Film love: Sherlock Holmes

[alexandral]

"Sherlock Holmes" (to no one's surprise) has done well in "Golden Globes", receiving well deserved "Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy" for Robert Downey Jr's performance. I loved the film; our family watched it on this Boxing Day and it made a perfect holiday movie trip together for us, something I think we are going to remember for the years to come. I had a soft spot for Guy's Ritchie's films ever since "Lock, Stock and two smoking barrels" so it was great to see him again in good form with "Sherlock Holmes". All the essential "Guy Ritchie" elements were back together: yummy dark visuals, awesome Irish music and nifty jokes.

But mostly – I was so happy to see Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law as Holmes and Watson. It has always been a personal peeve of mine that every Holmes and every Watson I have seen previously, in every adaptation (sparing Russian adaptation which is quite brilliant but largely unknown to the world), were played by old men. I wonder where this "tradition" has come from. As far as I could tell from the books both Holmes and Watson are supposed to be men in their prime!

Another personal peeve of mine always was that Watson has always been presented as a mumbling idiot – again, I don't see any precedent in the the books.

But, ranting aside, I was so happy to see the new shiny adaptation with Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law. Hurray! Holmes has never been cast as more attractive man – I have suddenly recollected that Holmes was my first ever fictional crush (at the age of 12). And hurray again ! New Watson is as he should be – somewhat naïve and very loyal but at the same time possessing a good doze of sarcasm.

Comments

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

(sparing Russian adaptation which is quite brilliant but largely unknown to the world), were played by old men. I wonder where this "tradition" has come from. As far as I could tell from the books both Holmes and Watson are supposed to be men in their prime! ...

Another personal peeve of mine always was that Watson has always been presented as a mumbling idiot – again, I don't see any precedent in the the books.

Yes and yes. Mr. Mousie and I just watched this and we are both Holmes fans and we loved it. I never understood old people or idiot Watson stuff myself.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I also loved the way the dog was cast. So brilliant.

[dianora77.livejournal.com]

You're wearing my icon! Awww! I've actually changed the coloring of that batch, made it a bit sharper, if you wanna check it out.

http://dianora77.livejournal.com/406084.html#cutid1

[dianora77.livejournal.com]

P.S. I still think RDJ was totally miscast as Holmes, but goddamn, that man can charm anyone's socks off. :D
And excuse me, but Burke's and Hardwick's Watsons were hardly bumbling idiots.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

And excuse me, but Burke's and Hardwick's Watsons were hardly bumbling idiots.

This adaptation had the best pair of Holmes/Watson prior to RDJ and Jude Law. But they are so old that I have never managed to sit through more than one episode ( I am shallow and not qute ready to see 20 eps of old men, even if they are good). I have seen "The Hound of the Baskervilles " and something else and I thought that Watson was on a silly side.

[dianora77.livejournal.com]

That's why these days I mostly stick to the first two seasons (Adventures and The Return). It's painful to me to watch the later ones, not only because of Jeremy Brett's declining health, but because the overall quality did deteriorate a bit.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Still , both Brett and Burke were 50 (!) during the first season .

[dianora77.livejournal.com]

True. But they looked pretty spry. ;)

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Only just. :D Holmes is so-so but Watson looks 60.

[dianora77.livejournal.com]

Oh, you know what I really missed in the new Holmes? I missed that RDJ only plucked the violin strings, but never actually drew the bow across them. Weird little thing, but it bugged me. I wished he would play it/or feign play it for real. (The Russian Holmes was totally off with his violin playing, but it was kinda endearing nevertheless.)

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I might get back to the books again, but as far as I remember Holme's playing of the violin was always described as something very grating to the ears.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

YAY! Thank you! And you have Russian Holmes icon!! Hurray!!

[dianora77.livejournal.com]

I've dedicated an entire entry (http://dianora77.livejournal.com/411882.html) to Russian Holmes. :D
My enthusiasm did deflate a bit in the last 2 episodes. But on the whole it's my second favourite adaptation.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Which were the last two that you didn't like?

[dianora77.livejournal.com]

"The 21 Century Approaches". I thought Watson was way too clever in that one (he even stole several of Holmes's lines). And I couldn't get past Holmes's "American" beard. :P

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

This one was filmed few years after the main batch (if I remember correctly) and I also didn't like it. I thought it was an attempt to cash on the previous successes. My favourite is "The hound of Baskervilles". It has Nikita Mikhalkov.

[soniag.livejournal.com]

Lovely screencaps! Thanks so much for sharing.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I am so glad you liked :D

[himmapaan.livejournal.com]

A fairly recent BBC adaptation of The Hound of the Baskervilles had neither bumbling Watson nor old leads. :) Richard Roxburgh was Holmes and Ian Hart was Watson. :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0JcsE5VNn4

[dianora77.livejournal.com]

I keep hearing great things about Ian Hart's Watson. Need to check this out myself. :)

[calculare.livejournal.com]

Yes, RDJ isn't exactly how I ever picture Holmes, but he's far too endearingly cracked for me to care. XD

[dianora77.livejournal.com]

This, so much! :D

[filmi-girl.livejournal.com]

Ooo!!! I really liked this one! It was really good!

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I am so glad you liked it!!!Jude Law as Watson - I would have never thought it would work, but it did!

[nutmeg3.livejournal.com]

Yum! I'm dying to see this movie, but finding the time... Argh.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Watch it Watch it Watch it!!!

[endlessdeep.livejournal.com]

I've seen this movie three times now. I am so obsessed. lol.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Me too! I am making icons now - can't stop!

[lage-nom-ai.livejournal.com]

Heee. I loved the dog! The plot was ridiculous, but like you I really liked this return to young(er), active characters!

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

If I must confess I have always found Holmes' plots to be a bit far-fetched (a snake trained to crawl into a room! YAY!) so I thought the new film was in the right vein with crazy.

[teh-haley.livejournal.com]

I couldn't agree more with you about Sherlock Holmes. The movie was brilliant, Law & RDJ made such a good work at portraying their characters - which don't need to be 'old', like you said! And most of all, the directions was really good, I was impressed because I usually don't like Guy Ritchie that much, but this time it really worked well!
(that last cap you posted - man, I laughed so hard. It was since Tom & Jerry I didn't see such a scene, but it was not ridiculous, it was funny!)

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I am not fond of Guy Ritchie's recent films but the old ones I like.

(that last cap you posted - man, I laughed so hard. It was since Tom & Jerry I didn't see such a scene, but it was not ridiculous, it was funny!)

The "giant" scene was soooooooo funny! I am still giggling every time I remember it!