Although motion capture’s been around for some time now, there’s plenty of people that are skeptical about it, and were also skeptical about Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of The Adventures of Tin Tin.
But with recent Oscar talk for Andy Serkis’s performance in Rise of the Planet of the Apes, motion capture’s being taken a lot more seriously these days, and Tin Tin may also be a big winner this Christmas as well.
Already reviews are in at both the major trades from the film’s premiere in London, Variety and Hollywood Reporter, and they both raved about the film.
Variety began its review by mentioning that Spielberg first discovered Tin Tin while making Raiders of the Lost Ark. The film is “blessed with a smart script and the best craftsmanship money can buy,” and Tin Tin is “a whiz-bang thrill ride” that should make “thundering typhoon biz globally.”
As Variety also pointed out, early buzz on the film wasn’t great, especially considering audiences have been sick and tired of 3D and motion capture. But Variety notes that Spielberg does great with the technology without overdoing it, which isn’t surprising, because he’s always been on top of his game with special effects.
The Hollywood Reporter also mentioned that Tin Tin is reminiscent of Spielberg’s early eighties flicks , summing the movie up with, “Steven Spielberg brings the slightly antique world of the famed European comic-book series to splendid, action-filled life as only he can.” (Variety feels collaborating with Peter Jackson on the film may have brought back a lot of enthusiasm in him).
And again, with Oscar talk for Serkis in Apes, already there’s buzz for Best Animated Film, and Best Picture as well. If it gets a Best Picture nod, it would also be a big step forward to motion capture, once again proving a tool is only as good as whoever’s using it, and who’s acting under the CGI.
