THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN: THE SECRET OF THE UNICORN 3D [2011 / 2012] [Limited 3D Edition] [3D Blu-ray + 2D Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy] [UK Release] Tintin is a Totally Action Packed Ripping Yarn of An Adventure!
‘THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN: THE SECRET OF THE UNICORN’ 3D follows the exciting exploits of a young reporter, his dog, a sea captain with a drinking problem, and a couple of bumbling Interpol detectives as they travel from Europe to the Sahara and Morocco in pursuit of a pickpocket, model-ship collectors and long-lost treasure. Steven Spielberg's and Peter Jackson's long-awaited full-length film, based on the original Tintin comics by Hergé, combines the stories "The Secret of the Unicorn," "Red Rackham's Treasure," and "The Crab with the Golden Claws" into a generally fast-paced adventure that feels just a tad too long.
The individual stories and the characters Tintin, Snowy, Captain Haddock, and Thompson and Thomson are all quite faithfully represented. The motion-capture animation is similar to that of Polar Express and is both fascinating and a bit odd at times. As in the comics themselves, the characters are highly stylized and instantly recognizable, but Tintin's facial expression is eerily stoic and there's a hint of strangeness that's hard to put a finger on. Snowy is delightfully funny to watch, though he is a bit fluffier than in the original comics, and the real animation standouts are the secondary characters like Thompson and Thomson and Captain Haddock, who somehow seem absolutely perfect.
Devoted fans will revel in the abundance of small details that reference the comics and suggest a true love for Tintin on the filmmakers' parts, but even viewers who don't know a thing about the comics will thoroughly enjoy this exciting adventure.
FILM FACT No.1: Awards and Nominations: 2011 Golden Schmoes Awards: Nominated: Best Animated Movie of the Year. 2011 GoldSpirit Awards: Win: Best Animated Soundtrack for John Williams. 2011 Village Voice Film Poll Awards: Nominated: Best Animated Feature Film. 2012 Academy Awards: Nominated: Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures for an Original Score for John Williams. 2012 Golden Globes: Win: Best Animated Feature Film. 2012 BAFTA Film Awards: Nominated: Best Animated Film for Steven Spielberg. Nominated: Best Special Visual Effects for Jamie Beard, Joe Letteri, Keith Miller and Wayne Stables. 2012 Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA: Nominated: Best Director for Steven Spielberg. Nominated: Best Music for John Williams. Nominated: Best Production Design for Kim Sinclair. Nominated: Best Editing for Michael Kahn. Nominated: Best Special Effects for Jamie Beard, Joe Letteri, Keith Miller, Matt Aitken, Matthias Menz, Wayne Stables. Nominated: Best Animated Film. 2012 American Cinema Editors: Nominated: Eddie Award for Best Edited Animated Feature Film for Michael Kahn. 2012 Annie Awards: Win: Animated Effects in an Animated Production for Kevin Romond. Win: Music in a Feature Production for John Williams. Nominated: Writing in a Feature Production for Edgar Wright, Joe Cornish and Steven Moffat. Nominated: Editing in a Feature Production for Michael Kahn. Nominated: Best Animated Feature for Amblin Entertainment, Columbia Pictures, Nickelodeon Movies, Paramount Pictures, The Kennedy/Marshall Company and WingNut Films. 2012 Art Directors Guild: Nominated: Excellence in Production Design Award for Fantasy Film for Kim Sinclair (art director), Andrew L. Jones (supervising art director), Jeff Wisniewski (art director), Robert C. Powers (vad supervisor), Simon Bright (art director – second unit), John P. Goldsmith (set designer), Jim Wallis (set designer), David Moreau (set designer), Jackson Bishop (set designer), John Lott (set designer - second unit), Martha Eidsness Mitchell (junior set designer), Tony Bohorquez (modelmaker), Ernie Avila (modelmaker), Gregory Jein (modelmaker), Adam Mull (modelmaker) and Jason Mahakian (modelmaker). 