Tuesday, January 17, 2012

The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn

Title: The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn
Director: Steven Spielberg

The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn was based on 'The Adventures of Tintin', a series of comic books created by Belgian artist HergĂ© (Georges Remi).
the film is based on three of the original comic books: 'The Crab with the Golden Claws' (1941), 'The Secret of the Unicorn' (1943), and 'Red Rackham's Treasure' (1944). It is the first animated film Spielberg has ever directed.


The movie starts off with Tintin and his dog Snowy browsing a European market. Tintin is having his portrait painted, and when the painting is revealed, it is the Tintin we are all used to seeing being held up by a digitally animated modern Tintin. I was pleasantly surprised by this reference.




Afterwards, they continue browsing the market when Tintin finds a model of a three-mastered sailing ship, known as 'The Unicorn'. Immediately Tintin is approached by two men who want to buy the model, but Tintin politely declines their offers. He takes it home, but it breaks during a fight between Snowy and the neighbours cat. A small piece of parchment falls out from inside the ship, but roles under the mantel-piece. 
When Tintin returns home from learning about 'The Unicorn', he finds his apartment has been trashed and his model ship has disappeared. But luckily Tintin finds the piece of rolled up parchment, and this is where his adventures really take off.


Tintin must help the last of the Haddock's figure out the mystery of 'The Unicorn' and find the treasure before the power-greedy Sakharine does. 


It is quite obvious what happens in the end, but there were moments when I was in doubt. When I thought that they wouldn't make it; that they were about to give up. And at one point, they almost do. 
But if this movie has taught me anything at all, it would be:


"When you see a wall, you break through it."


Rebecca's Rating: 4.5/5