THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN. Phenomenal Adventure Film

When Raiders of the Lost Ark hit theaters in 1981, many reviews suggested that the film carried the spirit of the Tintin comics by Belgian artist Hergé (real name Georges Prosper Remi). Encouraged by this comparison, Steven Spielberg purchased the complete collection (twenty-three volumes) and became immersed in the adventure-filled and humor-laden escapades of the Belgian reporter, his dog Snowy, and the boisterous Captain Haddock.

The idea of making a film based on the comics immediately sparked in the director’s mind. However, busy with other projects, he shelved the idea, only to return to it in the first decade of the 21st century. Technical challenges arose, particularly regarding how difficult it would be to train a real dog to convincingly replicate Snowy’s behavior from the comics. This led Spielberg to reach out to Peter Jackson, asking if his special effects studio could generate the dog digitally. Jackson, a devoted Tintin fan himself, suggested that the entire film be shot using Performance Capture technology—popularized by Robert Zemeckis (Beowulf)—where actors perform in motion-capture suits while the rest is created digitally. The two directors quickly reached an agreement: Spielberg took the director’s chair, while Jackson settled into the role of producer.

The result was a phenomenal adventure film filled with surprising plot twists, thrilling chase sequences, brawls, and battles—all tied together by the quest for a long-lost treasure. Tintin and his companions travel across the globe, from Europe to Africa, embodying the classic rule that the end of one problem is merely the beginning of another. The use of innovative technology allowed the filmmakers to depict even the most daring escapades, including a spectacular, fast-paced naval battle complete with cannon blasts and clashing cutlasses. There’s never a dull moment, and moments of heightened tension are skillfully relieved with humor, staying true to the best traditions of the genre. Spielberg delivered a pure, pulpy, escapist adventure that guarantees a smile from start to finish.

It’s also impossible not to mention the wonderfully performed characters. Though digitally created, the roles demanded considerable effort from the actors—both in terms of voice work and physical performance. Jamie Bell (Tintin), Andy Serkis (Captain Haddock), and Daniel Craig (the antagonist Sakharine) brilliantly convey emotion using only their voices. The film also features plenty of humor, mainly thanks to the gruff but good-hearted sea captain and the two utterly incompetent detectives, Thomson and Thompson (played by Simon Pegg and Nick Frost). Watching in the original English is highly recommended.

Tintin purists (who are rare abundant in French-speaking countries, where Hergé’s work is considered a national treasure) might frown upon the film’s modernization of the storytelling style and its blending of plotlines from three albums—The Crab with the Golden Claws, The Secret of the Unicorn, and Red Rackham’s Treasure. Personally, I find the film far superior to the comics, which have aged considerably (the series was published from the 1920s to the 1980s) and rely heavily on slapstick humor and improbable coincidences. The screenwriters extracted the best elements from the originals and polished them where necessary.

For me, The Adventures of Tintin ranks among the top adventure films, sitting comfortably alongside the Indiana Jones series. Most importantly, it was crafted as a family-friendly film without the usual saccharine sentimentality associated with the genre. Instead, it delivers sharp, unrestrained adventure that makes you feel young again! A fantastic production that, unfortunately, has yet to receive a sequel.