2012 BMI Film & TV Awards: Win: BMI Film Music Award for Film Music for John Williams. 2012 Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards: Nominated: Critics Choice Award for Best Animated Feature. 2012 Casting Society of America: Nominated: Artios Award for Outstanding Achievement in Casting in a Animation Feature for Jina Jay (Casting Director). 2012 Gold Derby Awards: Nominated: Animated Feature for Steven Spielberg. 2013 Grammy Awards: Nominated: Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media for John Williams. 2012 Hollywood Post Alliance, USA: Win: Outstanding Sound in a Feature Film for Andy Nelson (re-recording mixer), Brent Burge (supervising sound editor) Chris Ward (supervising sound editor), Christopher Boyes (re-recording mixer), Michael Hedges (re-recording mixer) and Park Road Post Production. 2012 International 3D & Advanced Imaging Society's Creative Arts Awards: Win: Creative Arts Award for Animated 3D Feature for Paramount Pictures. 2012 International Cinephile Society Awards: Nominated: Best Animated Film. 2012 International Film Music Critics Award: Win: Best Original Score for an Animated Film for John Williams. Nominated: Film Score of the Year for John Williams. Nominated: Film Music Composition of the Year for John Williams for "The Adventure Continues." 2012 Motion Picture Sound Editors, USA: Win: Golden Reel Award for Best Sound Editing - Sound Effects, Foley, Dialogue and ADR in an Animation Feature Film for Brent Burge (supervising sound editor), Chris Ward (supervising sound editor) (supervising dialogue/adr editor), Dave Whitehead (sound designer), Craig Tomlinson (supervising foley editor), John Simpson (foley artist), Hayden Collow (sound effects editor), Matt Stutter (sound effects editor), Justin Doyle (sound effects editor), Frank Lipson (sound effects editor), Martin Kwok (dialogue editor), Jason Canovas (dialogue editor), Chris Todd (dialogue editor), Morgan Samuel (ADR editor) and Justin Webster ("Snowy" effects editor). 2012 MovieGuide Awards: Nominated: Best Film for Families. 2012 Online Film & Television Association: Win: OFTA Film Award for Best Animated Picture for Kathleen Kennedy, Peter Jackson and Steven Spielberg. 2012 PGA Awards: Win: Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures for Kathleen Kennedy, Peter Jackson and Steven Spielberg. 2012 Robert Festival Awards: Nominated: Best American Film (Årets amerikanske film) for Steven Spielberg. 2012 Visual Effects Society Awards: Nominated: Outstanding Visual Effects in an Animated Feature Motion Picture for Eileen Moran, Jamie Beard, Joe Letteri and Meredith Meyer-Nichols. Nominated: Outstanding Created Environment in an Animated Feature Motion Picture for Adam King, Hamish Beachman, Mark Tait, Wayne Stables for “Bagghar.” Nominated: Outstanding Created Environment in an Animated Feature Motion Picture for Alessandro Mozzato, Jason Lazaroff, Jeff Capogreco and Matt Aitken for “Docks.” Nominated: Outstanding Created Environment in an Animated Feature Motion Picture for Alessandro Saponi, Christoph Sprenger, Keith Miller and Phil Barrenger for “Pirate Battle.” Nominated: Outstanding Virtual Cinematography in an Animated Feature Motion Picture for Keith Miller, Matt Aitken, Matthias Menz and Wayne Stables. Nominated: 2012 World Soundtrack Awards: Nominated: Best Original Soundtrack of the Year for John Williams. 2013 Tokyo Anime Award: Win: International Theater Award for Steven Spielberg.
FILM FACT No.2: Peter Jackson explains the film's look, by saying, “We're making them look photorealistic; the fibres of their clothing, the pores of their skin and each individual hair. They look exactly like real people — but real Hergé people!” Originally, the second Tintin film was to be based on Hergé's ‘The Seven Crystal Balls and Prisoners of the Sun.’ However, screenwriter Anthony Horowitz later stated that those books would be the second sequel and another story would become the first sequel.
