The Great Sherlock Holmes Debate II

As a Sherlockian, you probably already know by now about the second Great Sherlock Holmes Debate, which has received a lot of attention.

But in case you missed it, here's the news: Opposing teams of Sherlock Holmes actors, directors, historians and writers -- 25 in all -- are facing off live March 18 in London to debate whether BBC Sherlock or Warner Brothers Sherlock is the better adaptation.

I'll be dialing in from Cincinnati as part of the BBC Sherlock Team headed by the fabulous Baker Street Babes, but my involvement will be minimal as I haven't been able to see the second series of BBC Sherlock (boo-hoo).

For more information, and a chance to see my publisher, check out this video. And may the best Sherlock win!

BBC's "Sherlock" series

Continuing my preparations for The Great Sherlock Holmes Debate and my participation this Saturday in a panel discussion on re-inventing the classics, I watched again "A Study in Pink," the first episode of "Sherlock." It reminded me why I'm on the BBC team.

This production is immensely clever, without being too clever by half. The way certain familiar elements are updated may seem obvious now, but perhaps that's only because it's been done for us. I'm thinking of "Come at once if convenient, if inconvenient come anyway" arriving as a text instead of a telegram, Watson writing a blog instead of a book, and -- most delightful of all -- the "three-patch problem."

The way the famous "Rache" clue from A Study in Scarlet is updated for the computer age struck me as both fun for Sherlockians and satisfying for mystery fans. Remember, this is not supposed to be our Sherlock Holmes of history; it is Sherlock Holmes as he might have been if born late in the twentieth century and sleuthing in the twenty-first.

And yet, the Holmes character -- arrogant and unfeeling, and yet at times surprisingly sensitive -- is still largely present in the energetic portrayal by Benedict Cumberbatch. Martin Freeman's competent, dependable, and principled Watson is also faithful to the source -- actually more so than in some traditionalist interpretations.

For all of these reasons, and despite my love of the more traditional screen and radio interpretations of Holmes, I was really not all that tempted to switch to the new Traditionalist team in The Great Sherlock Holmes Debate. I'll stay where I am.

Which side are you on?

Guy Ritche's Sherlock Holmes Revisited

As a participant in The Great Sherlock Holmes Debate, I felt that I should have another look at Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes. I liked it better the second time around, but I am not tempted to jump ship and join the pro-Ritchie side of the debate.

The film has a great plot and some excellent atmospherics. I liked the look inside our hero's head as he anticipated in advance what would happen in the next few seconds. Despite the misplaced slapstick in several places, I would have liked this production very much -- if only it weren't presented as Sherlock Holmes movie!

I just find it irritating to have the names Holmes, Watson, Adler, and Morstan attached to people who aren't them. A Sherlock Holmes with ragged hair and a stubble of beard is to me as unthinkable as Watson who punches Holmes in the face. In addition to the almost-mandatory (in pastiches) misrepresentation of Irene Adler as a love interest for Holmes, she is re-imagined as a criminal.

The use of such familiar Canonical touches as the patriotic VR in bullet marks on the wall and a few snatches of authentic dialogue (perhaps the benign influence of the Sherlockian consultant?) did not redeem the film for me.

Although I'm taking part in The Great Debate, I really don't think that taste can be debated in the sense of coming to a conclusion that one is right or wrong. This was just my reaction to Sherlock Holmes. What was yours?

The Great Sherlock Holmes Debate

Now what have I gotten myself into?

I volunteered my way into a role in The Great Sherlock Holmes Debate, a world-wide online debate that takes place on Nov. 10, pitting fans of the Guy Ritchie Sherlock Holmes movies against devotees of the BBC's Sherlock series.

My distinguished teammates on the BBC side include Roger Johnson of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London and the wonderful women of Baker Street Babes (of which more in another post).

Here's an excerpt from the news release announcing the event:

The BBC’s Sherlock will go head to head with the Sherlock Holmes movies of Guy Richie in a live worldwide debate on 10th November. Two panels of leading Holmes experts and historians from the UK, USA and Australia will argue which is making the most contribution to the Sherlock Holmes legacy. Both have millions of fans but which is best for the Holmes character? It’s the number one topic amongst serious Holmes fans and the debate will pit two teams against each other - live (MX Publishing, London).

Within the first 24 hours of asking for participants a dozen major experts have already applied to be on the teams including the editor of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London’s journal, Roger Johnson and experts from the UK, USA and Australia. Already the debate is set to be the biggest Holmes event of the year.

As it is an online debate, some lucky Holmes fans from around the world will be able to participate. There will be around 90 free audience places that will be released some time in October on the Facebook Page for the debate. The event is being hosted by Sherlock Holmes publishers MX Publishing, who have promised that all audience members will receive something special for taking part. Managing Director Steve Emecz explains what prompted the event:

“One of our new authors, Charlotte Walters (Barefoot on Baker Street) starts a very tough challenge today – to review each of the 56 Sherlock Holmes stories, one a day for the next 56 days. This prompted us to bring forward The Great Sherlock Holmes Debate to the eve of the last day of her record attempt. We speak to thousands of Holmes fans and they all have an opinion on the BBC’s Sherlock and the Guy Richie movies. The debate will give the experts a chance to tackle the subject in detail”.

Each team will present their case and then there will be an open debate. The proceedings will be recorded for release in a number of formats. On the subject of participants Emecz confirms that they would be delighted to have cast members take part.

Other team members include modern day Holmes authors like Dan Andriacco (No Police Like Holmes) arguing for the BBC, and Kieran McMullen (Watson’s Afghan Adventure) on the side of Guy Richie. Mcmullen explains why the films are important “The Holmes of Guy Ritchie is the multi-layered man of thought and action who lives in a real world of adventure unhampered by Victorian restrictions," - Kieran McMullen, Holmes author.

Andriacco disagrees saying that the more traditional BBC adaptation is better as it’s more true to Holmes “It’s a fun look at who Holmes would have been if born in the late 20th century without changing his essential character,” - Dan Andriacco, Holmes author.

The Great Sherlock Holmes Debate takes place at 8pm UK time, 3pm Eastern Standard Time on Thursday 10th November.

To bone up for the debate, in an attempt to not embarrass myself, I plan to re-watch the Ritchie film and all of the Sherlock episodes. I expect that will yield some blog material as well!

Meanwhile, please like The Great Sherlock Holmes Debate on Facebook.