I know that purists will hate Guy Ritchie’s forthcoming Sherlock Holmes, which recasts the great detective as a cartoonish action hero, but it looks like great fun nonetheless. Judge for yourself whether you’re interested in this film by the mind behind Snatch, RocknRolla, and Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, as the HD trailer is now available for your viewing pleasure:
Jim–Holmes did in fact fight when necessary and was quite good at it. Watson points out that he was a superb boxer, and then of course there’s that little event at Reichenbach Falls. So there’s precedent for this, albeit the emphasis is obviously greatly different in this film version.
Yet, just as you and Lars say (and I too am basically a Holmes purist myself), this looks like a lark that could make it worthwhile to let the source material be less than sacred for a couple of hours. And Robert Downey is such a brilliant comedian that if anyone can make this characterization work, it’s he.
Arthur, you make a great point. I suspect the adventure you mention has remained in the battered silicon dispatch box that originally held the stories that have so far been released to the public. There are some things too explosive for the public to know even today.
One more thing: Lars, congratulations on the publication of your new book. Readers, please note that Lars Walker is the author of an acclaimed series of fantasy books of Viking adventures. His latest, West Oversea was released just last week by Nordskog Publishing. For more information and to purchase a copy, go here.
I’m a Holmes purist, but I expect I’ll still see it. One fun movie isn’t likely to spoil Conan Doyle forever for me.
I never thought I’d see (or really wanted to see)Holmes handcuffed naked to a bed! From which one of his adventures did that little episode come? The Adventure of the Sado-Masochist?
Ok. I was ready to immediately dismiss this as a potential disaster on the level of “League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.” Then … I see that it stars Robert Downey Jr. Anything he acts in is worth seeing.
Then I got a look at some of the action. Some of it looks pretty absurd. Holmes in a topless pit fight? Holmes in a “hammer” fight? Isn’t a big part of the charm of Sherlock Holmes that he uses is mind and not his fists? That he outwits his enemies and needs not resort to brutishness? And Holmes as a womanizing cad? Umm … a little out of character, no?
That all said … looks like a rollicking good time!