I watched a DVD this evening based on a comic book with no superheroes in sight.
Based on the French comic books by Jacques Tardi, that were serialised in Cheval Noir, comes this 2010 film by the legendary French director Luc Besson (Nikita, The Fifth Element).
It stars Louise Bourgoin as the feisty reporter Adèle Blanc-Sec. Adèle travels to Egypt to obtain the mummified remains of Patmosis who she believes is the physician to Rameses II. she wants to revive him, with the help of maverick scientist, Espérandieu , as she believes that he can restore her sister to her - who has been left in a waking coma after an unfortunate accident with a hat pin during a tennis match. Unfortunately not all goes to plan as she returns to Paris to find that Espérandieu has been sentenced to death for unleashing a pterodactyl on Paris that killed the prefect.
The film is a bit slow to get going but once it does is a pretty fun ride. There is tomb raiding, jail breaking, daring rescues involving the pterodactyl and revived mummies. There is a humorous side plot with inept Parisian police employing an over the top big game hunter to try and capture the pterodactyl.
It's been a while since I have read the stories so I cannot comment on whether the film is true to the books. But the film was enjoyed by my whole family on its own merits.
First published on RevolutionSF on Saturday Oct 08, 2011
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