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Young Sherlock Holmes on DVD

Young Sherlock Holmes on DVD

If you’ve ever been curious to see how Chris Columbus handles the lives of British school kids as a writer rather than as a director, here’s your chance.

Columbus, who also directed the first and second Harry Potter movies, penned this tale of Holmes and his good buddy Watson’s first meeting and the subsequent adventure that made Watson a life long friend and fan of the famous sleuth. It’s pretty broad in many ways, and even descends to the level of unbelievability in one scene, but on the whole it’s a pretty good “what if” about some of the things that helped form the adult Holmes and Watson.

Assuming they had ever existed, of course...

Sitting in the director’s chair was Barry Levinson, who also made such flicks as Rain Man, Diner, Sphere, the wonderful Avalon, and Wag the Dog, among others. This 1985 adventure was obviously much earlier in his career, and that’s okay. It’s also okay that this is a product of Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment, which brought us films such as Gremlins (also written by Columbus), Batteries Not Included and Innerspace.

Spielberg's name being attached to the movie indicates that, if nothing else, the picture would look like a million dollars. And it does; the production design is wonderful and the film’s overall period look and feel is great. There are some pretty neat special effects, too, including a two dimensional stained glass knight that’s really nifty.

The Young man of the title is played by Nicholas Rowe, and he pulls it off very well. Though he looks a bit like a young Pete Townshend, you could believe that Rowe would grow up into Basil Rathbone. Alan Cox is John Watson, and he looks almost as if he’d be at home in a Potter film.

And there’s a love interest here. Holmes is deeply involved with Elizabeth Hardy (Sophie Ward), who of course can’t be around when we meet the adult Holmes. We won’t tell you what happens to ensure that.

The mystery in this case is a case of multiple murder. People have been going crazy and appearing to commit suicide, but Holmes smells a murderer and, well, from there on the game’s afoot.

The victims have all been hit by little darts carrying a powerful hallucinogenic that causes these people’s apparent breakdowns. The search for the person holding the blowgun that shot the darts, as well as any associates he or she might have, takes Holmes, Watson and Hardy to an Egyptian religious cult bent on revenge.

It’s enough to send young Holmes looking for his mummy.

The cast also includes Freddie Jones, with Anthony Higgins as the nasty villain.

We’d reckon that Harry Potter fans would enjoy this movie, and it’ll probably keep Holmes fans happy as well. And while some of the scenes seem almost as if they were ripped right from “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” that bit of theft isn’t nearly enough to spoil the fun.

The DVD is good, though sparse. It’s presented in anamorphic widescreen, 16x9 TV compatible, and the picture is very good. There’s very little grain, but lots of good contrast and moody Victorian color.

Audio is Dolby Digital 5.1 surround, and it’s pretty good as well. You won’t need to turn down your subwoofer to handle the rumbling bass, since there isn't really any, but that’s okay. And Bruce Broughton’s musical score, which alternates being sounding Williams-esque and Goldsmith-ish, sounds wonderful.

Alas, there are no extras. Still, the play’s the thing and so one can’t be too disappointed in a good DVD transfer of a very likeable movie.

Young Sherlock Holmes, from Paramount Home Entertainment
108 min. anamorphic widescreen (1.85:1, 16x9 TV compatible), Dolby Digital 5.1 surround
Starring Nicholas Rowe, Alan Cox, Sophie Ward, Anthony Higgins
Produced by Mark Johnson
Written by Chris Columbus, directed by Barry Levinson

 

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