Movie Review: The Adventures of Tintin (2011)

Hello, to all of you!

It seems to be a trend to take some classic cartoon (whether it is in print or a tv show) and make a movie where they change it into digital animation. I wasn't a fan of the concept, but a few of the results have turned out pretty well! One of them is this movie! I wasn't very familiar with the Tintin comics before this, but I really enjoyed this movie and since then have liked the comics that I've gotten to read!

This film takes you on quite and adventure, are you ready for this review?

My guarantee: On ALL of my reviews there are NO spoilers unless I give you warning. This is spoiler free!


The Adventures of Tintin (2011):

(aka The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn)
Based on: the comics by Hergé.
"Nothing is an accident."
Tintin is a young journalist who stumbles upon a new mystery by purchasing an antique model of a ship. The moment he does someone tries to buy it from him, but he doesn't sell it because this has really caught his interest. Through this tiny ship he finds himself on a trek around the world, and through history, where he meets friends and foes. What mysteries does the ship The Unicorn hold, and is there more that one?
"What secrets do you hold?"

Genre: Mystery, Family, Animated, Adventure.
Length: approx. 107 minutes.
Costumes: 8, animated so there isn't a lot of focus on it, but I don't mind. Nothing bad!
Script: 10, Captain Haddock swears a lot, but there aren't any bad words! He just kind of yells whatever comes into his head. His favorite is: "Billions of blue blistering barnicles!" Which my sisters and I now yell a lot, too.
Crew: Directed by: Steven Spielberg. Written by: Steven Spielberg, Steven Moffat, Edgar Wright, Joe Cornish, & Hergé.
Starring the voices of:
Jamie Bell as Tintin.

Andy Serkis as Captain Haddock. "I don't remember anything about anything."

Nick Frost and Simon Pegg as Thompson and Thompson. "I am not your sidekick, you're mine."
Daniel Craig as Ivan Ivanovitch Sakharine.

Toby Jones as Aristides Silk.

Gad Elmaleh as Omar ben Salaad.
Joe Starr as Barnaby Dawes.
Enn Reitel as Nestor & Mr. Crabtree.
Tony Curran as Lieutenant Delcour.
Sonje Fortag as Mrs. Finch.
Cary Elwes and Phillip Rhys as pilots.
Kim Stengel as Bianca Castafiore.
Nathan Meister as Market Artist.

Animation: 10, ACK. As you all know, digital animation is not my favorite, but this is absolutely spectacular! The transitions from scene to scene are phenomenal! Plus, the way that they included the original animation is brilliant. I couldn't find the image that I wanted to show you, but believe me, it's amazing.

Music: 9, it's just so much fun. It totally gets you into a mystery mood! It goes so well with the opening credits (which have the original animation) and it is great.
Music by: John Williams.
Quotes: 9, as I said above, my sisters and I quote Captain Haddock quite a bit. Tintin also has some good lines!
"The library should have the answer."
Content: 7, there is death, gross things, smoking, a lot of drinking, and violence.
Originality: 10, love it! Afterwards the mystery seems so obvious and I couldn't believe that I had missed it, but it also is super complex.
Good For: mystery lovers, literally anyone!

Age Range: It's rated PG because there is that violence and drinking. I would say anyone over 8 would be fine, but it always depends on the individual.
Overall Score: 9!
"There's something you need to know about failure, Tintin, you can never let it beat you."
Bonus thoughts:

Do you know those movies where you just have such good memories of you watching them? Well, this is one of those for me. The first time I saw this was at my grandma's and I was sitting eating orange "snow balls". The opening had me hooked and I never looked away! I made my sisters watch it as soon as they could, and it is one of our favorites! The characters are so endearing and loveable, you love to watch them. Tintin is so resourceful, and Captain Haddock has gone through some rough things but you continue to route for him. I will not forget my precious little Snowy! That dog is so adorable and I love how he gets Tintin in (and occasionally out of) trouble! If nothing else, watch for the outstanding animation! If you can't tell, I'm so impressed.

