Sherlock Holmes II and Random Thoughts

Sherlock Holmes II- Before I begin please note that I know nothing about the upcoming plot or story angle for the new Sherlock Holmes movie.  This blog entry has some elements or ideas from the books that I would use if I were the writer for the film.  I will reference Sherlock Holmes II going forward as SH2 simply because it is shorter.  It should be noted that I liked the first movie and I am very hopeful for the second even though, with some exceptions, most sequels are not successful.  So if this somehow becomes some sort of spoiler article it is strictly coincidental.  I am also not a complete expert on the books so the ramblings are simply my recollections.  The basic premise is how can we take some elements from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s written work and incorporate them into SH2?

Let’s examine the first film.  Of course all the main characters from Doyle’s book series are in the movie.  This would include Holmes (Duh), Watson, Inspector Lestrade and Mrs. Hudson.  The Irene Adler character portrayed by Rachel McAdams was loosely based from the original story “A Scandal in Bohemia”.  In that story she is the only person to have gotten the best of Holmes and had actually been an American from New Jersey.  This is a nice element from the first movie although in the book there was no prolonged interaction between Sherlock and Irene.   She was mentioned or referenced in a few other stories but really as a passing comment rather than an in depth story item.  McAdams Hollywood appeal and the desire for creating a cinematic triangle between Holmes, Watson and Adler is an understandable reason for her larger role in the film. Holmes ability to use makeup for disguise purposes is in many stories and his boxing ability was briefly mentioned in “The Adventure of the Empty House”.  Watson also had a fiancé who would become his wife in the original stories.  Lastly we have Professor Moriarity which was Holmes archenemy.  Although strangely enough, in the book series I believe he is only a major character in one story which was “The Final Problem”.  He is mentioned in some detail in several other stories but the greatest interaction was in “The Final Problem”.  Making him a faceless but fearsome character in the movie was both wise and probably necessary.  They needed the first Sherlock Holmes movie to have some finality (Lord Blackwood) but also needed a link to a sequel. 

 Now what should we do to add elements from the book to SH2?  At the core, the Sherlock Holmes movies and books really fall into the “buddy” category.   Holmes and Watson are just like Crockett and Tubbs, Agent K and Agent J, Bill and Ted, Rocky and Bullwinkle, etc.  At some point in the book series, Watson’s wife dies.  I would kill her off in SH2 as this would result in Watson moving back in with Holmes.  Seems a bit harsh but this is Hollywood.  I would have her killed by Moriarty or one of his primary henchmen.  This would then add an incentive for Watson to have a personal vendetta against Moriarty and would be equal to Homes in his fevering need to catch the bad guy.  In “The Final Problem”, Holmes and Moriarty tumble off a cliff (sort of a waterfall) and are both presumed dead.  However in “The Adventure of the Empty House”, Holmes returns from the dead to catch Moriarty’s chief Lieutenant using the fact that everyone thought he was dead as an advantage.  He was in hiding, tracking down the last of the bad guys if you will.  So let’s twist this around for theater splendor.  Let’s have Holmes and the chief lieutenant tumble off a cliff and assume that Holmes is dead and that Moriarty has won.  Then when everyone in the theater is saddened by the apparent loss we can have him come back from the dead (didn’t actually fall just looked like it) and catch his greatest nemesis, Moriarty, in a grand final crescendo.   This leaves the Irene Adler character.  I really don’t know what to do with this character.  So I guess, as in the first movie, she should just look pretty, kick butt and get Robert Downey naked and tied to a bed.  In any event, I am interested to see what the writers come up with for SH2 and if any of these ideas make it into the movie.  If so, I think I am entitled to a percentage of the gross.

5^th of November

Given the fact that I am publishing this blog on November 5^th, I can’t help but provide that infamous quote.  “Remember, remember, the Fifth of November, the Gunpowder Treason and Plot.  I know of no reason why the Gunpowder Treason should ever be forgot”.  

So it is now Time to break out your Guy Fawkes masks.  Check out the movie montage with this quote.  Warning:  contains some spoilers if you haven’t seen the movie:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=iBOgb0uzVbE

Random Thoughts

Did you know that the legal age of consent in the Vatican City is 12?  This means that technically a couple that age could legally get married.  So many jokes possible but I will defer to your imagination on this one.

Why do NHL hockey players immediately toss their gloves when they begin a fight?  They throw off padded gloves so they can hit with their bare fists.  This makes no sense to me.  Of course many NHL players have missing teeth as a result.  I would leave my gloves on in the event I would get into a fight.  Just saying….

While on the subject of Hockey, if you score a goal you probably shouldn’t hug the opponent or you might get clocked!  Check this video for proof:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8K655g4Y_0&feature=player_detailpage

There was a Japanese business man who conducted business in Japan and often travelled to Hiroshima.  However, one day his timing was bad because we dropped the bomb on Hiroshima during his visit.  He was burned but not gravely wounded.  He then took the train the next day out of Hiroshima back home.  Yes the trains were running even though there was so much destruction which is simply incredible.  Problem was his home was in Nagasaki and he was subsequently bombed again.  The man’s name was Tsutomu Yamaguchi and he actually survived both blasts and lived to the age of 93.

Notable recent deaths- Did you hear about these?

Bubba Smith (Football Great/actor) – Too many Diet Pills/Enlarged Heart. Died August 3, 2011. Born February 28, 1945. Famous Football player and Miller Lite spokesman.  He was probably best known for his role in the many Police Academy movies as Moses Hightower.  I find it Weird that his death was only recently reported and of course the Diet Pill issue only adds to the strange circumstances.

Wyatt Knight (Actor) –Suspected Suicide.  Died around October 25, 2011. Born January 20, 1955. Probably best known for his role as Tommy Turner in the 80’s Porky’s movies.

Leonard Stone (actor) --Cancer Died November 2, 2011. Born November 3, 1923. Tons of TV, but may be best-known as Violet's father in the original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.  One of my personal favorite quotes was said by him in Willy Wonka.  “Violet..your turning Violet..Violet”.

New to Netflix  Instant Stream:

The Next Three Days- Starring: Russell Crowe, Elizabeth Banks

Season of the Witch-Starring:  Nicolas Cage, Ron Pearlman

The Warrior’s Way-Starring: Asian Actors

Welcome to Riley’s-Starring: Kristen Stewart, James Gandolfini (What happened to this guy?)

Final Quote

I will finish, as usual, with a quote:

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us”.  –Ralph Waldo Emerson

Be careful out there!  Peace!