Anyone who felt cheated and pandered to after seeing Steven Spielberg’s recent Oscar-bait movie War Horse or disappointed by the fizzle of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull pay heed: The Adventures of Tintin (his first CG-animated escapade) is quintessential Spielberg, an action-packed ride steeped in old-fashioned swashbuckling adventure that recalls Raiders of the Lost Ark by way of the Hardy Boys.

The Tintin character has only a cult following in the US, but abroad has been hugely popular since his initial comic book stories were created by Belgian artist Hergé during 1929-1976. An intrepid boy reporter and globetrotting adventurer, Tintin was a huge influence on many artists and filmmakers, among them Spielberg and executive producer Peter Jackson (director of the Lord of the Rings movies and the upcoming Hobbit adaptation). The two filmmakers are planning a series of Tintin films — each based on the original stories — with the intent of taking turns with the directing and producing duties.

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