tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929352816561809263.post8293046396668744418..comments2023-10-24T01:19:24.492-04:00Comments on Little Worlds : Steampunk Holmes: Thoughts on Sherlock HolmesRichard Bellamyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12397053921647421425noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929352816561809263.post-44364357616843114952011-02-04T13:08:34.300-05:002011-02-04T13:08:34.300-05:00Gentlemen, I really must take issue with some of y...Gentlemen, I really must take issue with some of your comments here. The action, particularly the barechested fisticuffs, are not solely for a "bored, sated teenage audience." Those scenes are an obvious pandering to the bored, sated housewife audience. And I, for one, wholeheartedly approve.<br /><br />After the family and I watched this film, we embarked upon the enjoyable task of reading the entire SH canon. While this film may not have aligned with ACD's particular vision of his detective, I thought it was quite splendid.<br /><br />Actually, thinking it over, I suppose I agree with you that they could have cut some of the non-shirtless action scenes in favor of more meditative moments, with or without pipe. And without shirt.<br /><br />One of my favorite moments is when Holmes makes the quip about chambermaids once being such a liberal breed to Constable Clark, and the constable's response. Hilarious awkwardness!Fantastic Forresthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08044290192610027408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929352816561809263.post-77537048002054330292010-01-07T19:49:24.581-05:002010-01-07T19:49:24.581-05:00Yes. It clicked with me when I realized that as Ho...Yes. It clicked with me when I realized that as Holmes he sometimes sounds like the very glib Tony Stark in <i>Iron Man</i>.Richard Bellamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12397053921647421425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929352816561809263.post-17599554167356679332010-01-07T11:38:16.568-05:002010-01-07T11:38:16.568-05:00"I find that Downey, in most of his movies, u..."I find that Downey, in most of his movies, uses the same sort of rapid-fire delivery of his line"<br /><br />That's right on, and I often get annoyed with it, too. Funny, I never really identified what it was that bothered me until just now. I think he just speaks too fast! But it does work here better than some of his other roles.Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05222052132452709301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929352816561809263.post-22399609638366846852010-01-06T20:12:50.439-05:002010-01-06T20:12:50.439-05:00You're right. It could have been better. And I...You're right. It could have been better. And I agree that Downey mumbled - but he said so many words that it didn't seem to matter sometimes! I don't think it was the sound system. I find that Downey, in most of his movies, uses the same sort of rapid-fire delivery of his lines - mumbling the last words in a speech. Sometimes I find his style a little irritating - but here it really fits Holmes.Richard Bellamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12397053921647421425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929352816561809263.post-72298141784992851332010-01-06T17:06:25.639-05:002010-01-06T17:06:25.639-05:00I think you distilled my thoughts really well in y...I think you distilled my thoughts really well in your last sentence of the review. Parts of this loved but I knew it could have been better. The only thing about Downey that bugged me was that I felt like he was often mumbling, or maybe the sound mix was just bad. Either way I felt like I missed some of his choice lines. <br /><br />Loved the look of it, though, and that first moment of silence you mention.Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05222052132452709301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929352816561809263.post-37610737660609699442010-01-02T20:37:45.682-05:002010-01-02T20:37:45.682-05:00Jason - Thanks for your thoughts. We agree on a lo...Jason - Thanks for your thoughts. We agree on a lot. Yes, the fisticuffs must go. Watching the preview for <i>Book of Eli</i> with Denzel Washington standing surrounded by thugs he will subsequently drub in the style of countless countless action and martial arts films is just the wrong thing to show me in a preview. How unoriginal.<br /><br />I'm not a fan of Rachel McAdams. She's cute. I liked her in <i>Wedding Crashers</i>, but since then she hasn't really shown me much talent. I guess if she could charm me in some way, I will change my opinion, but until then ...<br /><br />Too bad about the sound for your viewing. Our audio was good - but even sometimes I missed some of Downey's words because he was mumbling a little too fast at the end of most of his speeches.<br /><br />So - there was potential here: the look of the film; the performances - but with a better plot, and without the punching, this could have been a much better film.Richard Bellamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12397053921647421425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929352816561809263.post-62920988787268389942010-01-02T09:52:42.286-05:002010-01-02T09:52:42.286-05:00I agree with almost all of your thoughts here. Exc...I agree with almost all of your thoughts here. Except I'm closer to FilmDr on McAdams. I liked her here -- in fact, I think the inevitable sequel will miss her if she isn't brought back. But she's "basically wasted."<br /><br />Good call on Downey Jr. He does become Holmes, or maybe Holmes becomes him. That might be closer to the truth. Regardless, it works. Having no hope for the film based on the previews, I was pleased there was as much deductive reasoning as there was. (I thought it was going to be all fights.) But, yes, it's a major misstep to load all of the revelations into a final 5-minute speech, especially when we already know who the bad guys are. I suppose the film was trying to keep us clinging to the possibility that perhaps this really could be magic. But who was going to believe that? And, yes, Blackwood goes from being a terrific villain to dying all too easily.<br /><br />Further ...<br /><br />* The fisticuffs must stop. Really, will this trend never end? Must <i>all</i> our heroes be <i>action</i> heroes now? The irony is that the fights are so bloody boring. Get rid of them!<br /><br />* The theater where I saw the movie had the speakers turned up too loud and so much of the dialogue was hard to follow over the first half. The quick patter just sounded noisy. I missed a lot of words in Holmes' analysis of Watson's bride, for example. Alas.<br /><br />* My favorite moment of the film is the one at the end when Holmes wipes a tear from the cheek of McAdams' character before he walks away. A terrific little moment.<br /><br />* I would have liked to see a more traditional rendering of Holmes, but I'd love to see Downey Jr, Law and McAdams reunited for a sequel directed by someone else. There's potential there ...Jason Bellamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18150199580478147196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929352816561809263.post-21571694964282345262009-12-30T21:25:12.058-05:002009-12-30T21:25:12.058-05:00FilmDr, I'm with you on this one. Some of thos...FilmDr, I'm with you on this one. Some of those fist fights were SO long! Actually, I have to credit my son with the observation that Holmes doesn't get to be Holmes enough, "meditating on things," as you say, and drawing some conclusions when they matter. I was disappointed.Richard Bellamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12397053921647421425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5929352816561809263.post-29986094542472315172009-12-30T13:48:22.331-05:002009-12-30T13:48:22.331-05:00I like your thoughts on the look of the film, but ...I like your thoughts on the look of the film, but it still bugs me that Guy Ritchie and company takes the one character known for his powers of deduction and reduces him by having him perform enough action for the bored, sated teenage audience. Isn't Rachel McAdams basically wasted? I prefer to think of the original Holmes leisurely meditating on things with his pipe. He doesn't need to move at all.The Film Doctor https://www.blogger.com/profile/03073505923746994988noreply@blogger.com