“The Adventures of Tintin” – the big screen adaptation of the comic books by Belgian artist Hergé – is making headlines left and right. The movie directed by Steven Spielberg, produced by Peter Jackson and starring the motion-capture performances of Daniel Craig, Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis, Simon Pegg and more doesn’t open in the U-S until December 21st, but it got a head-start in Europe where the comic books are hugely popular. And because of that, the movie debuted to an enormous international box office over the October 28th weekend, making more than $56 million.
And now, the movie is one step closer to an Oscar® nomination. Yes, the Academy Awards aren’t even handed out until February 26th, 2012 (nominations on January 24th), but the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Friday that the movie is one of 18 submitted for the Best Animated Feature Film category. This is significant for a couples reasons. If all 18 films fulfill the Academy’s requirements (namely the Los Angeles qualifying theatrical run), then there could and should be five nominees in that category (15 or less qualified movies means just three nominees). Secondly, motion-capture movies like “Tintin” and “Happy Feet Two,” another submission, often draw criticism from purists who question the motion/performance capture process and its conversion to animation.
Deadline’s Pete Hammond reported in September that members of the Academy asked the filmmakers (of “Tintin,” “Happy Feet Two” and “Mars Needs Moms” to explain their intent with motion capture, and it appears those filmmakers made a good case, as all have made the initial cut. Here, Spielberg tells how he came across the stories of “Tintin” while making another of his famous films and how Jackson turned out to be the perfect collaborator.
Now that your interest is piqued, and it surely is, here is the latest trailer for “The Adventures of Tintin.”
If you’re looking for more “Tintin” goods, the movie’s official site has just relauched. Check it out for more videos, photos, games and more…adventures!
