Category: Things That Are Not Sherlock Holmes

[apple_pathways]

Trailer for the new RDJ Sherlock Holmes movie coming out in December:

As action movies go, it looks good; as a part of the Sherlock Holmes canon? Uh, no no no... (I'm still going to see it, natch.)

So, what does everyone think? Should they even bother to use the Holmes name for this franchise anymore? (Or am I Wrong and Need To Be Told?)

Comments

[copper-season.livejournal.com]

OMG!

*flails

I'm am so looking forward to this movie! Yay!

[apple-pathways.livejournal.com]

It does look really, REALLY cool. I don't know who his new Lady Love is for this one, but I like her so far!

[seramercury.livejournal.com]

My roommate would tell you they probably shouldn't use the Holmes name for the franchise. I say go ahead, though, because it's a way to get other people into the fandom either old movies and episodes with Basil Rathbone and into the books.

[apple-pathways.livejournal.com]

You're definitely right about that: the movie definitely brings the canon to a generation of fans that probably wouldn't have bothered with it otherwise. However, I can't help but think of it as a bait-and-switch: if you liked the tone, action, and characterization of the movies and came to the books looking for more of the same, I can't help but think you'd be disappointed.

I do imagine hardcore movie fans might get into the ACD canon, but I have a feeling most movie fans will remain just that: movie fans. (Nothing wrong with that, btw! I'm just saying: this movie ain't Sherlock Holmes! :P)

[seramercury.livejournal.com]

Yeah I can agree with that. I was telling my roommate (scarletsherlock -- she's cool ^_~) about your comments and she said she just cringed watching the trailer. She thinks even Jude Law with his Watson-y look seems more like a Holmes than RDJ.

I love RDJ so it doesn't matter to me if he looks like Holmes or not. LOL!!

[apple-pathways.livejournal.com]

Anyone who loves Sherlock enough to adopt his name as their own must be cool! ;)

Yep, Jude Law definitely looks more Holmesian in the trailers, but that isn't saying very much! As I said, I think the character RDJ plays in the movies is really fun and likeable, but Holmes is such an iconic image...well, yeah! I agree with your roomie. :P

[seramercury.livejournal.com]

Haha. That's how I knew we'd be friends. It was hard when I first joined LJ to find Sherlock fans. :D

I get where you're both coming from. I also didn't get the stories and old movies/episodes rained on me as a kid so I think I have a bit of different spin on what I can go for as SH. It's all good, though. She's shown me A LOT in the past three years I've known her. :)

[creativeaminot.livejournal.com]

I have no idea what's going on (Sherlock apparently doesn't need canon...) but i will watch it because:

-shirtless! Downey
- I love Guy Ritchie films

[apple-pathways.livejournal.com]

I think the character RDJ created for the movies is delightful! And the action looks like a lot of fun. But I think these movies have definitely become Sherlock Holmes in name only!

[roh-wyn.livejournal.com]

I didn't even like the first installment of this, fwiw.

Btw, when I was in London last year, there was a film crew shooting background shots of London, and they said it was for this new Holmes movie. I feel like I'm part of it now, lol.

[apple-pathways.livejournal.com]

I thought it was fun, but that's about it.

Oh, you totally are part of it! I'll be thinking of you when I see it. ;)

[evilhippo.livejournal.com]

Is there a version of the fifth amendment that guarantees someone their right to avoid saying things that will make them sound like a pretentious jerkface?
In as few of my own words as possible: (from this New York Times article about the first one.) One of the producers says (in regards to the books): "I never agreed with the idea of the fairly stuffy Edwardian-type gentleman...It wasn’t my idea of Sherlock Holmes." And there's also this perplexing assertion: "So many of the ideas that Conan Doyle had took place offstage in his books," Ms. Downey said. "We have the technology, the budget and the means to carry them out."

That pretty much sums up what's gone on here, I think.

[apple-pathways.livejournal.com]

Ohhh, I get it: Arthur Conan Doyle is the one who was doing it wrong! It all makes so much more sense now...

[jacknjill270.livejournal.com]

I love the RDJ movie as a fun action movie about a Victorian detective...but it's not Holmes. As long as I keep the two separate I like it, but when I start thinking about the fact that it's supposed to be Sherlock Holmes dressed in drag I start to twitch and foam at the mouth. AGH. SO WRONG. However I do think Jude Law was a pretty awesome Watson in the first movie. At least they didn't make him some fat, bumbling old guy again. Jude Law should really be in more movies. And in me. ;)