It takes a great deal of work to effectively translate to the big screen something that was much-loved on paper. It seems appropriate, then, that the two men who took on the job of bringing The Adventures of Tintin to audiences worldwide were suitably qualified: producer Peter Jackson has experience bringing book to cinema having adapted The Lord of the Rings, whilst director Stephen Spielberg was expounded, by Hergé himself, to be the man for the job. Tintin’s creator, real name Georges Prosper Remi, said before he died that “Spielberg is a creative artist himself, and I want to give him my confidence.” It should come as no surprise that the cinematic feat these two prominent industry figures produced has already been a soaring success, delighting audiences worldwide and generally satisfying Tintin fans both old and new.
The key, of course, is in Spielberg’s adherence to the original source material from which the film draws. The Secret of the Unicorn is an amalgamation of three of Hergé’s volumes: The Secret of the Unicorn, The Crab with the Golden Claws, and Red Rackham’s Treasure. Elements of all three stories are combined to create a robust adventure for the intrepid reporter and his loyal dog Snowy, as well as comedic companion Captain Haddock. Yet Spielberg effortlessly adapts these sources for a modern audience with flawless motion capture, his first venture into the medium, creating what Empire magazine calls “the romance of old-school cinema, conjured by the slick synthesis of CG wizardry”. Spielberg first expressed interest in accessing the rights to Tintin almost 30 years ago in 1982, when he convinced Hergé that he could stay true to the essence of the character. What Spielberg has brought to the screen today is “Indiana Jones for children”, an adventurer, explorer, and overall hero to which any viewer can relate.
The new film attempts to stay true to the essence of the original artwork and storytelling.
Jamie Bell does a great job of bringing Tintin to life, capturing the character’s appeal as an instantly likeable hero, but it is Andy Serkis who steals the show as the enigmatic Captain Haddock. Having pioneered motion capture as a medium with his roles as Gollum in The Lord of the Rings, as the eponymous ape in King Kong, and most recently as chimp Caesar in The Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Serkis is the perfect choice for Tintin’s comedic foil. His antics are the main source of amusement throughout the film, culminating in some of the most successful and ridiculous chase scenes of any adventure movie; at one point Haddock even manages to fuel a faltering plane engine with the alcoholic fumes of his breath.
Mo-cap veteran Andy Serkis steals the show as Captain Haddock.
Spielberg and Jackson have proved somewhat of a dream team in bringing Tintin to life, along with what Empire calls their “writing trio of Anglo-nerds”: that is, Steven Moffat (Doctor Who), Edgar Wright (Scott Pilgrim), and Joe Cornish (Adam and Joe). The original plan was to make a trilogy of Tintin films; although at one point this plan seemed less likely due to financial issues, after the success of The Secret of the Unicorn a sequel is definitely on the cards. Spielberg confirms that a script has already been written, a combination of two Hergé stories, Prisoners of the Sun and The Seven Crystal Balls, penned by Anthony Horrowitz. This time round Peter Jackson will be taking the helm as director, but will Spielberg accordingly switch roles and produce? Either way, both men are extremely busy with current and upcoming projects; Jackson is hard at work on The Hobbit whilst Spielberg is thinking ahead to Lincoln and Robopocalypse, amongst others. A Tintin sequel is likely, but it is as of yet a distant speck on the horizon.
Will Spielberg and Jackson swap roles for a Tintin sequel?
- Kat Humphries
Sources and further information:
Hergé’s Heir – forbiddenplanet.co.uk
Peter Jackson Confirms He Will Make the Next ‘Tintin’ Film After ‘The Hobbit’ – slashfilm.com