Huge Post on Sherlock Holmes 2009...
Dec. 31st, 2009 05:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
starvinbohemian"I think the word 'bromance' is so passé. We are two men who happen to be roommates who wrestle a lot and share a bed." --Robert Downey, Jr.
I haven't checked my f-list yet, so I don't know if y'all are already squeeing over Sherlock Holmes-- and yes, it feels weird to type that. But if you aren't already, then you must! You simply must! If you're wondering if the appeal of this film to me has to do with the blatant homoeroticism of Holmes/Watson, then you are-- of course-- correct!
"Non-meta" because I'm not even gonna pretend to be scholarly or what-have-you about this one. My honest gut reaction to this film is alkakjakja ZOMG, THEY'RE SO IN LOVE!!! I absolutely adored RDJ's Holmes-- and the fact that the movie makes the connection between his hyper intellect and a mental disorder. Obviously, I also adored his codependency. The one thing I really missed, though, was mention of Holmes's cocaine addiction. I love his cocaine addiction!
I read Hound of the Baskervilles years upon years ago, and I recall liking it well enough, but not enough to pursue further Holmes stories. I'm not big on detective mysteries and never have been. It's just not my genre. And I can't say that I gave a fig about the Lord Blackwell plot of the movie. But the Holmes/Watson relationship has always been interesting. I never care about plot so much as the characters, and a semi-dysfunctional, homoerotic, codependent relationship between two adventure-seeking addicts? Right up my alley.
I think my favorite renovation of the new series (after the slash) is Jude Law's Watson. Need I even comment on how delicious Jude Law was as Watson? In VICTORIAN WEAR??? I didn't think so.
Jude Law brings Old Watson back! The problem (for me) with Book!Watson is that his primary function in the books-- as I remember them-- is to be the eyes of the reader. I recall him as having not much of a personality since his role is to stand there so that Holmes has someone to explain his crazy deductions to. As for the Comic Relief!Watson of the movies, I understand why he was made into a silly bumbler in the translation from text to screen. Watson has to bring something to the table or else the audience is going to wonder what that extra dude is doing in every scene. But Jude Law's Watson! So dreamy (and violent)! With a gamblingand Holmes addiction! Mmmn. Though, I think the gambling addiction comes from the books?
Now, taking off my shipper goggles for a moment, I even liked Mary! Much as I love Rachel McAdams, I felt that Irene Adler felt entirely forced into the narrative. I didn't believe Holmes/Irene at all, and that's still me talking without the shipper goggles. It just didn't work for me. But Mary! Granted, I think my love stems from the fact that there was something about the actress that I found really compelling. But also I loved watching Mary hold her own against Holmes in the dinner scene. He was very brutal in his dissection of her, and I didn't blame her for throwing her drink in his face. I also loved that she instantly recognized Holmes when he was in disguise as Watson's doctor. I think her last two scenes (the one at the hospital and the last one at Baker Street) showed that she could actually fit, function, and survive (while remaining entertaining!) in Holmes and Watson's world. I could see why Watson would be attracted to her. Once she and Holmes get over their possessive/jealousy issues over Watson, I could see a future for the three of them that doesn't have to be all or nothing via the domestic life vs. the sleuthing life.
And now here are some goodies to intrigue you into the fandom or to the film!
*If I didn't already love Robert Downey, Jr., then I would have begun due to the fact that he apparently ships Holmes/Watson himself. RDJ's 'Holmes' Too Gay for Studio Execs. Quote:
"Publicists for the upcoming 'Sherlock Holmes' movie are very concerned that its star, Robert Downey Jr., can't stop hinting that the great dapper detective's relationship with Dr. Watson may involve more than just solving crime." There was an article in The Advocate about this as well, but it's been taken down for some reason. :/
*Here is an Alternate Script that was one of the early drafts before the final script that was used for the film. This script has some additional slashy bits that didn't make it into the film-- not that the film needed any more slashy bits to feed even the hungriest fangirl.
*Also, here's an article, entitled Sherlock's Dear Watson?, that discusses the various approaches to Holmes and Watson's sexualities over time.
Lastly, have two fic recs:
Title: A Little Vanilla is Good for the Soul.
Pairing: Holmes/Watson.
Rating: NC-17.
Word Count: 1580.
Summary: With anyone other than Watson, Holmes would have long since grown bored of such conventional activities.
Recced because: Put simply, I've never read a hotter fluffy, vanilla!porn fic in my life. All porn aside, this is a beautiful exploration of Holmes/Watson.
Title: A Wise Wager.
Pairing: Holmes/Watson.
Rating: PG-13.
Word Count: 3800.
Summary: A further exploration into Watson's gambling addiction.
