The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec [DVD]

This film is simply great fun. Although Luc Besson has taken some liberties with Tardi's graphic novels, the director has spoken of the influence of his work and it is fascinating to see just how many of the scenes replicate the frames within the comics. Combining the stories outlined in volumes 1 and 4 of the cartoon character's adventures, the weaknesses within the first story are ironed out with the film managing to be coherent and never letter up the pace. As good as volume 1 is, Besson has made a good job with re-shaping and combining the two adventures rendering Blanc-Sec a more likeable person even if she if contiunally exasperated by events. Set in 1912, the film is choc-a-block with period detail.From the off, it is clear that Besson has exagerated the ironic nature of the original into something far more "comic" and has added a lightness to the tale. The character of Adele Blanc-Sec remains as headstrong as in Tardi's creation and whilst she is still remains aloof from her male counterparts, the film version is more of a charming creation and not quite so hard and cold. It is fair to say that Louise Bourgoin dominates the film yet the supporting actors (including Bond villain Matthieu Almaric barely recognisable under the prosphetics) serve to enhance the enjoyment and all closely resemble their comic counterparts.Played for laughs, the film has some assuming gags (I love the mummies wandering arounf the Louvre commenting that it would really benefit from the addition of a pyramid!) and rattles along. The final gag before the credits cracked me up although not quite as much as the accidental shooting of a sheep. The incorporation of the story of the pterodactyl marauding around Belle-epoche Paris was always going to make this film a must see. Somewhat in the style of films like "One of our dinosaurs is missing" which I recall as a child, the computer graphics are a marked improvement even if the tennis ball being fire directly at the screen will ensure that you won't want this on 3D!In summary, a brilliant period romp with masses of action and humour. Coupled with a glamorous actress and a dinosaur, I can't see that there is anything not to like about this film. Great entertainment of kids of all ages.

Luc Besson came to prominence as the writer/director responsible for some of the most iconic French films of the Cinema Du Look period including Subway, The Big Blue, Nikita and Leon. His career faltered with the release of The Fifth Element, the overblown and unhinged Sci-Fi saga starring Bruce Willis. Since then his output has been largely hit and miss, concentrating his efforts more as a writer/producer for the action oriented Taxi and Transporter franchises.Besson recently returned to direct the heartfelt live-action/animated "Minimoys" trilogy based on a series of fantasy novels he wrote for children featuring Freddie Highmore as the hero Arthur battling his arch-nemesis Maltazard on each occasion voiced by David Bowie, Iggy Pop and Lou Reed respectively along with a host of Hollywood elite lending their vocal talents to supporting roles. The films proved to be massive hits with my 4 year old son, who happily returns to them on a regular basis.When I first heard that Besson's next movie The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec was based on the 1970s comic book series by Jacques Tardi about the adventures of an "Indiana Jones" style heroine, I had assumed that it was also primarily aimed at children and would get an English language release. However, I would suggest that subtitles aside the themes and leisurely pace of the film would probably fail to engage a pre-teen audience even if it were dubbed.Besson has adapted the script from Tardi's most popular comics Adele and the Beast and Mummies on Parade set in turn of the century Paris focusing on the exploits of an intrepid, independent young journalist and adventurer Adele Blanc-Sec (Louise Bourgoin), who uses her acerbic wit and exceptional resourcefulness to run rings around her opposition, the Professor Dieuleveult (Mathieu Amalric). Tardi conceived his female protagonist in contrast to the overtly sexualised Barberella, whose titillating escapades in outer space dominated Franco-Belgian comic culture at the time, setting the stories in the early 1900s further emphasises Adele's emancipation.By employing the mystical powers of the strange and reclusive Professor Esperandieu (Jacky Nercessian), Adele hopes to revive the mummified remains of Ramesses II's doctor in the belief that he will be able to cure her sister whose current condition remains a mystery for the greater part of the film. Whilst Adele is away in Egypt excavating the Pharaoh's tomb Esperandieu practices his resuscitation technique on a 135 million year old Pterodactyl egg which hatches and goes about terrorising the city and suburbs of Paris. The beast is eventually tracked down by the bumbling and insatiable, Inspector Caponi (Gilles Lellouche) and the Professor is arrested awaiting execution.The film cleverly employs the episodic quality of the serialised adventure films of the 1930s but amidst the many action set pieces, amusing subplots and colourful supporting characters you never lose the key narrative thread of Adele's quest to revive her sister who has been in a catatonic state since a bizarre tennis accident involving a hat pin for which she feels responsible; her guilty suffering and dogged determination provide the movie with an emotional core and Louise Bourgoin's layered performance prevents it ultimately from being forgettable fluff.The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec is Luc Besson's finest movie in a long time and the intriguing end scene of Adele embarking the Titanic for a well-deserved vacation suggests to me that there may be more instalments to come for which I would be exceedingly grateful. There will be clamours for an English language version but there is no doubt that this is an extremely watchable subtitled movie and I'm of the belief that the distinctive French flavour enhances the overall enjoyment of the piece.

This is a great movie! Louise Bourgoin is excellent in the title role and the supporting cast of characters serve to make this a fun adventure movie for all the family (well, those who can read subtitles anyway). I used this movie to introduce my 12 year old daughter to the world of French cinema and once she'd got used to reading and watching at the same time she thoroughly enjoyed it. However, I forgot about the French approach to nudity and there was a slightly embarrassing moment when our heroine decides to take a bath, oops! Nothing too X-rated but still, rather unexpected as the rest of the movie is suitable for family viewing. The Pterodactyl is pretty convincing but its the Egyptian mummies that stole the show for me! All-in-all an above average entertaining evening family (12+) movie, made in typical Besson style. 7/10.

Really great fun movie. The story is excellent with a fabulous female lead amongst a cast of other likeable characters.