I have mixed reservations about the new Tintin movie coming out shortly. Firstly, why start with Secret of the Unicorn? Surely starting with The Land of the Soviets or Tintin in America is a more sensible option which sets the series up in order.
Secondly, this is an unnecessary invasion into my childhood memories. To me the books are indeed the sacred texts; I long remember the experience of walking to Newcastle library with my Hassell Street class, and down into the childrens' section and heading for 'picture books for older readers.' Along with Asterix, Tintin was the series I read. Even the old cartoon, in which an unseen narrator proclaimed, "Herge's adventures of Tintin" loudly didn't have the same appeal. Even in my teens, I regularly cycled from Penkhull to Newcastle to continue this trend, as Stoke library was rubbish, unless I wanted to read TekWar, which I did not.
And now, up pops Tintin, for the HD 3D DVD generation. Do I want to see it? Yes. Will it taint my 25-year love affair with the ageless kid and Snowy? Doubtful. But I'd rather continue with the books, and even pass this on to my son.
