JohnHowardReid
Young Sherlock Holmes (1985) is a typical "modern" movie in which special effects are king and the story is constructed to serve the effects, rather than vice versa. The plot, of course, is full of holes, but trifles like that did not worry 1985's picture-goers. Admittedly, the movie is super- spectacular, over-poweringly so at times, and sufficiently well acted to get us involved in the story before the next bout of special effects takes us back to fantasy land. Needless to say, this picture was extremely popular when first released back in 1985.But it now seems to be forgotten by the corduroy set. In fact, I'd completely forgotten it myself until I stumbled across a few paragraphs I wrote for "The Hollywood Reporter".(Available on a 10/10 Paramount DVD).
thisseatofmars
Young Sherlock Holmes is a great looking movie. Everything about its Victorian aesthetic, snow-covered burgs, golden-lit night scenes bleed with charm. Some characters are wonderful looking too, specifically the one-eyed man who sells Watson Holmes' stock calabash pipe.Not everything is super hot, though. The scene where Sherlock and Watson go to the exotic tavern with all of the Arab and Asian stereotypes is pretty cartoonish-- the informant they meet there wouldn't look out of place as a live-action villain from Team America: World Police ("durka durka" faux-language for sure) and the music couldn't be more fanciful if it tried. Plus, the filmmakers tried wedging in too many Sherlock-y elements: Sherlock says "the game is a foot" one time too many, and we never really needed to know where Sherlock got his patronizing catchphrase, "Dyno-mite!" (Wait, sorry-- I mean, "Elementary.") Standout scenes/rich images are the stained glass hallucination, the attic setting, the meal hall at night, the labs, and the pyramid. I'll be returning to this film not so much for the plot, but to drink in its visual display.
willhaskew
This is a non-Walter Conan Doyle story about school-aged John Watson meeting Sherlock Holmes at Brompton Academy. He also meets Professor Rupert T. Waxlfatter, a brilliant retired schoolmaster and Holmes' mentor, who's the author of numerous books on chemistry and physics. But he is considered a little crazy due to his brazen experimentation attempts with a manned bicycle-like flying vehicle along with his inherent eccentricity. Waxflatter lives in an unused tower on school grounds, along with his niece and Holmes' sweetheart, Elizabeth Hardy. Holmes is also close to Professor Rathe, the Brompton fencing master. Several murders are committed in London using a powerful hallucinogenic delivered through a thorn shot by a cloaked assassin with a blowgun. Dudley, a school rival, frames Holmes for cheating on an exam and Waxflatter becomes one of the murder victims. Holmes secretly stays on the school's grounds in Waxflatter's old tower, getting help from Watson and Elizabeth to find Waxflatter's murderers. Their investigation leads to the uncovering of an Egyptian cult and an old grudge against Waxflatter and the other victims from a ruined business deal.This movie had the Spielberg-Amblin Entertainment magic and feeling of an exciting 1980's adventure that seems to have been lost. It featured some cutting edge visual effects created by Lucasfilm and a script by Chris Columbus. Some of the action and violence is a bit intense for a family film but it's nothing you wouldn't see in Indiana Jones.