Voice Cast: Jamie Bell (Tintin), Andy Serkis (Captain Haddock / Sir Francis Haddock), Daniel Craig (Sakharine / Red Rackham), Nick Frost (Thomson), Simon Pegg (Thomson), Daniel Mays (Allan / Pirate Flunky #1), Gad Elmaleh (Ben Salaad), Toby Jones (Silk), Joe Starr (Barnaby), Enn Reitel (Nestor / Mr. Crabtree), Mackenzie Crook (Tom / Pirate Flunky #2), Tony Curran (Lieutenant Delcourt), Sonje Fortag (Mrs. Finch), Cary Elwes (Pilot), Phillip Rhys (Co-Pilot / French Medic), Ron Bottitta (Sailor / Lookout), Mark Ivanir (Afghar Outpost Soldier / Secretary), Nathan Meister (Market Artist), Sebastian Roché (Pedro / 1st Mate), Kim Stengel (Bianca Castafiore), Abraham Justice (Soldier), Sana Etoile (Press Reporter), Ché Baker (Old Man / Truck Driver) (uncredited), Jacquie Barnbrook (Old Lady) (uncredited), Sophia Elisabeth (Reporter) (uncredited) and Rik Young (Thompson / Thomson(uncredited)
Director: Steven Spielberg
Producers: Adam Somner, Carolynne Cunningham, Jason D. McGatlin, Kathleen Kennedy, Ken Kamins, Nick Rodwell, Peter Jackson, Stephane Sperry and Steven Spielberg
Screenplay: Hergé (based on "The Adventures of Tintin"), Edgar Wright (screenplay), Joe Cornish (screenplay)and Steven Moffat (screenplay)
Composer: John Williams
Cinematography: Janusz Kamiñski (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 (Anamorphic)
Audio: English: 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio,
English: 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound
English Audio Description Service
Cantonese: 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound
Mandarin: 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound
Thai: 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Subtitles: English, English SDH, Bahasa Indonesia, Bahasa Malaysia, Cantonese, Mandarin, Simplified Chinese and Thai
Running Time: 107 minutes
Region: All Regions
Number of discs: 3
Studio: Paramount Home / Columbia Pictures / Amblin Entertainment
Andrew's Blu-ray Review: ‘THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN: THE SECRET OF THE UNICORN’ 3D is a ripping return to the Saturday morning adventure serials that inspired the film ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark,’ and now Steven Spielberg brings a beloved European comic to the silver screen by using motion capture performances and 3D CGI animation. As creative partners, Steven Spielberg collaborated with Peter Jackson, who acts as producer on this film and intends to direct the second part of what they hope will be a trilogy, and along screenwriters Steven Moffat (Screenwriter for Doctor Who), Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish helped to bring this film to fruition.
Tintin, as voiced by Jamie Bell, is a young journalist whose inquisitive nature sends him off on countless adventures to recover stolen antiquities...or at least that's what all of the newspaper articles on the walls of Tintin's study tells us. This time around, Tintin purchases a model ship, the Unicorn, from a street vendor moments before the mysterious, and most likely dangerous, Sakharine [Daniel Craig] arrives to buy it. Tintin keeps the Unicorn, which he learns is a model of a ship captained by one Sir Francis Haddock that sank hundreds of years ago with a long, lost treasure. However, legend says only “a true Sir Francis Haddock will be able to uncover the lost treasure of the Unicorn.”
Sakharine will stop at nothing to get the model, including murder and kidnapping, but thanks to Tintin's bumbling Interpol agent friends, Thompson and Thomson [the always funny Simon Pegg and Nick Frost], and a local pickpocket, Sakharine snatches Tintin, but doesn't get his hands on the secret scroll hidden within the model ship's mast. Tintin wakes in the cargo hold of a freighter steaming for foreign soil. Sakharine has hijacked the freighter from its captain, the last surviving Haddock [Andy Serkis]. Here it becomes clear: there were three Unicorn models, and Sakharine plans to find three scrolls and use Sir Francis Haddock 's family knowledge to find the Unicorn's location. Trouble is Sir Francis Haddock's a drunk, and has forgotten all the old Haddock family stories. It's up to Tintin to pull the truth out of Haddock while racing across oceans and deserts to beat the nefarious and deadly Sakharine to the lost treasure.
As I live in the United Kingdom, I've had little exposure to the original comic books, even though there are great deals of massive fans in the UK, who know more about this cartoon Character. Written by Belgium Hergé (aka Georges Prosper Remi), save for a few High School French classes and, while there are numerous in-jokes and references to the comic itself (or at least I think there are, based on the reactions others, who claimed to know the comic, when I saw the film theatrically), this is a really strong adaptation for all audiences, whether or not you're a lifetime fan.
So how does it measure up? Well, personally speaking, I really loved the Indiana Jones feeling of it all, and felt the filmmaking, performances, tone, and adventure worked very well. There are some contrivances, and Tintin's lines are a bit convoluted, but this is a real return to the Amblin and Steven Spielberg I love and very impressed with the use of motion capture to build the character performances and the overall improvements in the animation quality succeeded.
