TINTIN comes to the big screen!

Less than a year ago, Heart & Mind published an article I wrote about the value of the Tintin books for wholesome family reading. I am delighted now to report on the news that Peter Jackson and Steven Spielberg are teaming up to make three films about the most beloved Belgium reporter and world adventurer. It has always been a source of disappointment to me that American families are not familiar with these stories... this will no longer be the case!

Spielberg, Peter Jackson plan 'Tintin' tales

Associated Press

LOS ANGELES -- Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson each plan to direct at least one film in a series of three movies based on the "Tintin" adventures, a collection of illustrated books about a globe-trotting Belgian reporter.

The Academy Award-winning filmmakers each will direct one of the first two "Tintin" films and will determine later who will make the third, Spielberg spokesman Marvin Levy said Tuesday.

A timetable for production and release of the films had not been set, Levy said.

Spielberg and Jackson have chosen three stories from the two-dozen Tintin books created by Georges Remi, who published the books under the pen name Herge.

The films will be created through motion-capture technology, in which digital renderings are made of performances by live actors, with computer imagery added to create a combination of live action layered with digital animation.

Jackson used similar technology to create his giant ape in "King Kong" and the Gollum character in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy.

"We want Tintin's adventures to have the reality of a live-action film, and yet Peter and I felt that shooting them in a traditional live-action format would simply not honor the distinctive look of the characters and world that Herge created," Spielberg said in a news release.

For more than a year, Jackson's Weta Digital effects outfit has been testing the technology to re-create the look of the Tintin characters, he said.

The reproductions are lifelike, "faithfully replicating Herge's original designs, but not rendering them as cartoons, or the familiar looking computer-animated characters," Jackson said. "Instead, we're making them look photo realistic, the fibers of their clothing, the pores of their skin and each individual hair. They look exactly like real people, but real Herge people."

Spielberg producing partner Kathleen Kennedy will produce the films along with Spielberg and Jackson.

The announcement came just a week before the 100th anniversary of the birth of Herge, who died in 1983.

Read even more here.




Update: Here is a page from one of the Tintin stories showing a very Catholic reference... enjoy!

Addendum to Summer Literary Listening post

The Wild Swans by Hans Christian Andersen
narrated by Sigourney Weaver
New York, N.Y. : Lightyear 1999.
ISBN: 1879496275, 1568960549

Publisher's Summary:
A jealous and evil queen casts a dreadful spell over her 12 stepchildren - she exiles her beautiful stepdaughter, Elise, and turns her 11 stepsons into wild swans. Princess Elise sets out to find her brothers and release them from the spell, but finds that she must perform a nearly impossible task to carry out the rescue - create coats of mail out of sharp nettles for each of her brothers, and not speak a word the entire time. Even the love of a king - and the treachery of his adviser - must not deter her from her task. Sigourney Weaver narrates this beautiful version of one of Hans Christian Andersen's most compelling tales.

My mother, a superb storyteller, used to tell us this intricate fairy tale by Hans Christian Anderson. We loved the story of Elisa who, with love and determination, risked her own life and suffered greatly in order to save all of her eleven brothers. I was happy to find it in audio recording and to share it with the children. Sigourney Weaver does a fine dramatic job as narrator. (This same production seems to come also in video recording although we have not watched it.)

Six Adventures of Tintin (Unabridged)
by Herge', Full BBC Cast (Narrator)
Audio Cassette / Listening Library / March 1999
ISBN: 0807280879
From the publisher:
Great snakes! It's young reporter-sleuth Tintin and a hilarious cast of characters, including his dog Snowy and look-alike detectives Thompson and Thomson. They romp from the Sahara to the high seas, in The Black Island, The Secret of the Unicorn, Red Rackham's Treasure, Destination Moon, Explorers on the Moon, and Tintin in Tibet. "Fast-changing scenes... wonderful."—AudioFile

If you are familiar with the delightful Tintin stories, you will be entertained by these BBC radio productions to no end. These are noisy, active, extremely fast paced renditions of six of Tintin's great adventures. A great way to pass those long interstate hours. Our whole family laughed heartily out loud while listening. (Note: these are not easy to find to purchase in the USA, look for them in used bookstores).

A Tintin Christmas!

To celebrate the new film, Santa brought many Tintin gifts! Number Five will be proud to take her lunch to school in her new lunch box, Number Three will drink his favorite teas in his new Tintin cup, Number Seven got the new book edition (see my Amazon review here), and the girls got "Tintin in Vitenam" t-shirts from Husband's last foreign shopping trip!

Tintin: Superb!

We took over 90% of the movie theater, our family plus twelve other families from the homeschool group, and were all delighted by a wonderful show! Number One and I discussed the movie over breakfast this morning, and our combined overall review--and being Tintin lovers we are very picky reviewers--was very, very favorable:

• the film kept the atmosphere, feel of the Tintin stories
• no politically-correct distortions
• incredible attention to detail in every scene, we felt as if inside one of the books
• the 3-D effect awesome!
• the initial scene of Tintin being drawn by Herge' at the art fair won all of our hearts
• the Catholic reference of St. John the Evangelist in the final scene was left intact (see original page of book here)
• and many more...  

