Review: Sherlock Holmes – A Game of Shadows

It might be unfair to compare the two but when it comes to Sherlock Holmes, in my opinion there can be only one! And he sure isn’t Robert Downey Jr! Watching the second Guy-Richie-Sherlock-Holmes just underlines my previously voiced opinion: it might be an entertaining movie but it sure isn’t Sherlock! It takes every trade mark of the famous detective consultant and exaggerates it in true Hollywood fashion. And while this might be fun for some movies here it simply doesn’t work. Especially when you have the chance to watch true brilliance in the form of Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman on the BBC Version. So my only excuse watching this second installment of Robert Downey Jr & Jude Law playing the famous duo was the previously mentioned 12-hour flight. It totally served its purpose of entertaining but never threatening any serious thoughts. The story didn’t help much either – while the first one at least showed some spirit in the casting of the ever charismatic Mark Strong as Sherlock’s enemy, this time Sherlock went up against its arch-enemy Moriarty. Jared Harris is an accomplished actor but he just wasn’t able to persuade me to be truly evil.

It seemed in the first part that Sherlock Holmes saved the world from the evil plans of one Moriarty but it becomes apparent that this was just an illusion. There is a bigger plan at work that Sherlock has to figure out while saving the marriage of Watson (as well as their friendship as Sherlock clearly is an awful best man to poor Watson). This time the plan involves some gypsies, futuristic plastic surgery and premonition of a war that involves most of the nations in Europe. While the action is entertaining and fun to watch, the plot doesn’t really evolve and one feels that all the characters that show up on the screen are simply there to fill the space before the final showdown.

OK maybe it didn’t help my perception of the movie that I was slightly jet lagged and have quite a strong opinion on who should play Sherlock (Cumberbatch) and who should rather stick to comic book heroes (RDJ). So I repeat that this is an entertaining movie with a slightly boring story line but actors that seemingly have fun in their roles. It also shows some of Guy Richies trade-mark slow-mow action shots (wonder if he used those on “Cast Away” as well) we have come to love in “Lock, Stock…”, “Snatch” or “RocknRolla”. It just isn’t Sherlock Holmes.

Trailerwatch: Sherlock Holmes 2

So for all you fans of Robert Downey Jr’s Sherlock Holmes out there (sorry, for me Benedict Cumberbatch is the one and only) here is the latest trailer for Sherlock Holmes 2 – A games of Shadows.

Does this actually take place in the Great War??? We’ll see. I admit it looks fun and entertaining but I personally rather await the 2nd season of BBC’s Sherlock!

Review: Sherlock vs Sherlock Holmes

Sometimes there are things that just keep following you around. This happens to me at the moment with Sir Arthur Conan Doyles most famous (only?) private detective: I see him on-screen, on the telly, read short stories where he shows up as well as books – he seems everywhere right now.

For the longest time Sherlock Holmes was to me the quintessential British detective and a bit of a snore fest. But along came 2 adaptations – quite differently but somehow also quite alike – that changed

In 2008 there was the first instalment of Guy Richie’s Sherlock Holmes with Robert Downey Jr in its lead (who in my eyes is the exemplary US-bad boy) and Jude Law as Dr. Watson. The movie took some liberty with the books (Irene Adler only ever showed up in one case) but it was a success with a 2^nd movie in the works and to be released later this year.

Then there was the BBC Show Sherlock which transported the 19^th century into present times where Holmes uses Blackberries, Blogs and Google Maps in order to be one step ahead of the police.

As much as I like Robert Downey Jr (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang must be one of my most favourite movies ever) I just can’t take him seriously as Sherlock Holmes. He is a little bit too funny and a little bit too loud for a character that is known for his English reservation. That is not to say that the film is not utterly entertaining. Especially the ongoing joke about the actual nature of Holmes & Watson’s relationship is at first fun to watch and Mr Law & Mr Downey were enjoying that bit but the joke ran flat quite soon.  All in all it just doesn’t feel like a Sherlock Holmes movie. It feels like a detective story set in the 19^th century with brilliant characters and interesting cases to solve – and that’s that.

Around the same time as the movie was released I started reading the complete Sherlock Holmes stories and realized how complex the characters of Holmes & Watson really are and how they compliment each other so extremely well. At the same time while they are entertaining stories I found Holmes sometimes quite difficult and realized that Watson was a great balance to this puzzling character.

When I first saw the BBC Version of Sherlock I instantly found it a perfect adaptation of the book and even the blackberries and internet usage seemed fitting. Benedict Cumberbatch seems like the incarnation of Holmes: intriguing but not handsome, funny but still reserved. He simply is the Sherlock Holmes that I imagined when reading his adventures. Martin Freeman as Dr. Watson is much more than a comic relief: where Sherlock lacks warmth and feelings, Watson is there to provide for the both of them. When Sherlock is on the brink of alienating himself from his colleagues and friends, Watson manages to settle arguments and provides a kind of translation for Holmes at times irrational behaviour.  The 2 characters and actors work like the proper “opposites attract” and I cannot imagining watching anybody else doing it. The Show is written and produced by the same guys that brought us Dr. Who and they clearly have fun with the topic while at the same time, remain very respective of its history. They managed to translate classic traits of Sherlock into modern times without making it too weird: in the 19th century, Sherlock had a bit of a drug problem – here it is hinted that he might sometimes smokes something illegal. Instead of using notes and telegrams, he simply uses Blackberries and Emails and while Dr. Watson used to write a journal in the old days – this was turned into a blog.

For me the winner between the 2 adaptations of Sir Conan Doyle’s work is clear – the BBC TV Show over the Hollywood blockbuster! And I am so glad that BBC announced a 2^nd season starting this fall.

Trailerwatch: 2 new TV Spots for Contagion

Some new footage in order to see what Soderbergh’s latest “Contagion” is all about.

 

 

Personally I have to say if nothing the cast will make me watch this movie: Steven Soderbergh, Jude Law, Kate Winslet, Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, MarionnCotillard and Jennifer Ehle.