OT: Damn, the British...

[Olham]

Damn, the British!

They do not only make great pop and rock music since the 60s; they also come up with great TV series since then.

The Avengers are a classic; entertaining, sexy (at least with Emma Peel), smart, bizarre and funny.

In one word: typically British.

 

Now another series from "the island" keeps me entertained in a very clever and intelligent way:

"Sherlock"

The idea sounds simple - they transfered Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson into our days;

plus Moriarty and Miss Irene Adler. Sounds silly, impossible, not working?

Sounds like - but it works. And it works great.

The actors for the main roles are examples for perfect casting.

The scripts are full of funny, special, tricky, smart, original ideas - although they new cases

use basics from the famous books of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, they make something new;

some refreshing and bewildering entertainment of them.

We have seen a person like Sherlock before, in Dr. House. But Benedict Cumberbatch makes

up a new socially incompetent, but incredibly intelligent investigator and "top nose".

Highly recommended.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcFHeTaS9ew

[turkeydriver]

Yes-3 Seasons of around a total of 12 or so episodes so far. Excellent series.

[Von Paulus]

Well, when I heard the name Sherlock Holmes I instantly think in Jeremy Brett, at the point that I'm not interested in any other Sherlock.

However you left me curious Olham.

Thanks for heads-up.

[+elephant]

Thanks, Olham!

Dr. House is over after 8 seasons...

Sherlock's trailer looks thrilling!

I'll check it out ASAP...

[Hauksbee]

Well, when I heard the name Sherlock Holmes I instantly think in Jeremy Brett, at the point that I'm not interested in any other Sherlock.

While I wholeheartedly agree that Jeremy Brett is now the definitive Sherlock Holmes, the Benedict Cumberbatch (I've got to enlist a Cumberbatch as a pilot!) version is really quite good.

[turkeydriver]

Yep I have the entire jeremy Brett series on DVD- watched them growing up. You will like this new one after the first season, that's almost a guarantee.

[Tony_Spike]

yes ...damn our oily hides to high hell lol

 

i have to say we do make the best telly .......i love being human but i wathed the american version and it lacked a certain i dont know what .....i think it was the vampires wit if im honest

[Hauksbee]

..i think it was the vampires wit if im honest

Vampire wit? Is that not an oxymoron? (...and yes, British telly is outstanding.)

[Capitaine Vengeur]

Yep, excellent modern series, with Baskerville as a military research center and Irène Adler as an SM escort dame... Not yet seen Colonel Moran, yet, as Moriarty is stone dead already. But I like both of Guy Ritchie's movies too: casting a genuine junkie as Sherlock Holmes gives some authenticity, and Stephen Fry as Mycroft is priceless!

[Crossbones]

I've watched the 1st season on Netflix here in the US. It ended in a real cliffhanger! It is very good so far, I just need Netflix to hurry up and make season 2 available.

 

Crossbones

[Olham]

... I like both of Guy Ritchie's movies too: casting a genuine junkie as Sherlock Holmes gives some authenticity, and Stephen Fry as Mycroft is priceless!

I understand you on one side, von Paulus, if you like a certain character - like perhaps the British Ruper Davis was the best Maigret.

But it's also stagnation.

Make yourself free from the need to see the one and only.

 

The Guy Ritchy films are both absolutely great, using a new way of story-telling; the places and athmospheres are phantastic.

Robert Downey jr. is such an incredibly good actor; he plays just his version of Holmes - but a great version.

Jude Law as Watson is the quieter, perfect counterpart.

These films are the perfect combination of great books, great directing, superb acting; of computer-technology not as the main actor,

but rather painting all the great backgrounds and scenery; plus an entertaining and great action.

IMHO it's Hollywood, as it could be - and should be.

 

Then again, the TV series is just playing with the Sherlock Holmes idea; transfers it into our time -

and only after watching it a bit, you realise, you are hopelessly drawn into it.

Brilliant entertainment on an intelligent level!

What more could you ask for on TV ?

 

Give it a chance - I bet you won't regret it.

.

Edited May 28, 2012 by Olham

[Von Paulus]

I understand you on one side, von Paulus, if you like a certain character - like perhaps the British Ruper Davis was the best Maigret.

But it's also stagnation.

Make yourself free from the need to see the one and only.

Well Olham, Ive never said, that I wouldn't see any new Sherlock just because I think that Jeremy Brett is the perfect Sherlock.

I've seen most of the after Sherlocks, in spite I'm 99.9% sure, like few things in life, that will never be one as good as Jeremy Brett. Why because he's just perfect and unique, and it's how I see Sherlock character. Anything else will be different and I will like less.

And no, I don't think it's stagnation. Do you need always to reinvent the wheel just for the sake of reinventing it? I know we're talking about art, and things can be subjective at that point. But for me personally, what Jeremy Brett was able to do was something almost divine.

I've seen several times his episodes, and I never feel tired watching it, and above all I'm always being surprised by him.

So it's only natural that when I look anew Sherlock I'm always a little skeptic. After all I'm human.

 

And for me the best Maigret, although this quite arguable, is Jean Richard. Maybe in second place, Bruno Cremer.

[Olham]

I see, that I haven't seen what you saw, von Paulus. Just googled for pics of Jeremy Brett and Jean Richard.

I don't know the series with Jeremy Brett at all, and I also don't know Jean Richard as Maigret.

Jean Gabin - yes; Jean Richard - no. During my time studying graphic design, and even after,

I didn't have a TV. Also, I rarely ever watched "early-evening series" (that's before the 20 h news).

 

But I hope they will repeat them one day (they repeat so much - why not the good stuff?).

Edited May 28, 2012 by Olham

[Von Paulus]

Well Olham, Jean Gabin was a better actor than Jean Richard. But I've grown seeing his Maigret (not the case of Brett's Sherlock), and at the point when later I read some of the Georges Simenon novels, I've always picture Maigret as Jean Richard.

I'll try to see what I can get for you...

I suppose you don't have problem with French? And Cremer's Maigret... do you know it?

Edited May 28, 2012 by Von Paulus

[Olham]

My French is just good enough to order meals or to buy bred and wine.

I wouldn't understand anything.

I have watched the US film "L.A.Confidential" with an American friend.

I thought my English was good enough. But had I not known the film,

I wouldn't have understood anything.

 

So, save the money, my friend - I admit I am old fashioned too - I am used to synchronised films.

One day they will repeat the series, I'm sure.

Edited May 28, 2012 by Olham

[Von Paulus]

Well the Jean Richard I have with Portuguese subtitles, but I'm afraid that probably wouldn't help you much...

But the Jeremy Brett is in plain good old Oxford style. Even a child who doesn't know English, can understand it.

[Olham]

Yes, that "stiff upper lip" English is rather slow - may I could.