‘THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN: THE SECRET OF THE UNICORN’ 3D is also a lot of fun. The action set pieces are clever, funny, and tense. My jaw hit the floor a number of times, especially during the Unicorn vs. the Pirate ship scene, the single shot motorcycle chase sequence, and the battling harbour cranes fight. The camera work is playful in a way that harkens back to Steven Spielberg's 1970s and 1980s heyday. In fact, the experience is such a throwback to the wonder if the film, which lacks a certain cynicism found in modern blockbusters and works as well for younger audiences.
Overall, I think fans of Steven Spielberg or the Tintin comic books will enjoy this comedic, romping adventure. Tintin fans will no doubt get more of the in-jokes. As for casual viewers, there's a lot of fun to have for the entire family, unless you have a hard time connecting to motion capture performances.
THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN: THE SECRET OF THE UNICORN MUSIC TRACK LIST
LOCK LOMOND (Traditional) [Performed by Andy Serkis]
EVENING IN BAGHDAD (Written by John Leach)
Concerto For Strings In F Major, R.V. 136 (Andante) (Written by Antonio Vivaldi)
ROSINA’S CAVATINA From the opera The Barber of Seville (Written by Gioachino Rossini)
AH, JE VEUX VIVRE from the opera "Roméo et Juliette" (Music by Charles Gounod) (Libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré) [Performed by Renée Fleming]
3D Blu-ray Image Quality – ‘THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN: THE SECRET OF THE UNICORN’ tackles the 3D world with a subtle but magnificent looking 1080p image that will dazzle and amaze most viewers. Its 2D counterpart is already fantastic enough as it is, and the 3D merely enhances the CGI video by placing emphasis on quality and depth rather than the usual pop-out gimmicks. Granted, a couple scenes do have random items protrude from the screen, mostly for amusement or as a comical device, like when Rackham points his cane at the camera, but by and large, the presentation is on immersing viewers into the third-dimension with a great deal of natural depth, which it does in spades. Buildings on the European streets and long hallways seem elongated and distant, genuinely feeling as if far removed from the foreground. Other objects appear to move independently of each other, such as when Tintin and Captain Haddock meet for the first time inside his cramped quarters. In fact, several of the best moments come while the two run around the Karaboudjan and try to make their escape. Later on, during a wild chase on the confined streets of Bagghar down to the harbour, the rapid camera movements and non-stop action is the film's coolest sequence, arguably making it one of the best uses of the 3D technology yet. On a large enough screen, it quite literally feels like being on a roller coaster ride, weaving and zigzagging between buildings and people. The film comes with several dark scenes, and never does delineation within the deep, murky shadows come into question. The rest of the presentation is equally outstanding with pitch-perfect contrast and superb, crystal-clear clarity, allowing viewers to see far into the distance. Black levels are inky and penetrating with extraordinary gradational steps in the grayscale, adding to the layers of dimensionality already present in the video. Although the photography comes with a slightly antiquated appeal to it, colours are vivid and richly-saturated, leaping off the screen with an energetic pop. The transfer is beautifully detailed from beginning to end, revealing the smallest imperfections on clothing, architecture and the walls of the ship. One can really appreciate the artwork and effort that went into the film's making as the faces of characters have a lifelike texture that almost makes them seem real. Captain Haddock's nose and cheeks are probably the most impressive, sure to leave viewers astonished with this awesome high-definition 3D presentation.
3D Blu-ray Audio Quality – ‘THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN: THE SECRET OF THE UNICORN’ 3D Blu-ray audio is the same as its 2D counterpart and makes for a wonderful addition to the images immersive effect. The 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio experience makes excellent use of the system as it comes natively in a 7.1 soundscape. Directionality and panning is absolutely flawless as bullets and vehicles zoom all around the room, and the debris from explosions flies overhead as well as to the sides. There's not much to speak of in terms of ambience, but a few atmospherics quietly sneak into the rears, generating a decently pleasant sound field. John Williams' animated score also enjoys a strong presence in the surrounds, filling the air with excitement and adventure. Much of the runtime is spent on the front soundstage since a great deal of the narrative is dialogue-driven. Conversations are very well-prioritized and perfectly audible during the movie's several high points. Dynamic range is expansive with room-penetrating clarity, allowing listeners to revel in a variety of sounds and noises which make the action sequences come alive. Again, John Williams music benefits most with clear instrumentation and terrific acoustical detail. Low-frequency effects are a plenty with powerful, full-bodied explosions and punchy gunshots. 'Tintin' makes an awesome debut audio.
Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Special Feature: Toasting Tintin: Part 1 [2012] [1080p] [1.78:1] [1:00] Here we get to view filmmakers celebrate the first day of shooting with some champagne.
Special Feature: The Journey to Tintin [2012] [1080p] [1.78:1] [9:00] An insightful look at how Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson discovered Hergé's comics and bringing Tintin's adventures to the big screen. Contributors include: Peter Jackson, Kathleen Kennedy and Steven Spielberg.
Special Feature: The World of Tintin [2012] [1080p] [1.78:1] [11:00] Here we have a brief history on the Tintin comics and the characters; this segment looks at the film adaptations and the differences. Contributors include: Jamie Bell, Joe Cornish, Gad Elmaleh, Nick Frost, Peter Jackson, Simon Pegg and Steven Spielberg.
Special Feature: The Who's Who of Tintin [2012] [1080p] [1.78:1] [14:00] Here we get to hear about the background of the characters from the comics mixed with some motion-capture footage of the cast.
Special Feature: Tintin: Conceptual Design [2012] [1080p] [1.78:1] [9:00] As the title suggests, this piece looks at the work done by Weta Workshop and their attempts at staying true to Hergé's original design. Weta Workshop is special effects and prop company based in Miramar, New Zealand, and producing effects for television and film.
Special Feature: Tintin: In the Volume [2012] [1080p] [1.78:1] [18:00] With more motion-capture footage about, the piece examines the stage on which actors perform and Steven Spielberg using the technology. Contributors include: Jamie Bell, Joe Cornish, Gad Elmaleh, Nick Frost, Peter Jackson, Simon Pegg and Steven Spielberg.
Special Feature: Snowy: From the Beginning to End [2012] [1080p] [1.78:1] [10:00] This special feature focuses on Tintin's trusted canine companion and the work that went into bringing the dog Snowy to life.
Special Feature: Animating Tintin [2012] [1080p] [1.78:1] [11:00] This is a look behind-the-Scene footage that shows the actual CGI process of transforming mo-cap scenes into an animated film.
Special Feature: Tintin: The Score [2012] [1080p] [1.78:1] [7:00] This special feature gives its full attention into looking into the legendary composer John Williams and his approach film scoring.
Special Feature: Collecting Tintin [2012] [1080p] [1.78:1] [4:00] Here we take a look at the design of the collectible toys.
Special Feature: Toasting Tintin: Part 2 [2012] [1080p] [1.78:1] [3:00] Here we get to view another toast from by the filmmakers after completing the film.
Finally, Directed by Steven Spielberg and produced by Peter Jackson, brings you ‘THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN: THE SECRET OF THE UNICORN’ 3D that is a great deal of fun and a thrilling big-screen adaptation of Hergé's beloved classic comic books. The CGI animated action-packed adventure animation film is reminiscent of Steven Spielberg's 'Indiana Jones' franchise films, but stands on its own as an entertaining and rousing motion picture for the whole family. This 3D Blu-ray edition of the film arrives with a first-rate audio and video presentation that's sure to satisfy everyone. Bonus material is fairly extensive, and most of it is exclusive to Blu-ray, making this wild thrill-ride worth the price. Again like a lot of people who are not a fan of this Belgium author Hergé [aka Georges Prosper Remi] and the books of Tintin and `The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn' animation film fills in the gaps for us who are not up on the exploits of Tintin and the film is based on three of Hergé's books entitled: “The Crab with the Golden Claws” [1941], “The Secret of the Unicorn” [1943], and “Red Rackham's Treasure” [1944] and I think Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson have done a grand job in bringing the pages of the Hergé books to life and I can tell you it is a brilliant animation film that will give you a brilliant rollercoaster ride and the voice artists really bring the characters to life and I can also tell you that you will have an amazing experience, especially in the fantastic 3D image experience and it is such an honour to add this to me ever increasing Steven Spielberg Blu-ray Collection. Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
