The March of Tyranny!

Sherlock Holmes (A character reveiw)

    

     The tales of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson have been passed down for quite a few generations. Written in the late 19th century, the collection of stories depicts the adventures of the duo as they fight crime in 19th century England. The classic humor of Sir Aurthor Conan Doyle is very amusing to me, despite the fact that i was born more than a century after the first story was published. Many detective novels have been written and published since then, but i have not found one yet, classic or modern, that i enjoyed more than the adventures of Mr, Holmes.

    

     Insane....that is what many would call Holmes. His ridiculously messy home on Baker Street, his attire, and his unusual behavior might bring one to believe that he was a drifter, with no direction or purpose. Although rather eccentric, the character, Sherlock Holmes, was truly brilliant! Underneath his layers of dirt, turned up collars, and five 'o clock shadow, was a passion and determination to solve the unknown. The skills of deduction displayed in the stories are the most legendary and well known of all time. I sometimes wonder if Mr. Doyle knew how large and successful his stories would be as he wrote the first manuscript.

    

     Loyal.....that is what many would say about Dr. John Watson. Mr. Watson, Holmes sidekick, best friend, and writer of his life story, is the man narrating Doyle's stories. The "voice" that was loved by generations was the voice of a doctor. A gentle man with a love for adventure. John had a talent for crime fighting and was the only person in the world that truly understood Holmes. When someone talks of famous partnerships in history "Sherlock and Watson" is always on the list. The mutual bond of trust between these two friends was depicted extremely well in the writings.

    

     I think the lacking portrayal of their relationship is why many of the Sherlock Holmes movies failed. Many times, when i deeply enjoy a book, i will not watch the movie in fear that it will ruin the memory of the enjoyment that i had while reading. The latest Sherlock Holmes movie did not do that, however. I thought that both the first and the second portrayed the characters beutifully! Robert Downey Jr.'s performance as Holmes and Jude Law's performance as Watson were almost exactly what i had imagined while reading Doyle's work. The setting does not seem sloppy. The film-makers truly did their research on late 1800's England. The fashion, entertainment, speech, and technology all seemed very accurate.

 

I just watched Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, and i was inspired to post this. I hope you will see the movie, and i REALLY hope you will read the books.

-AaronU