Empire are reporting that Guy Ritchie of all people has signed on to direct the new version of Sherlock Holmes. So could it be Jason Statham as Holmes, Vinnie Jones as Doctor Watson, with a brief came from his missus, Madonna, as Mrs Hudson? It's elementary, you slaaagg!
I thoroughly enjoyed 'Murder By Decree'. Plummer is very good and Mason, as always, was terrific as Watson.
I finally saw this. It turned up on ITV4 recently. It's a little overblown, and I've never really bought into the whole Royal conspiracy over Jack the Ripper thing, but that notwithstanding, it was pretty good. I liked Christopher Plummer's Holmes. Thought he was unusually passionate, even crying at one point. Jeremy Brett will always be Holmes for me, but Plummer joins the list of Rathbone, Stephens, Cushing, Williamson and Everett whose work is much appreciated. Hopefully Downey Jr can be mentioned among them.
Yeah I watched that for the first time too (oddly on DVD- I didn't realise it was on telly the next day!): wasn't really sure about the ending where Holmes tells us all what's been going on (I'd prefer to know before I saw the climax) and his odd crying bit I wasn't expecting at all- not because it was Holmes and he doesn't usually do that, just because it came out of nowhere. He's a bit smug but overall he's a good one. I like the human Holmeses, like Stephens in Private Life.
A Study in Terror turned up on the Beeb the other day. It's okay. It's much more rough and ready than Murder by Decree. Babs Windsor turns up as one of the victims which was disconcerting. I half expected the murderer to be Sid James. John Neville's Holmes was not particularly likeable. Holmes is an awkward cove at the best of times, but Neville was a little too arrogant. A shame, as he's a great actor, but I didn't take to him in this.
Anybody else seen the new version yet? The first part of Sherlock Holmes is great fun, although it turns into a big chase movie for the final act. I liked Downey Jr and surprisingly Jude Law as well. Having a receding hairlines seems to have brought out the best in him. And clearly they want a sequel. Moriarty is lurking in the background though he is never seen. I'm not sure what the box-office is like though.
I caught this a few weeks back and enjoyed it...but I doubt I will add it to my Holmes video collection. Downey is a capable actor, as he demonstrated in 'Chaplin' years back, but in this case, he never convinced me that he was Sherlock Holmes. Law was a fine Watson, on the other hand.
I loved it, it did it for me. Loved the gothic, or mock-gothic aura and found the script witty and diverting, just what Bond should be really. It had the guiding hand of intelligence behind it.
I quite enjoyed it as well. I thought the chemistry between Law and Downey Jr. was terrific.
I thought Law was the best Watson I've seen in a long time! I was happy to see (as you wrote NP) that it "had the guiding hand of intelligence behind it."
They really looked to the source material to bring to light some aspects of the relationship between Holmes and Watson that had not previously been explored. Rather like EoN heading back to Fleming's source material!
It's done quite well and I'm sure we'll be seeing a few more of these...
LoeffelholzThe United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
I'll probably see it on the big screen...but I'm ambivalent. To me, Jeremy Brett is the quintessential Holmes---with Basil Rathbone as the classic cinema alternative. To hear that Conan Doyle's marvelous detective has been relegated to the action genre is a bit disappointing.
I'll post a review when (if) I see it.
Check out my Amazon author page!Mark Loeffelholz
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
It's done quite well and I'm sure we'll be seeing a few more of these...
This article on the Guardian's website seems to impy there will be a sequel with Downey Jr dropping out of a movie called Cowboys and Aliens to free up his schedule. Some bloke called Daniel Craig is in talks to replace Downey Jr in the cowboy movie.
It's done quite well and I'm sure we'll be seeing a few more of these...
This article on the Guardian's website seems to impy there will be a sequel with Downey Jr dropping out of a movie called Cowboys and Aliens to free up his schedule. Some bloke called Daniel Craig is in talks to replace Downey Jr in the cowboy movie.
yeh, I saw this too - it's in a lot of film press as well - it's release is summer 2011 - so Craig, if he does take this on ?:) is going to be very busy indeed...... (Nice to see most of the comments on several different sites were all positive with Craig in this role )
She's worth whatever chaos she brings to the table and you know it. ~ Mark Anthony
Can anyone confirm if Rathbone's Holmes ever confronted Moriaty at the classic waterfall in any of the films? I assume not.
Did it happen in any other adaptations? Which Jeremy Brent TV stories feature it? Can you recommend any of his episodes (not too many, mind).
Anything from Jeremy Brett's first season with David Burke as Dr. Watson is well worth your time Napoleon; those stories are by far the most faithful to Conan Doyle, the rapport between Brett and Burke is quite natural and the final episode of that first series was The Final Problem. Other standouts from that first series included A Scandal in Bohemia, The Solitary Cyclist, The Dancing Men and The Red Headed League (which did take a few liberties with the original story, adding Moriarity to the plot and serving as a kind of segway into The Final Problem).
