Film File - The Advertures Of Tintin: The Secret Of The Unicorn

Anything with Steven Spielberg's name attached is worth checking out - and his first animated foray into the world of animation doubles the anticipation. The iconic Belgian hero, Tintin (voice of Jamie Bell), his ever faithful dog Snowy, and the eccentric Captain Haddock (Andy Serkis) get the full Spielberg action treatment with stunts and drama along the lines of Indiana Jones. As the first of what will likely be many sequels - 'Lord Of The Rings' director Peter Jackson has already thrown his hat in the ring to direct the next one - this previously much-loved character in Europe will surely break the US bigtime after the film is released there at Christmas. Adapted from the original comics by artist Hergé, written between 1929 and 1983, 'The Secret Of The Unicorn' comes loaded with the familiar Spielberg trademarks of good storytelling and top-notch action sequences. Scripted by Steven Moffat, Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish - a trio who previous credits include 'Doctor Who', 'Shaun Of The Dead' and 'Scott Pilgrim vs The World' - have here pulled together a plot lifted from a number of the Hergé comics. When investigative reporter Tintin buys a model of a famous ship called the Unicorn, his path crosses the ominous Sakharine (Daniel Craig). With the help the ultra-smart Snowy, Tintin discovers the model ship contains a vital clue to a huge haul of treasure. With the help of the bumbling and drunken Captain Archibald Haddock on his vessel the Karaboudjan, the stage is set for daring, danger and the ultimate in Spielberg entertainment. This is the great director back to his best form - sequences that flow into each other seamlessly, well-realised characters and a plot that will hold the interest of adults as easily as their entranced kids. America never took to Tintin in his comic format - after this film, he'll become a household name over there.