Facebook post from my friend Tintin

He is a wonderful "Facebook friend", posting all sort of interesting stuff about his own fictional character! If you grew up with Tintin, like me, and you are on Facebook, you should most definitely friend him! Today he posted how the recent film has already been nominated for best animated feature. Of course the film has yet to open in the USA, but has been a huge box office hit in Europe and Canada. I have promised my young Lit class that I will take them to the movie!

Also on Facebook I found a post by Tintin on these 1940s Christmas cards made by the Catholic author Herge. Don't you love them? If you want to know more about my love for Tintin, here is what I have blogged in the past abut him including an article I wrote.

Tintin film opens in Brussels and Paris

We simply can't wait until the Tintin film gets here! If you have Facebook you can add Tintin as your friend and see the great photos of the Premiere in Brussels! The whole city was celebrating the event. There is also this news clip on YouTube.

Plus: a brand new English language site!

Finally! The Tintin Movie!

Tintin is my "friend" on Facebook and yesterday the trailer for the new Spielberg film was posted! Yeah! See it here.

Tintin in L'Osservatore Romano

Long before news of Steven Spielberg making a film about him, I wrote an article about this beloved boy-reporter, and the Catholic elements found in his stories. Well, wouldn't you know, the L'Osservatore Romano has just published an article also highlighting Tintin's virtues and Catholicity. Yeah! 

Number One in Belgium

He added new pictures to his blog!

This is at the Tintin store in Belgium.





Correction: as readers can see in the comments box, I was corrected by Number One: this is the Tintin (Herge actually, his creator) Museum in Nouveau Louvain, not store which is in Brussels. It was just opened last month from what I read on BBCnews.

Happy Valentine's Day!

...thank you to Tintin, the Captain and Milou for helping me deliver the flowers!

Our beloved Tintin's website today has this image featured, plus the Catholic roots of todays' tradition. Enjoy!

Number One, I, and 1,111 others

... "like" Tintin on facebook this morning!

Number Five, young teacher

Number Five has four piano students now, but piano is not the only subject she is beginning to teach... her informal drawing class is also going well.

Yesterday she arranged a very pretty still life and got very nice results!

Now let's see how her speech on Tintin turns out today at Tutoring Center... watch for a you-tube post, if she allows it.

International Christmas

We've been enjoying our gifts! The mug has the map of the London Subway, now so familiar to Number One.

He brought the Tintin items from Brussels, and Husband brought the World Almanac cards from San Francisco.

We've been quizzing each other while putting together map puzzles in preparation for the GeoBee.

Number Two, Photographer

Number One gave her a camera as a wedding gift, and Number Two just sent these photos taken in Habbous, Morocco. In her words: Habbous is a French-built market in the middle of Casablanca from the colonial era, and is basically a cleaned-up and organized version of a typical Moroccan market (of which she has quite a few photos in the Marrakesh set). Feel free to look at her other photos in her flicker site here. I love the colors! She has a natural eye for artistic framing and light, these are just beautiful! In her photos, the archway shapes always remind me of the Tintin books.

Spring

The Tintin site on Facebook publishes lovely pictures... I will stay with the top one--so I can forget about what's in the bottom image. 

On another note I have reached the last chapter of the All Ye Lands Workbook! I have just loved this project and will miss it!

In Morocco

Number One flew from Amsterdam and spent the weekend in Casablanca and Marrakesh with Number Two and her fiance. She just emailed saying they had a great time together and sent me some pictures, sorry, they are small... The last one is of... Tintin!

Two new inhabitants

Milou, named for Tintin's dog in its original French, is the name of one of three newborn kittens. Mom Strawberry, born here less than a year ago, is doing well.











"The Body" is Number Six's new accomplisment, thanks to our wonderful friend Sandy and CHC's 4th grade syllabus. She learned about the human body every Monday while I taught at the tutoring center.

WInter '11 issue of Mater & Magistra

Alongside its usual beautiful cover, the winter issue revolves around the theme of Boys. In the review section I wrote about our dear Tintin, and I also included Number One's review of one of his favorite books! This is timely since another of his favorite Rosemary Sutcliff's books, The Eagle of the Ninth, is right now a major motion picture! Our teens have already enjoyed it with their friends.

Easter wishes

As we get ready for Palm Sunday tomorrow, and Holy Week, Tintin and I take the opportunity to wish all the dear readers a Happy Easter!

Last Day at TC

The Drama class under Mrs. Holdhusen presented a dramatic reading of The Grinch and it was very cute!

Mrs. Gerdes did Quiz Bowl-like review games in her classes and the kids loved it. 

Number Five substituted for me and under her guidance the kids drew very nice Nativity scenes.  

Ms. Scott brought some new craft gifts to show--letters cut from old books!

 And last but not least young J. drew a fab Tintin!