Five More Reasons To See 'The Adventures Of Tintin'

Last month, Tami Katzoff gave us an early look at Steven Spielberg's "The Adventures of Tintin" after she saw it overseas. Now that the film is opening stateside today (December 21), it's definitely worth another look. Spielberg uses performance capture technology to its full potential, and we are left with the director's best effort in years.

There's no question that "The Adventures of Tintin" is worth your time, and here are five more reasons why.

Morocco

The scene near the end of the film where Tintin desperately chases a falcon through the streets of Morocco plays out like the children's movie equivalent of "Children of Men." I can't think of a higher compliment to pay an action sequence. Strung together in a single take, the scene thrills and excites and puts the technology to the best use possible. Spielberg shows off an expert knowledge of action composition and uses it with the motion capture performances to make a sequence he could only dream of. The result will go down as one of the most memorable movie moments of 2011.

Thompson and Thomson

They don't show up often, but when they do, there is non-stop laughter. "Shaun of the Dead" castmates Simon Pegg and Nick Frost lend more than their voices to the bumbling police officers of Thompson and Thomson. Most of the film's big laughs come from the duo because their personalities shine through the motion capture. The best argument for the technology comes when truly talented actors strap on the suits and pull off amazing performances that translate so well, and that's especially true with...

Andy Serkis

The man who stole "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" from James Franco--more impressive than it sounds--makes a second appearance hidden behind digital character in "Tintin." The results are no less hypnotizing. Serkis consistently breathes life into CGI characters in a way that bridges the uncanny valley and transcends the terms "live-action" and "animation." He's the best at what he does, and as Haddock, he'll make you forget you aren't watching an actual actor on the screen because, in a sense, you're actually seeing one of our best.

Indiana Jones

"The Adventures of Tintin" is the best Indian Jones movie since "The Last Crusade." Spielberg works in familiar territory here, but this is by no means a retreat. The essence of Herge's original books never leaves the screen, but through Spielberg's lens, each shot gets injected with the same unabashed fun that made Indy a classic.

Performance Capture

Unlike 3D, which rarely serves any purpose, motion capture, when in assured hands, can go places other movies wish they could. It opens doors to filmmakers to give them the freedom to be as creative and wild as they want to be. Spielberg has fun throughout "Tintin," and we're left feeling lucky that such a master was given such freedom. While a little one-note, "Tintin" shines from start to finish and makes a great argument for the use of performance capture technology.

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