Have any of you seen this? Tell me your favorite animated mystery movie! Stay safe and healthy!

Thanks for reading!

MovieCritic

Movie Review: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Hello everyone!

*cue adventure music*

Today I will be reviewing a very famous and popular adventure movie starring someone who got his start in my favorite movie, Star Wars (1977). Crack your whip, and let's swing into the action!

Appologies that these pictures are all really in bad condition and small, my computer was not liking me today!

My guarantee: On ALL of my reviews there are NO spoilers unless I give you warning. This review is spoiler free!


Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981):

In 1936, an intercepted message shows that the Nazis are looking for the Ark of the Covenant to become the most powerful army. Archaeologist and professor Indiana Jones decides that he needs to find it before they do, so he seeks out an old friend who might have a key to the whereabouts of the Ark. Going to Nepal he learns that his friend is dead, but his daughter might still have what he is looking for. Joining with her they travel to Egypt and other places looking for the holy object. Which will find it first? Or was it never meant to be found at all?

'"We must hurry, nothing to fear here."

"That's what scares me."'

Genre: Adventure, Action.
Length: approx. 115 minutes.
Costumes: 6, nothing really great and there are a few times when someone isn't wearing a shirt.
Script: 7, there is some name calling, a few bad words, and a name being taken in vain.

'"I'm working on it, I'm working on it!"

"Well, whatever you're doing, do it faster!"'

Crew:
Directed by: Steven Spielberg.
Written by: Lawrence Kasdan, George Lucas, & Philip Kaufman.
Starring:
Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones. "I hate snakes!"

Karen Allen as Marion Ravenwood.

Paul Freeman as Dr. Belloq.

John Rhys-Davies as Sallah.

Ronald Lacey as Major Arnold Toht.

Denholm Elliott as Dr. Marcus Brody.
Alfred Molina as Satipo.
Wolf Kahler as Colonel Dietrich.
Anthony Higgins as Major Gobler.
Vic Tablian as Barranca & Monkey Man.
Don Fellows as Col. Musgrove.
William Hootkins as Major Eaton.
Cinematography: 8. Not the best that I've seen, but there is always a lot going on and it is handled pretty well.
Cinematography by: Douglas Slocombe.

Music: 10! Okay, story time. It was with this movie and Pirates of the Caribbean that I first realized hat there was music playing during movies. One time my dad got a birthday card that when you opened it the score from this movie played. My sisters and I loved that card and would open it a hundred times a day until it finally drove my mom crazy and she had to put it where we couldn't get to it!
Music by: John Williams.
Notes: There are some Easter eggs in this movie. I've seen them, but this last time through I blinked at the wrong time and missed them. I'll give you a clue, this was written by George Lucas and look in the hieroglyphics.
Another thing that my dad pointed out is that in one part they are measuring things and they had the wrong size. My dad noticed this because they said what height it needed to be and when they stood it up it was taller than Harrison Ford, when it should have been about his height.
Quotes: 7, standard lines, so not too quotable, but okay.

"Holy smokes, my friends! I'm so glad that you're not dead."

Oscars won: 4: Best Sound, Best Art Direction, Best Film Editing, Best Visual Effects.
Content: 5, there are spiders, snakes, skeletons and bodies, people being burned, blood, killing, smoking, drinking, suggestive things, & kissing. Someone dies by being impaled and there is a lot of blood (I wrote it in my notes as someone being 'spiked') as well as someone walking into an airplane propeller. Okay, there is one part that I have never watched, because Indy yells, "Close your eyes!" so I always do. I'd say it's about a three minute section and from the sounds of it and what my sister tells me (because she didn't close her eyes) it is really violent and involves a lot of death. She also thinks that it is important to the story which makes sense to me because I am always very confused after that.

Originality: 7. This movie is a cultural thing because there are quite a few famous scenes that are referenced to a lot. I just recently learned that some of them were actually based on some Uncle Scrooge comics, which is why I'm taking off a few points. It is also Biblically incorrect because in 2 Maccabees 2:4-8 it says that Jeremiah hid the ark of the covenant in a cave where no one could find it until God gathers his people together. I can let that detail slip, because the message of the movie is that the Ark of the Covenant:

"Is something that man was not meant to disturb."

