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

[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.