I knew that Guy Ritchie was attempting a more comedic/actiony take on Sherlock Holmes, and I knew that he had hired Robert Downey, Jr. and Jude Law to portray Mr. Holmes and Dr. Watson, respectively. As a HUGE fan of the original stories and novels, this news of course distressed me to no end. But now a trailer is out for the movie, and I unfortunately must say that it does nothing to assuage my fears:
Now, don't get me wrong, this movie DOES look good! Very good, as a matter of fact. And even though he's had a few stinkers when he was married to Madonna (hmm, I wonder why?), Guy Ritchie is a really entertaining director. But this is not Sherlock Holmes. Not even close. I mean, you couldn't have gotten any further away from the original character as this movie seems to do. Robert Downey, Jr. is an awesome actor. He fits exactly the comedic tone this film is searching for, it looks like. Problem is, he is NOTHING like the character of Holmes. Nothing. The only thing that comes close is that brief slow-mo shot of him bare-knuckle fist fighting. That's it! The stature's all wrong, the clothes, the smoked glasses, the grizzled cheeks, and -- last and most importanly -- the ACCENT! Good lord!
Jude Law looks somewhat promising as Watson. Problem with that is, of course, that Watson was slightly older than Holmes in the stories (Downey is 7 years older than Law in RL), not to mention shorter and stouter. If anything, the roles should have been reversed; Law for Holmes, and Downey, Jr. as Watson. I think that would have been more interesting and at least a step closer to the source.
Yeah, yeah, I know . . . it's just a movie. Why not have a different take on the characters/stories? Well, my point is that they didn't just tweak a few details here and there. They COMPLETELY and utterly retooled the source! In my opinion, if you're going to go to such great lengths to change the direction and feel of the old Sherlock Holmes stories, why call it Sherlock Holmes at all? Why not some generic, newly-created character who likes throwing out witty one-liners and diving from explosions, huh? You know, like some deranged 18th century version of John McClane.
That's what this movie should be called instead -- Die Hard: White Chapel.
Anyway, that being said, I will check this out. But only because I love all the people involved. Even Rachel McAdams is a welcomed addition to the cast, whom I pretty much like in all the movies I've seen her in. I'll try really hard to forget everything I know about the source material in order to properly enjoy this. But it's going to be real difficult to pull off, I know. Sherlock Holmes played a huge role in my childhood transition between boy and young man when I was 11 - 12 yrs old. I read every single story, plus the novels, and even taught myself how to type by them. I've since read the collected works twice through again, and am gearing up for a third read through sometime within the next two years. I may have an interesting novella or two working in the recesses of my mind regarding this milieu. Sort of a pastiche, really.
Arrggh! So frustrating!