Arts & Entertainment
SONY/CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
Captain Haddock, voiced by Andy Serkis, and Tintin, voiced by Jamie Bell, are seen in the animated movie "The Adventures of Tintin." The Catholic News Service classification is A I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.
The Adventures of Tintin
Adam Shaw
Catholic News Service
New York
"Great snakes!" The characteristic exclamation of the titular hero
of "The Adventures of Tintin" (Paramount/Columbia) may also be the
cry of surprised audience members taken aback both by the high-quality animation,
and the exhilarating plot, of what might otherwise have turned out to be yet
another chapter in mediocre translations from page to reel. Parents as well will
nod appreciatively at the messages of self-sacrifice, friendship and determination
on offer.
This is not the first time the characters drawn by Belgian illustrator Herge
(real name Georges Remi), and first published in the Belgian Catholic newspaper "Le
Vingtieme Siecle" in 1929, have been featured in motion -- a highly successful
TV series spawned from the books ran on HBO during the early 1990's. But it is
the first time the curiously coiffed reporter known as Tintin (voiced by Jamie
Bell) and his terrier sidekick Snowy have made it to the big screen.
Directed by Steven Spielberg from a script by Steven Moffat, Edgar Wright and
Joe Cornish -- and co-produced by the illustrious Peter Jackson of "Lord
of the Rings" fame -- the film manages to combine an original vision with
faithfulness to the enormously popular source material.
Our chipper junior journalist finds himself drawn into a centuries-old mystery
via the purchase of a hobby model ship, and consequently marked for elimination
by deliciously evil villain Ivan Ivanovitch Sakharine (voice of Daniel Craig).
Aiding Tintin, as best he can, is excessively tippling Scottish seaman Captain
Haddock (voiced by Andy Serkis). A kindly lost soul searching for redemption
at the bottom of a whisky bottle, Haddock's ancestors and family destiny are
bound up with the miniature vessel.
Haddock's quest for renewal is a central and consistent theme, and the film highlights
the vital role of companionship in overcoming one's individual weaknesses. The
need for fortitude in the face of difficulty is also exemplified. These lessons
will likely please both parents and viewers of faith.
The project is ambitious, and makes the most of the latest in performance-capture
technology -- a technique that transposes the facial and bodily movements of
the actors onto their animated counterparts -- as well as top-flight 3-D rendering,
Mix in a thrilling score by cinema maestro John Williams, and the result is a
sumptuous visual and aural feast that takes the viewer on an action-packed adventure
from Tintin's humble home in a retro (yet timeless) Belgium to the beauteous
deserts of North Africa.
There are a few instances of fist fighting and nongraphic gunplay. And in
one scene a ship's crew are bound and made to walk the plank. But the movie
is, by and large, a family-friendly affair which will not only afford vigilant
moms and dads a chance to relax, but the opportunity to be entertained as well.
The film contains occasional stylized violence. The Catholic News Service classification
is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating
is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.
Shaw is a guest reviewer for Catholic News Service.