Characters: for this post I'm only going to compare Sherlock and how he transferred from the pages of a book to modern times on the small screen.
Sherlock Holmes: A description and contrast of the character
A Study in Scarlett:
"In height he was rather over six feet, and so excessively lean that he appeared to be considerably taller. His eyes were sharp and piercing, save those intervals of torpor to which I had alluded; and his thin, hawk-like nose gave his whole expression and air of alertness and decision. " ~ Sir Arthur Conan Doyle ( A Study in Scarlett chapter 2)
A sketch of how I imagined Sherlock Holmes:
A Study in Pink:
"You being all mysterious with your cheekbones, and turning your coat collar up so you look cool." ~ Dr. John Watson The Hound of Baskerville
Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes:
Benedict Cumberbatch has been called one of the best Sherlock's on screen,and for good reason. He truly takes Sherlock's strange personality and brilliant mind and brings it to life. He matches the book Sherlock in several aspects yet he is different from how I originally imagined Sherlock. Now I can't imagine a Sherlock that isn't Benedict Cumberbatch because both the character from the book and show compliment each other so perfectly in mannerisms alone. Overall I think the show did a fantastic job of modernizing Sherlock and creating a character that is someone you can root for and follow despite his flaws.
Review Time:
A Study In Scarlett:
Brief summary of the book: In the first novel in the Sherlock Homes series Dr. Watson a war doctor returning from service in Afghanistan finds himself becoming the flat mate of the world's only consulting detective Sherlock Holmes. Which of course causes him to experience a lifetimes worth of adventure. Soon after meeting Sherlock he finds himself pulled into investigating a crime scene where a man is found dead in a abandoned home, and the only clues are a book, a wedding ring and the German word rache written with blood on the wall. As Holmes and Watson delve further into the case the discover a complex plot love, revenge and an old feud resolved by chance, poison and the hands of a dead-man walking.
Star rating: 5 stars out of 5 stars
My thoughts on the novel: Full of adventure, a rich, plot and fantastic characters its not even a question why these books are classics and Sherlock Holmes is one of the most celebrated characters in literary history. Holmes is brilliant and his deductions are always astonishing and never fail to impress. When you read a Sherlock Holme's novel it truly feels like you are in Watson's shoes following the strange but shrewd detective around as he solves the mystery using clues you would have never suspected. I loved the aha moment in this book when all the pieces of the puzzle come together and you understand the crime. The only part of this book that confused me was when it randomly transferred from Holmes almost solving the case to the criminals backstory but after reading a few pages it made perfect sense to me. Overall I HIGHLY recommend a Study in Scarlett and I'm so glad I started reading about the wonderful mis-adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson.
A Study In Pink:
Brief summary of the episode: In the first episode of BBC's Sherlock Holmes the classic book character has been taken out of the victorian age and put into the twenty-first century. Dr. Watson first meets the famous detective when looking for a place to stay once he returned home from service in Afghanistan. He soon finds himself sharing flat 221 B on Baker Street with the famous detective. As soon as he meets the doctor Sherlock Holmes shows off his deductive powers and tells Watson all about his life using his limp, posture and mobile phone. Then Watson finds himself at the scene of the crime. Three people have committed suicide in the exact same way with the same poison leading Sherlock to believe they are linked when a fourth vicim shows up. Sherlock uses her wedding ring, strange not (rache) and oddly the colour pink to locate her suitcase and eventually the killer.
Star rating: 5 stars out of 5 stars
My thoughts on the episode: Words cannot describe how much I love this show. It is brilliantly written, action packed suspenseful and full of complex characters. The way the books were adapted and modernized in the show is just fascinating and brilliant. For example in the novels ( a sign of four) Sherlock Holmes uses the marks around the part where you wind up a pocket watch to deduce that Watson's brother has shaky hands from drinking where in the show this scene is changed so Holmes uses the charging slot of a mobile phone to determine the same thing. As I read the books its so much fun to see these hat-tips to the original Sherlock Holmes. You can tell the creators of the show (Gatiss and Moffat) love the books and that love is displayed amazingly on screen. From Sherlock's sarcasm and wit to Watson's secret love for danger. The actors in this show also do an incredible job Benedict Cumberbatch who plays Sherlock is absolutely brilliant from the way he speaks, to the way he acts and carries himself based on Sherlock's mood. Again I highly highly recommend this show and I wish series four would COME FASTER!!!
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