Herge's comic books have been translated into a number of languages and local dialects. Every local translator has been able to sum up all his or her ingenuity in reinventing the clever, wordy exchanges. So, it was only obvious that Steven Spielberg, the king of Hollywood chutzpah would sum the entire exotic and tongue in cheek essence so brilliantly and exuberantly in his performance capture version.
Never big on plots, Herge's Tintin series would be chiefly remembered for the scenic and bright illustrations and its warmly funny characters- the bumbling twin detectives named Thomson and Thompson, the hyper-active faithful dog Snowy, the garrulous and ever-drunk Captain Haddock and scheming villains. People, who made up for the blandness in the eponymous series hero himself. And anyone looking for more than plot structure, that would be soon tried and tested by the likes of Ian Fleming and Chacha Chaudhary creator Pran, would be soon find it less novel.
Yeah, the comic books were padded with intrigue, political conspiracy and mythical scandals. But from Fleming's James Bond novels and the films to Spielberg's own hilarious and enthralling Indiana Jones series, we have seen it all and we won't expect any new twist or turn of plot. So, those, who love films with thick plots, well steer clear of the silver screens. This is not a film to gloss over its plot- we don't have too many Robert Townes and Jonathan Nolans around.
What is there to marvel is the action and adventure. There are dollops of it on the palata, amply made up by delicously smart-ass humor and gags. One should note that Spielberg was never an experimenter with plot- he was the wizard of special effects, humor and action. All are there in generous doses, with Spileberg deftly experimenting with action storyboards, locations, period detail and characters. It all works with such relentless energy, invention and wit that we rarely tire of the film. And yet, despite the heavy Indiana Jones flavor, Spielberg has also kept the Herge's essence intact, with an eye for unexpected detail and mirth that flows in smoothly. The film effortlessly leaps, swivels, zooms and flies from the cobblestoned Brussels sidewalks to the grimy portholes of a massive freighter. And it also gains momentum, as it progresses- by the time the riveting chase in Morocco is over, you can take a deep breath.
And then there are Herge's beloved creations- Captain Haddock, Snowy and the Thom/pson duo. Spileberg has picked up the right cast- Jamie Bell's youthful essence fits in with Tintin's bland, boyish looks; in fact, it even makes it somewhat interesting. Better however are Andy Serkis finally playing a human in performance capture as Haddock- with Spielberg and his writers assigning him the meatiest lines and moments- and Daniel Craig, the handsome hunk's brisk features blended brilliantly into the snarl and sneer on the villain Sakharine's face. And Snowy's enthusiastic leaps and bounds and Thomson/Thompson's butter fingered ways end up raising the most chuckles.
I dare say that the animation is spectacular, not because it is not. It is because it is quite common with most films. Spielberg owned Dreamworks is the team behind some of the biggest blockbusters in the last decade. But I would also like to say how the fluid and dynamic animation seemed to knock me out. It is mindblowing how a film with a plot one would know moves and shifts with such immediacy. The sudden cuts and swipes are also quite imaginative and breathtaking. Picture this for instance. A lone boat on the sea cuts to a puddle on a sidewalk as a pair of boots trample it! Or a handshake merges into the dunes of a desert! We owe it to regular Spielberg collaborator editor Michael Kahn, for such fast and ingenious editing work.
It is a plain film with a dead simple plot. But the ever-energetic and enthusiastic Spielberg has suitably jazzed it up with his unflappable flair for action and humour. And that simply makes its anyday better than most action films in theatres.
My Rating- 4 out of 5.
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