[FilmReview]YoungSherlockHolmes(1985)6.3/10

Personally,amajorpleasurederivedfromwatchingyesteryearfilms,particularlythosewhoareanglingforamainstreammarket,istocarpabouthowformulaicanddatedtheyareintoday’seyes,andonceinawhile,gettingbowledoverforsomeingenuitywhetheritisinthetechnologicalaspectorthemessagetheytrytoconvey.BarryLevinson’sYOUNGSHERLOCKHOLMES,isacaseinpoint,aboldfabricationofateenagerHolmes(Rowe)firstmeetinghisstalwartsidekickJohnWatson(Cox)inaLondon’sboardingschool,andtogethertheytakeitintheirstridestosolvemysteriousmurdersconductedinthemostbizarreway,whichlooklikeostensiblesuicidesoraccidents,butareengenderedbyhallucinogenicthornsshotfromablowpipe.WrittenbyChrisColumbus(anothercollaborationwithStevenSpielbergastheproducerapartfromTHEGOONIES),YOUNGSHERLOCKHOLMESalmostuncannilyforeshadowsthescribe’slatterlyenvisagingofhisHARRYPOTTERmovies,atrinityoftheprotagonists,twoboysplusonegirlElizabeth(Ward),Holmes’loveinterest,WatsonislikenedtoachubbierHarryPotterandasnottyrivalstudentDudley(Rhodes)anachronisticallymodelsafterDracoMalfoy,tosaynothingoftheinteriordesignoftheschool,itschemistryclassandstaff,andnottomentionthepreternaturalelements.Actuallyitisthelatterthatmightgalvanizeitsnewaudience,andthefilmconfiguresacrackingprologuetopiqueourcuriosity,butthatthrillconducedbyunexpectedutilityofspecialeffects(includingaveryrudimentalCGIcharacter,thefirsteverputintoamotionpicture!)canonlylastforawhile,whenrepetitionfollowsandthecrime-solvingproceduralinvolvingHolmes’rapier-likedeductiondismallycedestoafun-sizeversionofIndianaJones’adventure(whenancientEgyptiandeityandajerry-builtundergroundpyramidareintroducedasanexoticbarbarity),thethrillsaregone(shouldweblameitontheproducer?)andtheidentityoftheculpritisplainasday,yetwhomuststillbeAnglo-Saxon,thoughhalf-breed.Lastly,whatalsosticksinYoursTruly’scrawisthewayaninnocuousgal,withoutanyfaultofherown(eveninherlastgasp,shelooksimpeccablycomely)isdoomedtobe“fridged”tofeeblyaccountforthegrown-upHolmes’cynical,dispassionatepersonas,tokeephimfootlooseandfancy-freeforhisgrandfuture,andallherundoingisfallinginlovewiththewrongboy,thatisquitethe‘80sscreensexisminanutshell.referentialentries:StevenSpielberg’sINDIANAJONESANDTHETEMPLEOFDOOM(1984,7.2/10);GuyRitchie’sSHERLOCKHOLMES:AGAMEOFSHADOWS(2011,5.8/10);HerbertRoss’THESEVEN-PER-CENTSOLUTION(1976,6.7/10).本文版权归作者他他所有，任何形式转载请联系作者。