Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes - 1st Poster & Footage Description

ShoWest is unveiling Guy Ritchie’s take on the Sherlock Holmes mythology. A poster has been glimpsed and the first footage witnessed.

Downey Jr. looks remarkably dapper as the Victorian detective. I like the fact that his look is far-removed from the traditional look of Holmes, I feel that it will make it easier to ignore the film if it turns out to be a terrible mangling of the character. What do you guys think about the absence of the famous deer-stalker?

Latino Review describes the footage -

A lot of action footage was shown, from Holmes jumping out a third story or so window into the river below (Thames) and shots of Holmes in a bare knuckle fist fight reminiscent of Tom Cruise’s fights in Far and Away. Some of the punches were in slow motion kind of like 300…

The last scene shows a maid walking into the room and screaming at the site of a naked Holmes handcuffed to the bed with only a pillow to cover him up. Holmes then says, “Madam, I need you to remain calm and act like a professional. Take this pillow as the key to my release.” It was a pretty funny scene.

There were also shots of Holmes picking a lock until Watson just kicks the door in, a scene where he has a hammer but is up against an enormous man wielding a giant sledgehammer. Holmes throws the hammer at the guy’s chest and it bounces off with no effect.

Does that sound like your sort of Sherlock?

Sherlock Holmes And Dr. Watson Revealed

Pictures have leaked from the set of Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes, revealing Robert Downey Jr. as Holmes and Jude Law as Dr. Watson.

I have a great deal of affection for the Sherlock Holmes character, and lord knows he has been portrayed in countless different ways over the years (click here if you don’t believe me) and as a result I am extremely worried about Ritchie’s adaptation of the source material. I would be incredibly dismayed if he decided to turn my beloved Victorian gentleman into one of his cookie-cutter cockney geezers which, judging by the fact that Downey Jr. is dressed as what can only be described as a ragamuffin, would be a fair assumption.

Rumor has it that Ritchie’s vision for the film involves more of Holmes’ swashbuckling, adventurous nature than the buttoned-down detective we’re used to seeing. But then again, this aspect of the character was fleshed out considerably in Young Sherlock Holmes (a brilliant film in it’s own right).

I have no doubt that Downey Jr. will give an excellent performance but do you think Ritchie is creative enough to give an original perspective on the character without straying too far from the source material?

Source: Just Jared

How Accurate Is Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes?

Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes isn’t due for release until December, but many fans of the sleuth legend are already upset with what appears to be a slightly Pirates-of-the-Caribbean take on the material. But is Sir Arthur C.D. really turning in his grave? How accurate is Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes?

The trailer seems to confirm rumours that Ritchie has gone for a sexier, more action-oriented Holmes, with Robert Downey Jr. bare-knuckle-brawling and getting up close and personal with Rachel McAdams as Irene Adler. But is this such a leap? I’ve read most of the Holmes stories and it’s got to be said, he’d give some of today’s rock stars a run for their money in terms of his drug use. He’s an enthusiastic cocaine user and occasionally injects morphine as well.

As for weapons training and martial arts, Holmes and Watson both carry canes and pistols, but the guns don’t get much of a work out, only being used seven times in all the stories. Although Watson describes Holmes as an expert with a sword, he never actually demonstrates this in the books. However, Holmes is more than willing to use his fists. In The Sign of the Four, Holmes introduces himself to a prize-fighter as: “The amateur who fought three rounds with you at Alison’s rooms on the night of your benefit four years back.” McMurdo responds by saying, “Ah, you’re one that has wasted your gifts, you have! You might have aimed high, if you had joined the fancy.”

In “The Adventure of the Empty House”, Holmes tells Watson how he used martial arts to overcome uber-villain Professor Moriarty at the Reichenbach Falls. He states that “I have some knowledge, however, of baritsu, or the Japanese system of wrestling, which has more than once been very useful to me.”

Actually the biggest change Ritchie may be making in terms of Holmes’ character is in relation to the opposite sex. Holmes seems pretty asexual in general and the only woman he ever showed major interest in is Irene Adler. According to Watson, Holmes referred to her on more than one occasion as “The Woman”. Although she only appears in A Scandal in Bohemia, she’s mentioned in multiple other Holmes stories. However, Watson says, “It was not that Holmes felt any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler.” It was the thrill of being beaten by an adversary, especially a woman, that made Holmes fascinated with her. Guy Ritchie obviously felt this wasn’t exciting enough, hence the apparent on-screen shenanigans in this new version.

Either way, I can’t wait to see Ritchie’s take and it’ll be an interesting addition to the (long) list of movies about Sherlock Holmes.

Jude Law Is Dr.Watson In Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes

Jude ‘heartthrob losing hair’ Law will play Dr. Watson in Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes movie, the mockney director has announced.

Law will be appearing alongside Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr, who has been cast in the role of Holmes. Ritchie, whose latest movie RocknRolla is released Stateside this month, made the announcement at a London press conference where he confirmed the rest of the cast.

Rachel McAdams will be cast as Irene Adler, Kelly Reilly as Watson’s love interest Mary, and Mark Strong will play the villain, Blackwood.

The movie is due to hit our screens in October 2009.

This is not to be confused with the Sherlock Holmes comedy, starring Will Ferrell and Sasha Baron Cohen that is currently in production.