Catholic-ometer: 5 of 5
Enjoyability: 4.5 of 5
Let me start this off by leveling with you. I don't come at this movie from the perspective of someone who knows nothing about the franchise. You see, I've read virtually all of the Tintin comics, though I never saw the animated series. I know these characters and what they're all about.
Fortunately, fans of the comics won't need to suffer the disappointment of character derailment in this movie. Every last character is spot-on. Tintin, Snowy, Captain Haddock, Thompson & Thompson... It's all there. If you read and enjoyed the comics, you'll find much of what you enjoyed in this film as well.
I say "much," because while a certain amount of excitement was also common in the comics, they were largely mystery-based, rather than action, and this film has very strong and almost-constant action and suspense elements to it, though its penchant for mystery, treasure-hunting and adventure remain as strong as in the comics it was based on.
However, now it's time for the fanboy in me to take a back seat and explain some of what this film is actually about for those not familiar with the character of Tintin (who, it must be admitted, is something of a niche character outside of Europe.)
Tintin, a young reporter and seeker of secrets and stories, buys a model ship in the marketplace one day, while he's out for a walk. Immediately, two men try to buy it off him, but he doesn't sell, because he realizes something must be up with it. A series of accidents, investigations and crimes lead him to uncover an old poem which seems to promise a great treasure to those who can unlock the secret of "the three unicorns sailing in company."
However, Tintin and his friends will need to fight for their lives, because another man; Saccharine is looking for the same treasure, and that's not all he's looking for. He's willing to stop at nothing to get what he wants, even if it involves kidnapping, torture, thievery and murder. Tintin is fast action, high adventure and a thrilling mystery all rolled into one.
Now, specifically to those who've tried to claim that Tintin rips off Indiana Jones. It would be more likely that the reverse was true, since Tintin comics were published from 1929 to 1976, and Raiders of the Lost Ark wasn't released until 1981. However, it's almost universally recognized that what Indy really rips off is Allan Quatermain, so I won't make that claim. Needless to say, if you think this film is a ripoff of Indy, you're simply wrong, and that's all there is to it.
What this film is, is simply fun. Good, clean fun with some nice action sequences and several very good chase scenes. It's a well-done ride, and as icing on the cake, a bit of Catholic history comes up at one point during the movie.
Herge himself (the comic's author) was Catholic, and writing for a Catholic publication, which only elevates my respect for the series, as you might imagine. It's a great series, and a very good movie as well, and I think the main reason is that Stephen Speilburg and Peter Jackson seem to have realized that they just shouldn't mess with what obviously works. Kudos to them for understanding this, and for their faithfulness to the source material.
I recommend this movie to anyone looking for good, clean fun, or anyone who likes a nice, hair-raising adventure. There's guns and alcohol in it, but it's all treated appropriately, I think. I don't even think kids would have too many problems with this movie, to be honest. I know I didn't, and I hope many other Tintin fans will get as much out of it as I did.
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