Review of The Adventures of Tintin (2011) by Olivier M — 16 Jan 2013

First things first, yes the visuals are absolutely amazing. But like most visual breakthroughs, it only leaves you amazed for about 10 minutes. Then you're left with the story told and the way it's directed... and I'm much less thrilled about that.

Various parts of the storytelling felt rushed. Actions scenes were often mixed with plot exposition or dialogues between characters. It's hard for me to say why, but it left me confused where other action-heavy movies easily allow me to follow what's going on. I also disliked quite a few very childish humor sequences (fixing the plane...) or overly cartoonishly improbable ones (the sleeping sailors). Definitely not my type of humor.

Then, there's the fact I'm French, have all the Tintin comics and have grown up with them. This movie, to me, is _not_ a Tintin movie. Tintin never used such over-the-top action sequences, nor that sort of very "modern" humor style (admittedly the comics have a more subdued and somewhat passé humor). The fact the movie is a huge mix of three different comics probably did not help me "click" with it.

It makes me wonder if I could have enjoyed it with a different state of mind, without the expectations given by using such a huge label. But then I remember the confusing action and humor and I conclude it's probably just not meant for me.