The Adventures of Tin Tin
The Adventures of Tin Tin sees the classic Hergé outrageously cowlicked comic book character animated once again. The long running series ran for nearly 60 years prior to 1986 but here concentrates on the offerings from 1944 to 1945. The look not only displays the principals as artistically authentic but it also beautifully captures that European era (save for NAZI occupation) while staying true to the stories of The Secret of the Unicorn and Red Rackham's Treasure. Jamie Bell is Tin Tin, the intrepid newspaper reporter who inadvertently gets entwined in the family inheritance of Captain Haddock (Andy Serkis). That treasure was originally the cargo of a three masted gunship called The Unicorn with one of Captain Haddock’s forefathers Sir Francis Haddock at the helm. Francis’ nemesis Red Rackham challenged The Unicorn to a battle at sea and its lost treasure has been a mystery ever since - but a coded clue to its whereabouts is hidden in a Unicorn model replica. Although in Tin Tin’s possession, this heirloom is also in the crosshairs of the evil Dr. Sakharine (Daniel Craig). To claim the fortune, Tin Tin and Captain Haddock must travel great distances over high seas and arid desert, at times aided (most inaptly) by inspectors Thomas and Thomas (Nick Frost and Simon Pegg). Steven Spielberg has salivated over making this adventure since the early eighties but was unable to get serious about it until 2004. Even though filming completed in 2009 it’s taken Spielberg this long to bring the movie to its current glory as he has been meticulous about the 3D filming of the performance captured technique. Animating this character has been attempted in the past but usually with disappointing results since such an international icon has to be brought to life just right. Spielberg has done it. The only thing missing is a “to be continued” graphic at the end - but you know there will be a follow-up, just as certain as there’s a Tin following Tin.