Analyzing Sherlock HolmesName:

Initial Discussion

Think of a few books/stories that have been adapted into movies. Below, discuss how one film adaptation you have seen was successfully done, and discuss how one film adaptation was unsuccessful. Give specific reasons.
Successful Adaptation:
Unsuccessful Adaptation:
All directors who adapt literature into film have many decisions to make. Inevitably, some fans of the original story complain that the movie isn’t close enough to the book, and some people might think that the movie needs to diverge from the book because it’s not exciting enough. What do you think might have been some decisions that director Guy Ritchie had to make in directing Sherlock Holmes? List them below.

Directorial Elements

Camera angles, lighting, music, editing, and other directorial decisions contribute to the tone and/or mood of the film. In the boxes below, give specific examples for each category and explain how they affect the tone/mood of the film, or just how they contribute to the film in general.

Specific Examples / How They Contribute to Tone/Mood
Music
Camera Angles
Special Effects
Costuming

Analyzing Character

Robert Downey, Jr. (Holmes), Jude Law (Watson), and Rachel McAdams (Irene Adler) are all popular actors who probably deserve a lot of credit for bringing people to the theaters to see Sherlock Holmes. Do you believe that the actors are used primarily for their popular appeal, or do you think that they are appropriate for the story and act well?

  • Consider gestures, speech, behavior, relationships, and overall appearance

Explain the appropriateness of each actor to the character. Does the actor do a good job of representing the character? Provide details.
Robert Downey, Jr. (Sherlock Holmes)
Jude Law
(Dr. Watson)
Rachel McAdams (Irene Adler)

Comparing to the Original Text (Consider new characters, plot points, directorial elements, etc.)

I liked that the movie changed/added in these elements… / I would have preferred if the movie didn’t change/add in these elements…

Overall

What do you think the director was trying to accomplish in this film? Consider, possibly, what is the overall message or impact of the film.
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How knowledgeable do you think one has to be of the original Sherlock Holmes stories to understand and enjoy this film?
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Did you like the movie? Explain why or why not with specific reasons in at least a full paragraph.
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