Vivekmaru45
This film takes its roots from the stories of the legendary detective Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.It shows Holmes and Watson as young boys. The plot of the movie is based on a mysterious sect of Rame Tep, an ancient Egyptian cult of Osiris worshippers, which Holmes and Watson discover.Full Plot: Teenagers John Watson and Sherlock Holmes meet at the prestigious Brompton Academy. The reticent Watson and intellectual Holmes quickly become good friends as they begin their studies together. Watson also meets Holmes's mentor Rupert T. Waxflatter, a retired schoolmaster and inventor working on a complete self-propelled, heavier-than-air aircraft. His niece, Elizabeth, is also Holmes's close friend and love interest; Holmes competes for her affections with fellow student Dudley (although she shows a marked preference for Holmes).At the same time, two prominent men, Mr. Bobster and Rev. Nesbitt fall victim to a hallucinogen which drives them to their deaths. Noticing newspaper clippings of their deaths in Waxflatter's office, Holmes starts to notice a connection between them. He takes his suspicions to investigator Mr. Lestrade, only to be rebuffed. Later, Holmes is expelled from the Academy due to Dudley's machinations. Before he leaves, Holmes has one last match with his fencing instructor Professor Rathe; he loses due to being distracted by Rathe's ring. Meanwhile, the mysterious hooded figure responsible for the deaths poisons Waxflatter, driving him to suicide as he fends off imaginary gargoyles. His last words to Holmes are "Eh-Tar."Having been barred from attending Waxflatter's funeral after being expelled from the school in a frame-up by Dudley, Holmes secretly meets with Watson and Elizabeth to discuss the deaths that he determines to be murders. Piecing together the first clues - a jingling sound, a piece of cloth, and a blowpipe -, the three of them discover the existence of Rame Tep, an ancient Egyptian cult of Osiris worshippers. The cult's main weapons were blowpipes, which shot thorns dipped into a solution which caused the victim to experience realistic, nightmare-like hallucinations, driving him to death. Their investigation then leads to a warehouse of Froggit and Froggit, a Wapping-area manufacturer, where they discover a modern-day revival of the Rame Tep cult conducting their service inside a wooden pyramid reconstruction hidden in the warehouse. When they interrupt the ceremonial sacrifice of a young girl, the three are attacked by the worshippers. Only through Holmes's endurance and the intervention of a graveyard caretaker are the three able to survive the hallucinations.The following morning, after being lectured by an angry Mr. LeStrade, Holmes, Elizabeth and Watson continue their investigation. At Waxflatter's loft, Holmes and Watson discover a picture of the three victims and a fourth man, Chester Cragwitch. Unfortunately, Rathe and school nurse Mrs. Dribb catch and separate them, preparing to expel them in the morning. But the three soon escape, and while Elizabeth returns to the loft to salvage her uncle's work, the other two locate Mr. Cragwitch. He explains to them that in his youth, he and the other men discovered a underground pyramid of Rame Tep while planning to build a hotel in Egypt. Their find led to an angry uprising by the local populace which was violently put down by the British Army; one boy, Eh Tar, who along with his sister lost their parents in the uprising, swore revenge. Having been poisoned by the hooded figure, Cragwitch suddenly attacks Holmes, who is saved by Mr. LeStrade.As they are returning to campus, Holmes realizes that Rathe is Eh-Tar. He and Watson return just as Rathe and Dribb leaves with Elizabeth. Using Waxflatter's flying machine, they arrive at the warehouse just in time to prevent Rathe from sacrificing Elizabeth, setting the cult's pyramid temple afire. As Rathe escapes with Elizabeth, Holmes battles Dribb, which results in her death. Meanwhile, Watson successfully thwarts Rathe's escape by stopping his carriage. Rathe then tries to shoot Holmes, but Elizabeth takes the shot instead. Enraged, Holmes duels Rathe and manages to get the better of him when Rathe falls through the frozen Thames. Holmes returns to Elizabeth's side before she dies.Later, as he exchanges goodbyes with Watson, Holmes explains how he figured the identity of Rathe and Dribb, who are actually Eh Tar and his sister, with Watson pointing out that Rathe is Eh-Tar spelled backwards - a clue that Holmes had failed to notice. As Holmes leaves, Watson expresses per voice-over (by his older, adult self reminiscing) that he would long for yet more adventures at Holmes' side.After the closing credits, Rathe is revealed to be alive; he checks himself in an inn as "Moriarty", making him Holmes' arch-nemesis.Written by Chris Columbus (Gremlins, Goonies, Home Alone, Mrs. Doubtfire) and directed by Barry Levinson (Sphere, Rain Man, Sleepers, Disclosure). The cast includes Nicholas Rowe (as young Sherlock Holmes), Alan Cox (as Watson), Sophie Ward (as Elizabeth Hardy) and Anthony Higgins (as Professor Rathe/Eh-Tar).10/10 points. Very good film that will appeal to even people who have not yet read any of Arthur Conan Doyle Sherlock Holmes Stories.Excellent family film and a must have for all Sherlock Holmes Fans. A great buy either on DVD or Blu-ray.
