Martin Powell (1)

Cuando un hombre alto, delgado y algo cargado de hombros que obedece al nombre de James Mortimer entra en el famoso apartamento del 221b de Baker Street con un manuscrito antiguo donde se da cuenta maldición de una antigua familia, se inicia una de las más emocionantes aventuras de Sherlock Holmes y de su inseparable Dr. Watson. Un enigmático crimen relacionado con un perro diabólico y sobrenatural, instrumento de la maldición que pesa sobre los Baskerville, los llevará a una mansión situada en los inhóspitos y desolados páramos de la región de Dartmoor, un escenario idóneo para esta novela que mezcla el misterio con el cuento de terror y en el que deberán resolver un caso rodeado de extraordinarias circunstancias.… (mais)

This was...awful.

Let's start with the least objectionable aspect: the art. At times, Seppo Makinen is capable of crafting finely detailed imagery that's quite beautiful. Unfortunately, that's only here and there on occasional panels. The rest of the time, he's producing overly-sketchy linework that's virtually indecipherable. There were times where I had to simply take it on faith that something was happening, because I couldn't make out the action through all the muddy artwork.

And Makinen also seems incapable of drawing any woman without their top almost falling off, and their nipples pushing mightily against the filmy fabric they're inevitably wearing. Not your standard Sherlock fare, to be sure.

And speaking of non-standard Sherlock fare, let's talk about Martin Powell's stories. Powell's an admitted fan of Sherlock, yet somehow manages to suck all the essential Sherlockness right out of the story, instead injecting scads of over-the-top supernatural plot devices that give Holmes literally nothing factual to work with.

He also turns Holmes into a yelling, panicking fool.

There is truly no redeeming features to these stories, and no reason for a devout Sherlock Holmes fan to seek them out.… (mais)

I watched the Joel Coen Macbeth movie with Denzel Washington, and since I was a bit dissatisfied by that adaptation, I thought I'd try another one right away to compare, and boy is this one so much worse.

I felt the Coen flick was too dominated by a director who wanted to let you know he was directing dammit!!! from the use of black-and-white stock to the super elongated shadows to the bizarre elevation of Macbeth's cousin Ross from minor messenger in the play to major character in the film. Meanwhile, Denzel's Macbeth was too withdrawn, reserved, and monotone for me.

But at least they didn't dumb down the material to the degree this adaptation does. Of course, the plot and language are simplified for an audience of children, but sheesh. I suppose it will serve to at least familiarize kids with the story so they are better prepared to tackle the original later in life, unless the pure cheesiness puts them off ever attempting that.

At least it made me feel a little better about the Coen film.… (mais)