BTW, The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes was on TV yesterday; even though I have the DVD I stayed tuned for the whole show; Robert Stephens and Colin Blakely are great and the story really hearkens to Doyle while also expanding the characters in some new and interesting ways. And of course, you can't beat Sir Christopher Lee as Mycroft.
Okay great Tony DP, you pull it out the bag. Odd that The Final Problem should end the first series, didn't they think they'd be others? It's like they shot their bolt a bit quick.
I can't agree about Private Life however, I didn't take to it, esp the first half hour. Stephens is way too campy, like the casino boss who shows up in Casino Royale and doesn't bring chocolates. ) Still, I can't deny it has its fans.
Okay great Tony DP, you pull it out the bag. Odd that The Final Problem should end the first series, didn't they think they'd be others? It's like they shot their bolt a bit quick.
I can't agree about Private Life however, I didn't take to it, esp the first half hour. Stephens is way too campy, like the casino boss who shows up in Casino Royale and doesn't bring chocolates. ) Still, I can't deny it has its fans.
They were following after Conan Doyle's lead. He killed off Holmes then brought him back again for a whole new set of adventures. I 'm not entirely certain about this, but I don't think it was ever explained quite how Holmes survived.
I like Robert Stephens as Holmes and The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes. Stephens is a bit campy at first, but gets more serious as Holmes begins to realise he is beginning to fall in love, which as any intelligent person will tell you is never a good idea. He knows he's headed for a fall and he can see it coming. I also like the Loch Ness stuff, particularly the traditional Scottish welcome to tourists. Unleashing the bull mastiffs. That'll teach them. According to David Thomson, film writer and noted admirer of Nicole Kidman's arse, Holmes was supposed to be played by Peter O'Toole, which would have been something. I'm happy enough with Stephens though.
They were following after Conan Doyle's lead. He killed off Holmes then brought him back again for a whole new set of adventures. I 'm not entirely certain about this, but I don't think it was ever explained quite how Holmes survived.
The first episode of the second Jeremy Brett series - The Empty House - explained that Holmes killed Moriarity at the Reichenbach Falls and had then used misdirection to fool Watson into thinking he had died as well since Moriarity had an accomplice sharpshooter who was still gunning for Holmes. When Holmes discovered the identity of the accomplice, he came out of hiding for his triumphant return. It was all very close to the short story as I recall.
The second season saw Edward Hardwicke replace David Burke as Watson, and while he did a good enough job I thought he tended to hijack some of the shows as the series went on. The second season also had a lot of good episodes that were very faithful to Doyle; the adaptation of The Six Napoleons was probably the highlight for me. In my opinion though the quality started to dip in subsequent seasons as the screenwriters took the stories in odd directions, focusing more and more on melodrama.
Thanks for that Tony. They are always showing the Brett series on satellite TV, but I always miss the first episode of the second series. I've seen The Final Problem so many times, but never the follow-up episode.
I liked the new film it was good to see holmes' physical side as well as the mental (in the books it mentions that he practiced bartitsu and bare knuckle boxing). I trian with Dave Forman the fight arranger for lots of films he was telling me how they only way they could get the shots in the fights was to actually do it at full speed and full contact! apparently the stunt guy was black and blue for a week after.
Overall not a bad first film should be fun to see the next
Peter O'Toole would have been good imo for Private Life, though he doesn't look much like Holmes actually. I heard Rex Harrison was considered. I must say I thought all the stuff about how Holmes might be batting for the other side a bit off really, a bit offensive or silly.
Peter O'Toole would have been good imo for Private Life, though he doesn't look much like Holmes actually. I heard Rex Harrison was considered. I must say I thought all the stuff about how Holmes might be batting for the other side a bit off really, a bit offensive or silly.
This has come up before and Holmes wasn't "batting for the other side" as you put it. The film makes it quite clear that he only said that to keep from hurting the ballerina's feelings, much to Watson's anguish when the female ballerinas he was cavorting with left and the male ones took their places. Later on in the film Holmes even mentions that he was once engaged to be married but that his wife to be had the bad sense to die on their wedding day. And even tells Watson at one point words to the effect that "it's not that I dislike women, I merely distrust them".
All the intimations of a homosexual relationship between Holmes and Watson were cooked up by folks who simply had an agenda and weren't below misquoting the film to to further their own cause.
Yes, it is true that Holmes said that to extricate himself from the lady's engagement, but later when the rumour gets around town, and Watson challenges him to come up with a female ally, ie examples of women who he'd had an affair with in the past, Holmes is unable to respond, making Watson 'fear the worst' (not my attitude, I should add). Later on it's confirmed that he had a love dalliance, but it takes a while to get around to this.
I will be tonight when the strangely addictive highbrow quiz Only Connect is on, although to be honest I'm more interested in Victoria Coren than the actual show.
Comments
http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=22673
http://www.variety.com/VR1117988387.html
Wasn't Without a Clue bad enough. This sounds retarded, and not in a funny way.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i3f5c913bb711f51053c09d083ddeb052
So I guess the Stath will have to settle for playing Moriarty.
