Sherlock Holmes/Sherlock/Elementary
It seems like we are in the Age of Holmes. I’m a connoisseur of the original canon, and really enjoy it. I find that the stories and themes can transcend time in a way that many stories often can’t. Recently, there have been three primary adaptations that have caught my eye, and I’d like to do a little compare and contrast.
First up, we have Sherlock Holmes, the 2009 film starring Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law. This film is a blockbuster in every sense of the word. It’s big. It’s loud. It’s in your face. The film takes place during the turn of the century, which is opposing to Sherlock and Elementary, as they are both modern-day Sherlocks. It ties in the characters of the canon, namely Irene Adler and Moriarty in a new way, while maintaining a unique storyline. Sherlock is shown as being essentially deplorable to be around. He’s annoying, untidy, and tactless. But he’s adored by his assistant Dr. Watson. The film also tackles supernatural themes. It’s good, it’s sharp. It’s also very-action heavy. Sherlock boxes, he can take down criminals using only brute strength, and he shows that off quite a bit. At the same time, he’s sharp of mind, constantly explaining through voice over what is going to happen and why, based on his deductions. The film also had a sequel, which was critically much worse, but also a box-office smash.
Next is the (so-far) six-part BBC drama Sherlock, staring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. I’m not going to lie, you’re going to be hearing a lot about this series from me. I love it, and before the third series premieres, I’ll probably do a rewatch of the seasons. It’s two seasons, three episodes apiece. Both finales are huge cliff-hangers, in a very Holmes-ian way, similar to canon. This Sherlock is form the 21-st century, using technology such as blogging, personal websites, smartphones, and state-of-the-art scientific analysis to solve his crimes. This series is about the details. They think of everything on this show. It’s all about the minute detail in episode one that becomes a major point in episode six. Canon Holmes is also a drug addict, although in the 1890s, this wasn’t a big deal. People were on all kinds of things then. Holmes specifically used a cocaine solution that was injected. This Holmes doesn’t do drugs, but in a modern twist, he uses nicotine patches the same way the original Holmes used a pipe. This is also the Sherlock with the strongest Watson bromance. You can see the strained love-hate relationship through small looks and tiny actions. I should probably stop talking about this actually, because I’ll just geek out a little more. I’m sure we’ll talk about this more in the coming months, especially as the third season starts filming in January.
Elementary is the newest Holmes incarnation. It’s a CBS television program, that’s in a current run of six episodes. Only two have aired so far, so it could be a little while before we see the full extent. I mentioned before that Sherlock is traditionally an abuser of cocaine products. The Sherlock on the show is shown as a recovering drug addict, which is something that is unique. When these adaptations are being made, it seems that the filmmakers are glossing over that whole aspect of the original stories, so I like that it got stuck back into the mix. We’re also in New York, not London. The other big change is that Watson is a girl. Her name is Joan instead of John, and she’s played by Lucy Liu. I like the twist. I think it’s nice. It keeps it young and fresh. The story telling isn’t as young and fresh. Like I said, we’re only a little ways in, but Holmes is reduced to a parlour trick. He’s jumpy and caricatured, and I don’t much care for it. Still, I feel like the series has staying power. Only time will tell.
It’s a great time to be a Holmes fan, with all the new incarnations for you to choose from. Personally, I suggest them all, because the films are done, and the BBC series is on hiatus for a few more months at least, so Elementary is here at just the right time. Sherlock is classic, but contemporary, and certainly worth your time.