Adèle Blanc-Sec is an intrepid girl reporter in 1912 Europe who runs afoul of mummies, pterodactyls, and solves archaological puzzles in a world that won't let her vote or smoke cigarettes.
This historical fantasy, seemingly full of action and awesome effects, is about Adèle, a character originally created by legendary cartoonist Jacques Tardi. Adèle Blanc-Sec is a young woman in a smoldering Europe on the verge of the first world war at a time when norms, traditions, technology, and women's rights were about to explode. There's something so satisfying about seeing this character fearlessly battling crooks, corrupt politicians, demon worshippers and mad scientists while still very much being a woman to whom little girls can look up.
And grown girls, too. And boys.
It seems to have an energy that I haven't enjoyed since Raiders of the Lost Ark or the 1999 remake of The Mummy with Brendan Fraser - probably due to director Luc Besson (The Fifth Element, The Professional), who is far more concerned about creating an overall sense of fantasy than, say, Michael Bay or James Cameron who use one-liners and plot holes covered up by eye-popping special effects.
In the teaser and the trailer, a pterodactyl breaks loose in Paris, a mummy escapes his tomb and runs amok, and all kinds of silly, fun, stupid things happen which Adele must fix. Already released in France in theaters, it won't be on DVD there until January 2011, and no word yet on a US or UK release, but we're crossing our fingers, because we really, really, really want to see this one.
