Sherlock Holmes trailers out.

Exir · Dec 16, 2009

Sounds like it's going to be a feast. It's much more actiony than I expected. And no, I don't think that's selling out. If anything, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle always intended Holmes to have great physical skills as well.

And I think it looks like they've nailed the Watson/Holmes dynamic -- Watson seems like a much more able and intelligent helper, while Holmes is much quirkier than previous adaptations (again, I think that's much closer to the originals).

DeleyanLee · Dec 17, 2009

Yeah, I saw a 13 minute trailer/interview on On Demand last night. Looks absolutely marvelous. I always love seeing new interpretations of Holmes. May not always like them, but it's always interesting.

I was really iffy on Downey & Law as Holmes and Watson, but now that I've seen some of it, I'm really looking forward to going.

What we saw even tempted my housemate into seeing it and she thinks Holmes is one of the more boring things on the planet. 'Twill be an interesting lunch afterwards.

Shadow_Ferret · Dec 17, 2009

Exir said:
Sounds like it's going to be a feast. It's much more actiony than I expected. And no, I don't think that's selling out. If anything, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle always intended Holmes to have great physical skills as well.

I'll have to reread the stories, but I don't recall Holmes being an action hero.

Exir · Dec 17, 2009

He knew Jujitsu. (Maybe not that, but it ends with a "-tsu" for sure. I swear there's a line where Holmes demonstrates what it is). And while Watson doesn't describe his fights in great detail, Holmes does get into quite a few of them. Don't forget him straightening out a bent poker.

For the audience of its time, Holmes is an action hero as well as a master detective.

Shadow_Ferret · Dec 17, 2009

Exir said:
He knew Jujitsu.

Knowing it and having stories where he uses it the way the movie depicts it are two different things.

DWSTXS · Dec 17, 2009

I can't believe they've made Holmes into an action hero. Stupid. Just stupid.

Next up: Moses meets Terminator

Exir · Dec 17, 2009

Next up: Moses meets Terminator

Die Hard in a Red Sea!

DWSTXS · Dec 17, 2009

I can see Moses now, twirling around in his red floor length coat, with his white beard, and whipping his cane about, thrashing the villains, while reciting scripture.

veinglory · Dec 17, 2009

Shadow_Ferret said:
I'll have to reread the stories, but I don't recall Holmes being an action hero.

He bent an iron poker straight and was meant to be a highly skilled pugalist.

Holmes in the books is quite physical and Watson in the movies is quite daring and intelligent in a conventional way (remober them fleeing after burglarising Milverton's house?). I love the books but almost every movie about Sherlock Holmes has been dreck IMHO.

Toothpaste · Dec 17, 2009

Exir said:
He knew Jujitsu. (Maybe not that, but it ends with a "-tsu" for sure. I swear there's a line where Holmes demonstrates what it is). And while Watson doesn't describe his fights in great detail, Holmes does get into quite a few of them. Don't forget him straightening out a bent poker.

For the audience of its time, Holmes is an action hero as well as a master detective.

It was called Baritsu (the actual name for it is Bartitsu, Doyle got it wrong), it's this fabulous kind of marshal art that combines eastern styles with western props - like canes and parasols, it's fabulous. Holmes was also described as a boxer.

Shadow - for me I have no issue with a reinterpretation. The original versions stand (and come to think of it, many play fast and lose with the stories they are based on), and someone else someday will make another classic version. This one just looks like fun, and is grounded in facts established by Doyle. Heck, even if they weren't, still looks like a blast!

veinglory · Dec 17, 2009

There is even a hint of cocaine use in Watson saying something about Holmes drinking a solution "used for eye surgery".

Shadow_Ferret · Dec 17, 2009

veinglory said:
There is even a hint of cocaine use in Watson saying something about Holmes drinking a solution "used for eye surgery".

I always hear Holmes' cocaine usage (someone even wrote a story, The 7 Percent Solution), but I have yet to run across that reference.

I guess I do need to reread all the stories.

Exir · Dec 17, 2009

Maybe I'm partial to all the actiony fun because I grew up on a staple of TV-Holmes who were boring, professor-like armchair detectives who droned on and on about a solution to a crime I just didn't care. So, after growing up a bit, I dived into the original stories by Doyle, expecting them to be even drier, and instead found to my delight that Holmes is quite quirky and badass in his own way. I guess I didn't mind all that action in the trailers because I want a cool, badass Holmes.