Good For: adventure and action fans, Harrison Ford fans.
Age Range: This movie is rated PG, but never believe the ratings of 80's movies. There is a ton of violence, and I'm usually absolutely okay with that because it doesn't bother me, but there are some things in here that made me look away! One example is when someone who is driving gets shot in the arm and blood sprays onto the windshield. Because of this, and all of the other things I mentioned it the Content category, I would rate this PG-13. But, as always, it does depend on the person who is watching it.

Overall Score: 7!

'"How?"

"I don't know! I'm making this up as I go!"'

Bonus thoughts:
Sallah is my absolute favorite! I just have to mention him to give some credit.


This is my entry in The Harrison Ford Blogathon, hosted by Sat in Your Lap! When I saw this I knew this was the perfect time to talk about how he played Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)!

For the blogathon:
A really funny thing is that no matter what I tell my younger sister, she never believes me that Han Solo and Indiana Jones are both played by the same person! She has only seen bits and pieces of this one and her comments crack me up!

[My sister walks into the room]
Sister: Who's that?
Me: Indiana Jones.
Sister: No it's not! Indiana Jones has a beard and doesn't wear glasses!
Me: Yes it is, he's a professor. And when has he ever had a full beard?

[Next scene]:
Sister: Who's that now?
Me: Still Indiana Jones.
Sister: No, he looks different.
Me: Trust me, it's him.
Sister: But he's wearing weird clothing!

[Next scene]:
Sister: *gasps* There's Han Solo!
Me: I told you!
Sister: When did he get here?
Me: It's been him the entire time!
Sister: Nope, he just got here.

[Next scene where Indiana is wearing his usual outfit]:
Sister: There Indiana Jones is finally!
Me: *sighs*

It shows a good actor if he can fool my sister that many times. I think that Harrison Ford does a good job of playing Indiana, and I can't ever see anyone else playing him.


Check out this post HERE to see all of the other entries in the blogathon! Thanks to Michael for hosting!

Thanks to all of you for reading! Do you have a favorite scene in this movie?

MovieCritic

Movie Review: E. T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

Hello!
"Why, if it isn't Ethel Barrymore." (No, Drew Barrymore!).
Yes, I know that is the same opening I used for this blogathon last year, but it is such a good opening.

What blogathon? You ask. Well, it is Crystal at In The Good Old Days of Classic Hollywood's fourth annual Barrymore trilogy blogathon!!!

Yes, I know Drew Barrymore isn't in the "trilogy", but Crystal extended it to all the Barrymores! I am here to review one of Drew's first movies.

My guarantee: On ALL of my reviews there are NO spoilers unless it says so.

E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

"I'm keeping him."
When a space ship accidentally leaves one of it's inhabitants behind, a boy named Elliott finds it, and wants to keep it as a friend. But the creature, whom Elliott named E.T., starts to get homesick. Meanwhile, Elliott and his brother and sister have to keep him secret from government agents who are trying to find the alien they saw in the woods.
"How do you explain school to a higher intelligence?"

Genre: Science Fiction
Length: approx. 115 minutes.
Costumes: 10, I'm giving this a 10 because E.T. is a machine, not CGI.
Script: 6, there is some bad name calling, a few bad words and some swearing.
"Can't you understand English?"

Crew:
Directed by: Steven Spielberg

Produced by:

Kathleen Kennedy

Steven Spielberg

Written by: Melissa Mathison
Starring:
Pat Welsh as the voice of E.T. "He's not going to hurt you."

Henry Thomas as Elliott.

Drew Barrymore as Gertie. "I'm not stupid, you know." (she is so cute!!)

Robert MacNaughton as Michael.

Dee Wallace as Mary.

Peter Coyote as "Keys".
K. C. Martel as Greg. "This is reality, Greg."
Sean Frye as Steve.
C. Thomas Howell as Tyler.

Cinematography: 8.

