Most Sherlockians will find Sherlock Holmes best situated in
his study at 221B Baker Street, violin in one hand, pipe in
the other. And in many modern adaptations of Doyle's
classics, this is where you will indeed find him. However,
Young Sherlock Holmes is a film that dares to suggest
otherwise. Like many other productions it risks delving into
the detective's past and unearthing the source for many of
his ideas, characteristics, and reasoning skills, from the
deerstalker and cape to the pipe, his unexplainable mistrust
of women, and even his arch-nemesis Professor Moriarty.
The story opens in the fog-shrouded streets of London as a
gentle tinkling of bells is heard, and a dark shadow passes.
An older man is seated at a roadside cafe awaiting his
dinner. Something tiny shoots through the air, embedding
into the man's neck. He then, to the astonishment and horror
of all involved, goes insane with strange, nightmare-like
hallucinations that eventually lead to his suicide by
leaping out of an upper window in his flat. Young John
Watson's school has been forced to close due to lack of
funds and he's been sent to the school of Brampton in
London. On his first day he meets a peculiar, eccentric, and
unbelievably intelligent fellow schoolboy by the name of
Sherlock Holmes (Nicholas Rowe). The two become inseparable
in the weeks that pass. Holmes is soon drawn to a strange
series of events that seem to follow unexplainable suicides
and carriage accidents all over the city. First it was a
wealthy baronet in the upper end. Then a local clergyman.
Retired
schoolmaster and mentor to Holmes, Professor
Waxflatter (Nigel Stock) also has a vast interest in
the case. He's kept the men's obituaries, although
denies having any association with either man.
Waxflatter's niece Elizabeth (Sophie Ward) is a
close friend of Holmes, which encourages jealousy
among some of the other schoolboys. With a
well-timed "accident" one of the boys manages to get
Holmes permanently expelled from Brampton for
cheating. Although Holmes is believed to have left,
he returns in secret to investigate the murders.
Watson (Alan Cox) and Elizabeth become his willing
(and sometimes unwilling) accomplices in an
investigation that will involve them all in the most
deadly case of Holmes' long career. The clues are
sparse: a strange blowpipe, a whispered name, the
tinkling of bells, the danger is larger than life,
and the villain may be closer than any of them could
ever imagine.
Clearly this film was aimed for young adults, and they'll
thoroughly enjoy it. The film unfolds swiftly amidst shots
of creepy hallucinations and Indiana Jones-like
special effects. These hallucinations darken what could
otherwise have been an enjoyable, if somewhat irrational,
adventure. They make it less-than-stable viewing for young
children. A roasted bird, skeletons, pastries, a stained
glass window, gargoyles, and wall decor come to life to
attack the victims. The interesting aspect shown in the
midst of these hallucinations is that each presumably are
brought on by the victim's worst fears: Holmes' are not
violent or terrifying but of a psychological nature,
involving his parents and alluding to family secrets and
problems. Perhaps this is the way of the scriptwriter in
attempting to explain Holmes' fascination for cocaine, a
drug that relaxes the body but stirs the mind. The film also
does an excellent job of explaining some of the
aforementioned unsolved mysteries of his past, such as his
aversion to women.
Nicolas
Rowe, cast as young Sherlock, is exceptional in his role,
even fitting the physical description: tall, lanky,
long-fingered, gray-eyed and sharp of feature. He manages to
play the light jesting of Holmes well, offsetting with
excellent emotions of anger, sorrow, even physical strength.
Fans will be captivated by one element in particular of
Young Sherlock Holmes that deserves attention: it's one
of the few film adaptations ever to feature Holmes as a
swordsman. Watson alluded to Holmes' swordsmanship abilities
once or twice in the Canon. Here we get to see a spectacular
bout staged in memorable surroundings. In conclusion, it
plays a bit like Sherlock Holmes and the Temple of Doom
might. With an element of suspended reality, despite the
weird premise and creepy visual effects, the film is an
enjoyable adventure that many will enjoy for to its
interesting tie-ins with the Canon. One final note. Watch
past the ending credits. There is a shocking surprise
involved for those familiar with Doyle's stories.
YOUNG
SHERLOCK HOLMES
Retired
schoolmaster and mentor to Holmes, Professor
Waxflatter (Nigel Stock) also has a vast interest in
the case. He's kept the men's obituaries, although
denies having any association with either man.
Waxflatter's niece Elizabeth (Sophie Ward) is a
close friend of Holmes, which encourages jealousy
among some of the other schoolboys. With a
well-timed "accident" one of the boys manages to get
Holmes permanently expelled from Brampton for
cheating. Although Holmes is believed to have left,
he returns in secret to investigate the murders.
Watson (Alan Cox) and Elizabeth become his willing
(and sometimes unwilling) accomplices in an
investigation that will involve them all in the most
deadly case of Holmes' long career. The clues are
sparse: a strange blowpipe, a whispered name, the
tinkling of bells, the danger is larger than life,
and the villain may be closer than any of them could
ever imagine.
Nicolas
Rowe, cast as young Sherlock, is exceptional in his role,
even fitting the physical description: tall, lanky,
long-fingered, gray-eyed and sharp of feature. He manages to
play the light jesting of Holmes well, offsetting with
excellent emotions of anger, sorrow, even physical strength.
Fans will be captivated by one element in particular of
Young Sherlock Holmes that deserves attention: it's one
of the few film adaptations ever to feature Holmes as a
swordsman. Watson alluded to Holmes' swordsmanship abilities
once or twice in the Canon. Here we get to see a spectacular
bout staged in memorable surroundings. In conclusion, it
plays a bit like Sherlock Holmes and the Temple of Doom
might. With an element of suspended reality, despite the
weird premise and creepy visual effects, the film is an
enjoyable adventure that many will enjoy for to its
interesting tie-ins with the Canon. One final note. Watch
past the ending credits. There is a shocking surprise
involved for those familiar with Doyle's stories.