xparrot | regarding Sherlock Holmes (Reply)

The Holmes movie inspired me to go rereading certain key scenes (my collected edition is still packed away, so I've been trawling this site for links). There's a lot of little details in the movie that are from the canon but I'd forgotten them (Watson mentioning owning a bull pup in the first novel, and such.) RDJ's Holmes doesn't quite look the part, but his manic brilliance is perfect. And Jude Law's Watson is maybe a bit snarkier than the original, but I love him that way. Really the movie's total fanfic - good fanfic, taking the best bits of canon and running wild with them.

And, lest anyone regard the movie as excessively slashy, may I note for the record the canon's subtext. For example, take all these lines from a single story ("The Final Problem", possibly the original cliff-hanger?)

Watson on believing Holmes dead:

It was my intention to have stopped there, and to have said nothing of that event which has created a void in my life which the lapse of two years has done little to fill.

On Holmes & Watson's relationship, pre- and post-Watson's marriage (emphasis added):

It may be remembered that after my marriage, and my subsequent start in private practice, the very intimate relations which had existed between Holmes and myself became to some extent modified.

(And then Holmes calls Moriarty "the Napoleon of crime", which first made me think Solo, and really, what does he have to worry about? Now, if it were Illya...)

And then Holmes invites Watson on a vacation - "It would be a great pleasure to me, therefore, if you could come on to the Continent with me." - well, okay, it's to pursue/escape Moriarty, but Watson cheerfully agrees to come along, never mind that he's married and has a medical practice to run.

Then there's this:

"Have you seen the morning paper, Watson?"

"No."

"You haven't seen about Baker Street, then?"

"Baker Street?"

"They set fire to our rooms last night. No great harm was done."

Note the "our rooms" - even though Watson's been moved out for over a year.

Then Holmes's logic cannot prevail over Watson's loyalty:

"I think that you had better return to England, Watson."

"Why?"

"Because you will find me a dangerous companion now. This man's occupation is gone. He is lost if he returns to London. If I read his character right he will devote his whole energies to revenging himself upon me. He said as much in our short interview, and I fancy that he meant it. I should certainly recommend you to return to your practice."

It was hardly an appeal to be successful with one who was an old campaigner as well as an old friend. We sat in the Strasbourg salle-a-manger arguing the question for half an hour, but the same night we had resumed our journey and were well on our way to Geneva.

Then they have a charming vacation together!

For a charming week we wandered up the valley of the Rhone, and then, branching off at Leuk, we made our way over the Gemmi Pass, still deep in snow, and so, by way of Interlaken, to Meiringen. It was a lovely trip, the dainty green of the spring below, the virgin white of the winter above; but it was clear to me that never for one instant did Holmes forget the shadow which lay across him.

Then there's the end, when Watson deduces Holmes's final moments (after "a minute or two to collect myself, for I was dazed with the horror of the thing.") and Holmes's final letter concerning his satisfaction at being able to take out Moriarty, with only one regret:

I am pleased to think that I shall be able to free society from any further effects of his presence, though I fear that it is at a cost which will give pain to my friends, and especially, my dear Watson, to you.

And then Watson concludes his account of Holmes, "whom I shall ever regard as the best and the wisest man whom I have ever known."

...I swear that I once came across an online compilation of all the slashy quotes in the Holmes canon, but have had no luck finding it...