Cinematography by: Allen Daviau

Music: 9.
Music by: John Williams
Quotes: 9, "I don't know streets, Mom always drives me!"
Oscars won: 4: Best Visual Effects, Best Sound Effects Editing, Best Sound, Best Original Score.
Notes: There are references to The Quiet Man, Star Wars, and Peter Pan.

Storyline: 7, it has people being drunk, possible smoking, and deals with divorce.
Good For: People who feel abandoned.
"You've gone someplace else now."
Overall Score: 8.5

For the blogathon:

Drew Barrymore is the perfect Gertie. She is mischievous, but she can also be very sweet and innocent. Plus, she is adorable!

Thank you so much for hosting this Crystal! Sorry that this is a few days late... summer gets busy!

Thank you for reading!! Please go check out all the other posts in this blogathon HERE.

MovieCritic

Movie Review: Hook (1991)

Hello!
Crystal at In The Good Old Days of Classic Hollywood, and Gill at Realweegiemidget Reviews, are hosting a Robin Williams blogathon, and as he is one of my favorite actors, I had to participate!

Do remember all the way back in November, when I reviewed Peter Pan, and showed you my Halloween costume? I absolutely love Peter Pan, and I will try any and every version or story about it. I saw this for the first time several years ago, but I hadn't seen it since I actually read the book. I was shocked, it held so many themes that were in the book! It was such a pleasant surprise.

Andddd.... apologizes for being so late all the time. Man, blogging has not been my thing this year. I promise I'll get better in April.

My guarantee: On ALL of my reviews there are NO spoilers unless it says so.

Anyway, enough chit-chat, here is....

Hook (1991):

"Only you can save your children."
Peter Banning is definitely "grown-up". As a lawyer, he is busy all the time and barely gets to spend time with his family. They go on a trip to London to visit the woman, Wendy, who got him adopted.

While they are there his children, Jack and Maggie, get kidnapped! A mysterious note is left, signed by Captain Jas. Hook. Wendy tells Peter who he really is, so off and away he goes to Neverland, to try to remember how to fly.
"You're doing it, you're using your imagination!"

Genre: Adventure, Action, Fantasy
Length: approx. 142 minutes.
Costumes: 7, they are all so good, but there are times when they are a little short, and where people are not wearing shirts.
My favorite: I mean, it's obvious, right? I dressed up like him:

Script: 6, there are a few bad words.
"I've just had an apostrophe."
"I think you mean an Epiphany."

Crew:
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Produced by:
Kathleen Kennedy
Frank Marshall
Gerald R. Molen
Written by:
Jim V. Hart
Malia Scotch Marmo
Jim V. Hart
Nick Castle
Based on: Peter Pan (Also titled: Peter & Wendy) - by J. M. Barrie

Starring: "Who's the shrub?"
Robin Williams as Peter Banning, "Peter, you've become a pirate."

Dustin Hoffman as Captain Jas. Hook, "You're a bad man."

Maggie Smith as Wendy

Caroline Goodall as Moira Banning
Bob Hoskins as Smee

Julia Roberts as Tinker Bell

Dante Basco as Rufio

Amber Scott as Maggie Banning, "I've made you a hug."
Charlie Korsmo as Jack Banning

Arthur Malet as Tootles

Isaiah Robinson as Pockets
Jasen Fisher, Raushan Hammond, James Madio, Thomas Tulak, Alex Zuckerman, and Ahmad Stoner as Lost Boys

"Hold that happy thought."
Cinematography by: Dean Cundey

Music: 8
Music by: John Williams
Quotes: 9, "Hook's afraid of time, ticking away."
Notes: This movie is so sweet, it will make you cry, and it will make you laugh.

Storyline: 6, there is some suggestive things, kissing, smoking, and death.
"You need a mother, very badly."
Good For: All Peter Pan fans.
Overall Score: 7.5

And I got carried away with the pictures. Sorry about that...

Have any of you seen Hook? What did you think of it? Thank you so much to Crystal and Gill for hosting this!

MovieCritic