It was called Baritsu (the actual name for it is Bartitsu, Doyle got it wrong), it's this fabulous kind of marshal art that combines eastern styles with western props - like canes and parasols, it's fabulous.

Wow. That explains why Holmes's fight scenes in the trailer were so Jackie Chan-esque.

veinglory · Dec 17, 2009

Cocaine use is explicitly mentioned in the stories. People tend to think now that the stories are like the movies and TV shows... and they aren't.

Shadow_Ferret · Dec 17, 2009

Exir said:
Maybe I'm partial to all the actiony fun because I grew up on a staple of TV-Holmes who were boring, professor-like armchair detectives who droned on and on about a solution to a crime I just didn't care.

See, now I loved the old Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce versions as a child. This year, I even asked for their collections for Christmas. And they're the reason I read the books in the first place.

DeleyanLee · Dec 17, 2009

I was weird--I read the stories and books first because they were available during a time when school wanted me to read really boring kid things.

My favorite Holmes series is the one with Jeremy Brett. Classic retellings of the stories. Yeah, there were times when Holmes kicked butt to take names (even got engaged once as a way to get information). Definitely a character where the ends could justify the means, which is one of the reasons I adore him.

BenPanced · Dec 17, 2009

It's Sherlock Holmes. That means I'll be watching whatever's playing in the theater next door. (Not a big fan. COULDJA TELL?!)

Toothpaste · Dec 17, 2009

Exir said:
Wow. That explains why Holmes's fight scenes in the trailer were so Jackie Chan-esque.

Yes, it's really fascinating. It was developed by a gentleman in the late 19th century, after returning to England from Japan. He wanted to create a form of self defense for western ladies and gentlemen, so he combined the eastern marshal art Jujutsu (as I said), with the props of the day in western culture.

I had a look on wikipedia and found this great representation of it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Copy_of_Montage.jpg

Gregg · Dec 17, 2009

Yes, Jeremy Brett was the best Holmes. Without question, IMO.

As long as Holmes relies on his powers of observation and deduction to solve crimes, the movie will be OK. But if he uses his fists instead, then there may be trouble.

But I'm really looking forward to the movie. I've read all the books.

(Off topic, just heard there will be a new Robin Hood movie next year with Russell Crowe)

katiemac · Dec 17, 2009

veinglory said:
Cocaine use is explicitly mentioned in the stories. People tend to think now that the stories are like the movies and TV shows... and they aren't.

Yeah, I got the anthologies for Christmas last year. Cocaine is all over those stories, and so are more than a few references to Holmes's physical abilities. I really hope they don't skimp on the cocaine references in the movie, although I get they're doing it PG-13 style.

And that's only halfway through the first anthology, despite me having them for almost a year. I need to get back to them.

Cyia · Dec 17, 2009

veinglory said:
There is even a hint of cocaine use in Watson saying something about Holmes drinking a solution "used for eye surgery".

Random trivia moment: Holmes' coke addiction is why Dr. House is a narcotics user on House

jodiodi · Dec 17, 2009

I vaguely remember reading the Sherlock Holmes books when I was a kid. I enjoyed the spookier stories. I never watched the movies and don't know if I'm interested in this one. Not so much right now; RDJ just irritates me sometimes. I can't get the image of him in Ian MacKellan's Richard III out of my mind. I always think he has body odor.

Exir · Dec 17, 2009

As long as Holmes relies on his powers of observation and deduction to solve crimes, the movie will be OK. But if he uses his fists instead, then there may be trouble.

Yes. It should still be a detective story first and foremost. As long as the fighting isn't THE deciding factor, I'm fine with it

(even got engaged once as a way to get information)

Which, for the audiences of its time, is probably the equivalent of sleeping around

Enzo · Dec 18, 2009

I loved Snatch and Lock Stock etc, so I'm looking forward to see what Ritchie did with Sherlock Holmes - I must admit I'm not too familiar with the books, I used to be an Agatha Christie fan when growing up.
So far, the trailers and reviews are getting me enthusiastic. I certainly want to see the movie, and hope there's a sequel if it's good enough.

Just wondering what other fictional or real character Ritchie could spice up in a future movie.

Summonere · Dec 18, 2009

More about Baritsu here.

Sherlock Holmes trailers out.

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