Tag: sherlock-holmes

Film Review: Something Wants To Take A Bite Out Of Sherlock Holmes

~ Peter Kanelis ~ Leave a comment

The Case of the Whitechapel Vampire is a 2002 Sherlock Holmes film that is mediocre at best. Rodney Gibbons is the writer and director of this thing which originally aired on the Hallmark Channel of all places. Matt Frewer is cast as Sherlock Holmes alongside Kenneth Welsh as Dr. John Watson.’

Kathleen McAuliffe, Michel Perron, Joel Miller, Danny Blanco, and Norris Domingue are included in the cast.

It has been two years since the infamous Jack the Ripper terrorized Whitechapel district, and another round of strange murders have occurred in that same area. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are called in by an order of monks who believe that a vampire is stalking the streets. Holmes is adamant that there is nothing supernatural behind the killings in spite of appearances. Holmes is once again challenged to provide a rational explanation for something that seems to bizarre and otherworldly. He also has his agnosticism challenged as Watson begins to consider that a vampire is actually the culprit. Even if the vampire is real, he may still find Sherlock Holmes to be a very formidable foe.

There are some intriguing elements in this story. It has some potential, but it just seems a little trite and overdone. Some of these pastiche writers really focus a lot on Holmes facing something potentially supernatural when Arthur Conan Doyle just did not have that many stories like that.

Matt Frewer was a reasonable casting choice for the lead role, but he could have employed a little more subtlety in his performance. I did rather like Kenneth Welsh’s portrayal of Dr. Watson.

Not everything in this film was a failure. I just didn’t find Frewer’s portrayal of Holmes all that interesting. It just felt like it was by the numbers. Frewer physically looks quite a bit like how Doyle described Holmes in the original canon, so that did help.

There was also once again, as I have mentioned before in some of my previous critiques of Holmes pastiche stories, an element of the Scooby-Doo reveal toward the end.

I figure the reason that I had not seen this one before is because it was on the Hallmark Channel, which isn’t known for hard-hitting originality in their films.

It was not a terrible viewing experience, but it sure was not anything one should go out of their way for.

Book Review: Christmas Cheer And Trouble On Baker Street

~ Peter Kanelis ~ Leave a comment

What Child is This? is an adequate Sherlock Holmes novel written by Bonnie MacBird. It takes place during the Christmas season of 1890.

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson foil an attempted kidnapping on the streets of London and are engaged by the mother to identify the would-be adductor. The father of the child has made his own arrangements for an investigation. Also, another case of a wayward son presents itself when an aristocrat shows up at Baker Street to enlist the assistance of the consulting detective. Holmes is engaged to ensure some peace for two families in time for Christmas, but he and Watson have to navigate some dangerous waters so they can find some contentment in the holiday as well.

Bonnie MacBird is one of the better writers to carry on the legacy created by the late Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but this is not one of the better ones in her series of Holmes novels. Holmes does display a certain compassion that can be overlooked in other pastiche works at times, so that is kind of a nice touch.

I just found myself less than enthralled by the cases Holmes was investigating. My interest was only mildly piqued from time to time.

There were some illustrations peppered throughout the book that were done by Frank Cho. I didn’t hate this entry into the series, but I was sort of just going through the motions in reading this.

I am still interested to see what MacBird’s next Holmes venture will contain. She is a talented writer, but she rather missed the mark with this particular release.

Now that is done, the next reading indulgence is going to be a visit to Copper River, where Sheriff Cork O’Conner, recovering from a gunshot wound, has involved himself in a very disturbing murder investigation that also involves abducted children. I have yet to read one of the thrillers by William Kent Krueger, but Copper River seems to be a promising introduction.

Book Review: An Ancient Sword Draws The Attention Of Sherlock Holmes

~ Peter Kanelis ~ Leave a comment

Sherlock Holmes and the Sacred Sword by Frank Thomas misses the mark when it comes to emulating the talents of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It was first published in 1980, and Thomas is not likely one of the better-known pastiche authors who has made an effort to add something to the Sherlock Holmes legend. After reading this book, there is little reason that he should be counted among the better contributors.

The story starts off with a man being brought to 221 B Baker Street where he dies in the presence of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson. That and a rather peculiar burglary draws the duo into the search for an ancient sword that was said to have belonged to Mohammed. An old enemy who leads a criminal Chinese enterprise also plans to ensnare Holmes and Watson as they travel the world and end up in Egypt where a lethal confrontation will take place.

Thomas is not necessarily as bad writer. He just seems to draw more inspiration from the Basil Rathbone films than Doyle’s original works. I enjoy the Basil Rathbone films, but they also seem to take some artistic liberties when it comes to the mannerisms of Doyle’s creations. Thomas probably would have done better with applying his talents to his own characters and literary world more than trying to indulge himself within the landscape created by Doyle. There were some moments where the story sort of dragged, but that’s usually the risk when trying to write something that takes place in the Victorian Era.

It was an interesting challenge to get through this novel even though it is not that long. Frank Thomas is likely a competent enough writer in his own right, but the decision to bring his pen to 221 B Baker Street just didn’t seem that well thought out.

It’s time to return to the world of Vince Flynn’s creation, Mitch Rapp. Flynn has been deceased for some time, but Kyle Mills has kept the Mitch Rapp series going for the past few years. Oath of Loyalty is next my port of call on the lengthy literary voyage.