Feb 14, 2010 08:14 PM
2312 Views
I must confess at the outset that I am a purist and hence my views may be biased or to say the least, lopsided.I am a great fan of the stiff upper lipped British attitude that the rest of the world despises, just like I admire the openness and gall of my friends from Rajasthan and Haryana. However, this film left me confused and troubled. Confused, because I was so sure that I wouldn't like it and troubled because no one else that I know disliked it.
I think this is one of the best approaches to the Doyle series that I have ever seen and more so since its a British production.Guy Ritchie has done a commendable job.The film depicts all the attributes of the character without putting it on a pedestal and turns the usually slow, classical progression of the book into a fast paced , nail biting experience more akin to a James Bond flick than a classical Holmes.
A word about the performances; Robert Downey Jr. does a great English accent (almost as good as his accent in Tropic Thunder) and he displays an unseen side to this much loved and admired character, well, honestly not one but a few, actually quite a few of the seven deadly sins, sloth, greed, envy, not the kind of things that you associate with a gentleman like Sherlock Holmes.Dr.Watson(Jude Law) is almost as unbelievable as Holmes.Not the old, silent gentleman doctor that we all remember from the books...oh no Sir! This man is a gun wielding, quick witted, well built English thug with a knack for medicine...he's like Robin in the 1800s running in to save Batman(read:Holmes) , who always forgets his gun ( again not something you'd associate with someone who can guess your birthday from the length of your shoelaces).
But given how I felt after the movie, I'd say watch it. Its like Mother India set in 2055, starring Priyanka Chopra fighting to save her pub.It makes sense.The idea that the story depends more on the narrator than the author finds evidence here and maybe, just maybe , it gives people like me better sense.
So, enjoy, forget the book. Think of this as an unrelated production and you'll love it.Compare it with the books and you'll end up like me, confused and troubled.