As for the 'comedy' version I'll be giving that a miss.It already sounds awful - mainly because it has Will Farrell involved :v
I finally saw this. It turned up on ITV4 recently. It's a little overblown, and I've never really bought into the whole Royal conspiracy over Jack the Ripper thing, but that notwithstanding, it was pretty good. I liked Christopher Plummer's Holmes. Thought he was unusually passionate, even crying at one point. Jeremy Brett will always be Holmes for me, but Plummer joins the list of Rathbone, Stephens, Cushing, Williamson and Everett whose work is much appreciated. Hopefully Downey Jr can be mentioned among them.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2008/sep/19/2
Of course talks could always break down.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
I thought Law was the best Watson I've seen in a long time! I was happy to see (as you wrote NP) that it "had the guiding hand of intelligence behind it."
They really looked to the source material to bring to light some aspects of the relationship between Holmes and Watson that had not previously been explored. Rather like EoN heading back to Fleming's source material!
It's done quite well and I'm sure we'll be seeing a few more of these...
I'll post a review when (if) I see it.
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
See it so we can argue about it Loeffs!
Roger Moore 1927-2017
This article on the Guardian's website seems to impy there will be a sequel with Downey Jr dropping out of a movie called Cowboys and Aliens
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/jan/14/daniel-craig-cowboys-and-aliens
yeh, I saw this too - it's in a lot of film press as well - it's release is summer 2011 - so Craig, if he does take this on ?:) is going to be very busy indeed...... (Nice to see most of the comments on several different sites were all positive with Craig in this role
Did it happen in any other adaptations? Which Jeremy Brent TV stories feature it? Can you recommend any of his episodes (not too many, mind).
Roger Moore 1927-2017
Anything from Jeremy Brett's first season with David Burke as Dr. Watson is well worth your time Napoleon; those stories are by far the most faithful to Conan Doyle, the rapport between Brett and Burke is quite natural and the final episode of that first series was The Final Problem. Other standouts from that first series included A Scandal in Bohemia, The Solitary Cyclist, The Dancing Men and The Red Headed League (which did take a few liberties with the original story, adding Moriarity to the plot and serving as a kind of segway into The Final Problem).
BTW, The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes was on TV yesterday; even though I have the DVD I stayed tuned for the whole show; Robert Stephens and Colin Blakely are great and the story really hearkens to Doyle while also expanding the characters in some new and interesting ways. And of course, you can't beat Sir Christopher Lee as Mycroft.
I can't agree about Private Life however, I didn't take to it, esp the first half hour. Stephens is way too campy, like the casino boss who shows up in Casino Royale and doesn't bring chocolates.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
They were following after Conan Doyle's lead. He killed off Holmes then brought him back again for a whole new set of adventures. I 'm not entirely certain about this, but I don't think it was ever explained quite how Holmes survived.
I like Robert Stephens as Holmes and The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes. Stephens is a bit campy at first, but gets more serious as Holmes begins to realise he is beginning to fall in love, which as any intelligent person will tell you is never a good idea. He knows he's headed for a fall and he can see it coming. I also like the Loch Ness stuff, particularly the traditional Scottish welcome to tourists. Unleashing the bull mastiffs. That'll teach them. According to David Thomson, film writer and noted admirer of Nicole Kidman's arse, Holmes was supposed to be played by Peter O'Toole, which would have been something. I'm happy enough with Stephens though.
The first episode of the second Jeremy Brett series - The Empty House - explained that Holmes killed Moriarity at the Reichenbach Falls and had then used misdirection to fool Watson into thinking he had died as well since Moriarity had an accomplice sharpshooter who was still gunning for Holmes. When Holmes discovered the identity of the accomplice, he came out of hiding for his triumphant return. It was all very close to the short story as I recall.
The second season saw Edward Hardwicke replace David Burke as Watson, and while he did a good enough job I thought he tended to hijack some of the shows as the series went on. The second season also had a lot of good episodes that were very faithful to Doyle; the adaptation of The Six Napoleons was probably the highlight for me. In my opinion though the quality started to dip in subsequent seasons as the screenwriters took the stories in odd directions, focusing more and more on melodrama.
Overall not a bad first film should be fun to see the next
www.scottacademymartialarts.co.uk
Roger Moore 1927-2017
This has come up before and Holmes wasn't "batting for the other side" as you put it. The film makes it quite clear that he only said that to keep from hurting the ballerina's feelings, much to Watson's anguish when the female ballerinas he was cavorting with left and the male ones took their places. Later on in the film Holmes even mentions that he was once engaged to be married but that his wife to be had the bad sense to die on their wedding day. And even tells Watson at one point words to the effect that "it's not that I dislike women, I merely distrust them".
All the intimations of a homosexual relationship between Holmes and Watson were cooked up by folks who simply had an agenda and weren't below misquoting the film to to further their own cause.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
Roger Moore 1927-2017
Roger Moore 1927-2017