There have been so many films made about Sherlock Holmes that it is difficult to pick a definitive one, but this one is unique in that it attempts an approach only attempted two other times -- an early 80's British television show of the same name, and a much later TNT presentation with James D'Arcy as the hapless, young, and overly promiscuous Sherlock Holmes.
When Watson comes to the elite boarding school where many of his peers have been sent in the hopes of furthering their careers, he soon discovers that he is to room with the eccentric and brilliant young Sherlock Holmes (Rowe, whose performance is beyond brilliant). The two become fast friends but in-between school pranks (one of the local boys is determined to get Holmes expelled) they stumble upon a string of murders in the district that ultimately lead them to a cult, and form the foundation not only of their lingering friendship in much later years, but also hint at Holmes' notorious enemy, Professor Moriarty.
I am naturally less inclined to like versions of Holmes in which he has some attachment to a woman, but this one does it better than most in the presence of the sweetly innocent Elizabeth, who has captured the soon-to-be great detective's heart. Her involvement in the tale is what hints at Holmes' later insistence that he will never become emotionally involved with another woman. All in all, it is quite an imaginative feat by a decent set of writers, although the grotesque, nightmarish hallucination sequences leave much to be desired. I normally skip the first scene and go straight to the opening credits, so I am not forced to shake my head at the cooked turkey that comes to life, or the snake-like light fixtures that drive a man mad enough to throw himself out the nearest window.
Also, it must be admitted that Nicholas Rowe was one of my first crushes as a child. His lanky form and ideal Holmes-like features set a standard that peculiarly enough, have caused me to be drawn to similar physiques ever since. Who says that movies cannot change your life?
When Watson comes to the elite boarding school where many of his peers have been sent in the hopes of furthering their careers, he soon discovers that he is to room with the eccentric and brilliant young Sherlock Holmes (Rowe, whose performance is beyond brilliant). The two become fast friends but in-between school pranks (one of the local boys is determined to get Holmes expelled) they stumble upon a string of murders in the district that ultimately lead them to a cult, and form the foundation not only of their lingering friendship in much later years, but also hint at Holmes' notorious enemy, Professor Moriarty.
I am naturally less inclined to like versions of Holmes in which he has some attachment to a woman, but this one does it better than most in the presence of the sweetly innocent Elizabeth, who has captured the soon-to-be great detective's heart. Her involvement in the tale is what hints at Holmes' later insistence that he will never become emotionally involved with another woman. All in all, it is quite an imaginative feat by a decent set of writers, although the grotesque, nightmarish hallucination sequences leave much to be desired. I normally skip the first scene and go straight to the opening credits, so I am not forced to shake my head at the cooked turkey that comes to life, or the snake-like light fixtures that drive a man mad enough to throw himself out the nearest window.
Also, it must be admitted that Nicholas Rowe was one of my first crushes as a child. His lanky form and ideal Holmes-like features set a standard that peculiarly enough, have caused me to be drawn to similar physiques ever since. Who says that movies cannot change your life?