Welcome to the charming and colorful world of Tintin! Hergé’s classic comic book characters leap to the silver screen in two spirited adventures starring the intrepid boy-reporter and his faithful dog Snowy. In Tintin’s first-ever live-action adaptation, Tintin and the Mystery of the Golden Fleece, Captain Haddock sets sail to Istanbul, accompanied by our cow-licked hero and his cohorts. There they collect a strange bounty from the late Captain Paparanic: a rusty old ship called the Golden Fleece. But the real treasure lies in a chest under the sea, as they discover a map with an “X” on it—marking the spot of Paparanic’s gold. For his next escapade, Tintin and the Blue Oranges, Tintin tries to crack the riddle of an oddly hued citrus that can be grown in the desert—and possibly solve world hunger.
For thoughts on Tintin and the Mystery of the Golden Fleece and Tintin and the Blue Oranges, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
[youtube https://youtu.be/_GZkJ0C44NA?t=2138]
Video Quality
Tintin and the Mystery of the Golden Fleece and Tintin and the Blue Oranges come to Blu-Ray with both films sharing a disc, but there does not seem to be any notable issues with compression. These films share nearly identical qualities, so I will mostly be judging them as a pair while pointing out noticeable differences when necessary. Both films have been given 2K restorations courtesy of Gaumont in collaboration with the CNC which bring these French comic book movies to our shores in sterling quality. Both films keep up an admirable level of consistency which always leaves you with a pleasing viewing experience. There is the occasional speck of underlying print damage, but there has been obvious care put into preserving these features.
The gorgeous cinematography shines in high definition with natural grain intact and resolved without issue. Even when the grain gets a bit heavy in certain shots, it never truly appears clumpy or unnatural. There is a fetching amount of detail present throughout both adventures with distinct textures in the environments and within the costumes and production design. The colors are quite vibrant with a fabulous amount of saturation at play. Black levels are not a major issue, as we noticed no substantial occurrences of black crush or compression artifacts. Highlights are not too hot, as they keep blooming at bay. Kino Classics has delivered something that will make Tintin fans very happy.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray set comes with a favorable DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track for each of these films in their original French with optional English subtitles. Dialogue can sound slightly abrasive in a few kinetic exchanges, but by and large it comes through clearly without sounding muffled or overwhelmed. It stays in harmony with the environmental elements so information never gets drowned out in the mix. There are very minor signs of humming and crackles at random intervals that likely date back to the source elements. Thankfully there is not much in the way of overt damage to the audio. The scores that accompany these films play well with the dialogue and other important information so it aids them rather than overshadows. Kino Classics has done a nice job on the audio side, as well.
Special Features
There are no special features provided on this disc.
Final Thoughts
The Tintin Collection provides a very fun time as you see this famous character pulled from the page and translated into live action form. The execution feels somewhat like a forebear to films like Popeye which really embraces the fantastical roots of the source material. The first film in this set is the more successful of the pair, but both efforts offer something to enjoy. Kino Classics has released a Blu-Ray set featuring a strong A/V presentation and nothing in the realm of special features. If you like unique mystery tales with a little bit of whimsy, you should check this out. Recommended
Tintin and the Mystery of the Golden Fleece and Tintin and the Blue Oranges is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Kino Classics has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
