Critical Film Condition

What ho! Here it is: the first trailer for the much-anticipated Guy Ritchie adaptation of „Sherlock Holmes“. It is very apparent, even in this 2 minute trailer, that this will be a though one to swallow for all hardcore fans. 221b Baker Street – Holmes and Watson don’t live here anymore.

I always thought that the next film version of Sherlock Holmes would have to star Hugh Laurie as Holmes and Stephen Fry as Dr. Watson. Alas, one can dream…
Arthur Conan Doyle’s original has undergone quite the histrionic transformation. Combining the basic characters played by Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law in an off-beat bromance with Ritchie’s fast-paced trademark guns and gangster chic seems impossible at first glance. But when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth. Or something…
I don’t think the original Holmes character ever moved as much as Robert Downey Jr. does in this trailer on any screen or book combined. And I don’t think that he packed quite that much muscle (but I am certainly not complaining about it). Ritchie’s version seems to be a far cry from 1939’s Basil Rathbone. Ritchie and Robert Downey Jr. mix Holmes’ trademark eccentricity, arrogance and intellect with some boyish humor, which seems to work for them. Holmes wooing ladies is quite an unfamiliar sight. Also, the original Holmes was a major coke-head, which was boiled down (pardon the expression) to some Dr. House style pill taking. Thank God we didn’t loose the pipe to political correctness.
Guy Ritchie’s trademark antics meet a metaphysical comedy-opera – and possibly some good old deduction. One thing is for certain: it will be interesting!
Holmes and Watson engage in a battle of wits and brawn with a nemesis whose plot is a threat to all of England on Christmas day.

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