Humaira Grant It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Brendon Jones It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Matylda Swan It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

Candida It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

Michiel1965 There is a reason why this series gets such a high rating. This superb television, it is so good that it is superior to most superb other shows.The script is fantastic, it oozes "britishness" in all its meanings. Beautiful locations, wonderful dialogues but the unique selling point is the haunting performance of Jeremy Brett, he is intense, a maniac, he is almost diabolical good. I wont say much about Brett what cant be found on the internet, just know there is a tragic secret behind his performance.In short, superior television in every possible way, Sherlock Holmes has been done many times and sometimes very good (Benedict Cumberbatch) but Holmes's real name is Jeremy Brett for ever.Thank you for reading.

Robert J. Maxwell Jeremy Brett is Holmes all the way through the series and he probably animates Conan-Doyle's detective better than any of the others who have played him on the screen. He doesn't LOOK that much like the Sidney Paget illustrations. He's a little short, but that's about the only problem. His face and figure are lean and his movements are suitably quick or languid, depending on whether he has a case or not.Basil Rathbone had the advantage of height and of resembling the illustrations more closely, but Rathbone lacked the tic-y quality and the frigid aloofness that characterized Holmes. Brett is an arrogant and superior thinking machine. Rathbone was a detective of intensity. And, really, only once did Rathbone's Holmes refer to the use of an illicit drug. At the end of "The Hound of the Baskervilles," Rathbone snaps out -- "Oh, Watson -- the needle." The TV series went through two Watsons, equally good, and close to Conan-Doyle's original, rather than the well-intentioned buffoon of Rathbone's Watson.Like many of the English mystery series, occasional well-known movie figures would show up to take roles -- Natasha Richardson here, Jeremy Kemp there. Even Harry Andrews. Their presence added variety to the series."The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" was the first set of episodes in the series. As the years went on, the adapters were forced to draw on some of the lesser tales. "The Creeping Man" still makes me wince -- in print or on film. And the cast was hobbled by a personal crisis in Jeremy Brett's life, and by his continuing struggle with heart failure. His lost his ascetic look and became plumper and older. Finally, the writers seemed to become desperate, making up pastiches and having Holmes practically fall in love while in disguise.But it's impossible to criticize the presentation of the first couple of years. The period detail and photography are magnificent, and Brett gives Holmes all the quirks and aversions that made him compassionate without ever allowing him to be warm.

dhyan I read all of the Sherlock Holmes stories at once this past year. It was the perfect reading experience--the books I read were reprints of the original magazine editions, down to the illustrations and the name Conan Doyle without "Sir Arthur" looming in front. Doyle amazed me by making Sherlock & Watson my contemporaries. The stories leapt over the decades, over the differences in fashion (wardrobe, philosophy, & vocabulary) to show me these were just a couple of guys sharing an apartment, one of whom being rather eccentric.Adaptations of literature can deeply offend me. My disgust over The English Patient hasn't died down yet (story and various emphases, not cinematography or acting), for instance. Therefore, after Doyle had made Sherlock so real to me, I didn't believe there would be a portrayal that didn't anger me. At the same time, I had finished all of the stories, and Doyle being long dead, there would be no more. So when my honey discovered some episodes online, I gave some a try.Jeremy Brett brought together important physical characteristics, the desire and intelligence to bring the character to life, and the acting capability to actually do so. Supported by exceptional writing, with changes only to the point of necessity given media constraints. Brett even added gesture and expression not mentioned in the story, yet fitting as well as if they were.Fans of the stories should not hesitate to watch this series given the opportunity. Even more, fans of the shows would gain to read the stories because of the greater elucidation of deductive principles.I actually gave it a ten.

robinwed Has Patrick Gowers been given his real due for the music he has written for this series? The title music, that beautiful, rather morbid theme for the solo violin (Holmes's instrument, of course), so subtly coloured by the harmony and instrumentation of the accompaniment, reflecting a number of elements in these stories (I fancy that there are tragedy, regret, tenderness, ennui and cocaine all in there somewhere), is uncannily right, and the composer is endlessly inventive in deriving other passages of music from this material. I have just watched 'The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist' and marvelled yet again at the superbly atmospheric touch Mr Gowers has, applied with such taste and economy - a haunting octave-oscillation, for instance, suggesting the up-and-down movement of bicycle pedals but also full of mysterious, suspenseful malevolence. At every turn the music, while never pushing itself to the fore, complements and enhances the excellent production with the utmost effectiveness. We never tire of that ubiquitous theme, presented and developed in such cleverly varied ways.Whoever engaged Patrick Gowers for this job deserves our gratitude, and as for the composer himself - well, eat your heart out, Richard Wagner. Fantastic music which surely has few equals among all film scores.(For some episodes the solo violinist in the title music is absolutely first-class - who is it? - , while for others it seems that the soloist is different and, while acceptable, not quite as good. This seems rather odd.)