Though most of the media advertisement was placed on War Horse, director Steven Spielberg (Jurassic Park) also brings another gem to the table at the close of 2011 with a reincarnation of Tintin.

The story follows Belgian reporter Tintin (James Bell, King Kong) as he comes into possession of a mysterious model ship, which thrusts him into the middle of a mystery dating back centuries. Through this mystery he meets his companion Captain Haddock (Ander Serkis, Lord of the Rings Trilogy) and faces Haddock’s nemesis Ivan Ivanovitch Sakharine (Daniel Craig, Casino Royal). While the plot has many twists and turns at times, the plot can be confusing because of the lack of background information given about the characters.

Spielberg created the movie using 3D animation and performance capture technology. While the movie still retains the same sense of art featured in the comic books written by Hergé, it captures a lifelike quality due to the fact that it was filmed using real people and then transposed into digital format. Though this technology is rarely used to create whole movies, Spielberg pulls it off beautifully. The scenes created are rich with color and life, and the characters move and express emotions much more fluently than in most animated features. Further adding to the picture quality and the viewer’s experience, the 3D effect helps add depth to the whole film.

The movie’s greatest success comes with its action scenes; they are rapid and fluid, twisting and turning. At every turn there is new adventure and a new escape route for Tintin to take advantage off. The fact that the movie is animated allows Spielberg to create shots that would never be capable when using human actors.

Due to the films breathtaking presentation and ability to keep the audience on the edge of their seats, yet still maintain an air of fun, The Adventures of Tintin achieves 5 out of 5 stars.