yet it's wrapped up in a uniquely American package. The overall plot structure is not unlike an Indiana Jones film, but with a funny Mr. Bean quality thrown into the mix.
Speaking of packaging, the film is presented in a Blu-ray, DVD and digital download pack that is unbeatable no matter what your preference of medium. Clocking in with a staggering 90-plus minutes worth of special features, the presentation is perfect for those thirsty for more. Disc One includes a "making-of" special, a featurette on Snowy the dog, a character rundown, a closer look at John Williams' score and tons more. Some Blu-ray/DVD combos aren't worth splurging on. "The Adventures of Tintin" is no such release. Do yourself a favor and snag up this perfect family film, in stores now.
Film: 4.5 Yaps Extras: 5 Yaps