Recced because: After the movie, I was desperately intrigued by Watson's gambling addiction, and this is a lovely look into how that might affect his relationship with Holmes.
I haven't checked my f-list yet, so I don't know if y'all are already squeeing over Sherlock Holmes-- and yes, it feels weird to type that. But if you aren't already, then you must! You simply must! If you're wondering if the appeal of this film to me has to do with the blatant homoeroticism of Holmes/Watson, then you are-- of course-- correct!
"Non-meta" because I'm not even gonna pretend to be scholarly or what-have-you about this one. My honest gut reaction to this film is alkakjakja ZOMG, THEY'RE SO IN LOVE!!! I absolutely adored RDJ's Holmes-- and the fact that the movie makes the connection between his hyper intellect and a mental disorder. Obviously, I also adored his codependency. The one thing I really missed, though, was mention of Holmes's cocaine addiction. I love his cocaine addiction!
I read Hound of the Baskervilles years upon years ago, and I recall liking it well enough, but not enough to pursue further Holmes stories. I'm not big on detective mysteries and never have been. It's just not my genre. And I can't say that I gave a fig about the Lord Blackwell plot of the movie. But the Holmes/Watson relationship has always been interesting. I never care about plot so much as the characters, and a semi-dysfunctional, homoerotic, codependent relationship between two adventure-seeking addicts? Right up my alley.
I think my favorite renovation of the new series (after the slash) is Jude Law's Watson. Need I even comment on how delicious Jude Law was as Watson? In VICTORIAN WEAR??? I didn't think so.
Jude Law brings Old Watson back! The problem (for me) with Book!Watson is that his primary function in the books-- as I remember them-- is to be the eyes of the reader. I recall him as having not much of a personality since his role is to stand there so that Holmes has someone to explain his crazy deductions to. As for the Comic Relief!Watson of the movies, I understand why he was made into a silly bumbler in the translation from text to screen. Watson has to bring something to the table or else the audience is going to wonder what that extra dude is doing in every scene. But Jude Law's Watson! So dreamy (and violent)! With a gambling
Now, taking off my shipper goggles for a moment, I even liked Mary! Much as I love Rachel McAdams, I felt that Irene Adler felt entirely forced into the narrative. I didn't believe Holmes/Irene at all, and that's still me talking without the shipper goggles. It just didn't work for me. But Mary! Granted, I think my love stems from the fact that there was something about the actress that I found really compelling. But also I loved watching Mary hold her own against Holmes in the dinner scene. He was very brutal in his dissection of her, and I didn't blame her for throwing her drink in his face. I also loved that she instantly recognized Holmes when he was in disguise as Watson's doctor. I think her last two scenes (the one at the hospital and the last one at Baker Street) showed that she could actually fit, function, and survive (while remaining entertaining!) in Holmes and Watson's world. I could see why Watson would be attracted to her. Once she and Holmes get over their possessive/jealousy issues over Watson, I could see a future for the three of them that doesn't have to be all or nothing via the domestic life vs. the sleuthing life.
And now here are some goodies to intrigue you into the fandom or to the film!
*If I didn't already love Robert Downey, Jr., then I would have begun due to the fact that he apparently ships Holmes/Watson himself. RDJ's 'Holmes' Too Gay for Studio Execs. Quote:
"Publicists for the upcoming 'Sherlock Holmes' movie are very concerned that its star, Robert Downey Jr., can't stop hinting that the great dapper detective's relationship with Dr. Watson may involve more than just solving crime." There was an article in The Advocate about this as well, but it's been taken down for some reason. :/
*Here is an Alternate Script that was one of the early drafts before the final script that was used for the film. This script has some additional slashy bits that didn't make it into the film-- not that the film needed any more slashy bits to feed even the hungriest fangirl.
*Also, here's an article, entitled Sherlock's Dear Watson?, that discusses the various approaches to Holmes and Watson's sexualities over time.
Lastly, have two fic recs:
Title: A Little Vanilla is Good for the Soul.
Pairing: Holmes/Watson.
Rating: NC-17.
Word Count: 1580.
Summary: With anyone other than Watson, Holmes would have long since grown bored of such conventional activities.
Recced because: Put simply, I've never read a hotter fluffy, vanilla!porn fic in my life. All porn aside, this is a beautiful exploration of Holmes/Watson.
Title: A Wise Wager.
Pairing: Holmes/Watson.
Rating: PG-13.
Word Count: 3800.
Summary: A further exploration into Watson's gambling addiction.
Recced because: After the movie, I was desperately intrigued by Watson's gambling addiction, and this is a lovely look into how that might affect his relationship with Holmes.
