The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn

UK Release Date: 26 October 2011

Certification: PG

Director: Steven Spielberg

Cast: Jamie Bell, Daniel Craig, Nick Frost, Toby Jones, Daniel Mays, Simon Pegg, Andy Serkis

Rating: 87%

I need Red Rackham's Treasure. 

Review: 

For context I'm a huge fan when it comes to Belgium comic writer Hergé's most famous creation, the young reporter, Tintin. Maybe it's because I could relate to him as someone who looked just like me but I've absolutely loved him since I was about six or seven. I've read every story in the comic series, I've seen the 90's animated series multiple times, I played the Wii game based on this movie when it came out with my brother and my dad. And most notably I teamed up with my dad to dress up as the inseparable duo of Tintin and Captain Haddock for Halloween one year. So although I can't remember I'm almost certain I went with my dad to see The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn at the cinema. 

Again, not knowing it at the time but there really couldn't have been a better man to take up the helm than Steven Spielberg. He's one of the greatest directors of all time and is most certainly the go to man when it comes to adventure movies. He wanted to make this movie ever since researching Tintin back when he was compared to Indiana Jones in Europe following the release of Raiders of the Lost Ark. And his passion for the character shines through on screen allowing for an incredibly realistic and satisfying depiction. I have to also Peter Jackson's incredible role in the making of this movie. He's was recruited by Spielberg to do all of the motion capture work after his success on the Lord of the Rings trilogy and it undoubtedly worked, creating some phenomenally beautiful cinematography throughout the feature. 

The voice cast are also all superb in their respective roles. Jamie Bell plays Tintin with a wishful, undying optimism that could well have became irritating without excellent supporting characters but despite this Tintin is still so charismatic. However, saying that he is outshone by the king of motion capture - Andy Serkis. He's played Gollum in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Kong in King Kong and Caesar in the Planet of the Apes trilogy and the talent of his performance is no different in The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn. He plays Captain Haddock adding a Scottish twang to the character, again making Tintin and his friends more relatable to me. Daniel Craig is brilliant as villain, Sakharine, a descendant of the notorious Red Rackham. Nick Frost and Simon Pegg play Thomson and Thompson which is really perfect casting as the two are best friends and have brilliant on screen rapport. 

The score by John Williams is one of the great composers best. Each piece of music is lovely most notably 'The Adventures of Tintin', 'Snowy's Theme' and 'The Adventure Continues'. For an animated movie the action is actually extremely well done especially the thrilling chase scene. 

All in all The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn is ultimately a feel-good, fun movie that is a brilliant depiction of Hergé's comics. My only complaint is that the sequel hasn't been made yet but I do have hope that it will be released in the near future.