Monday, January 21, 2013

SHERLOCK's Unaired pilot

Well. I just watched A Study in Pink; the un-aired version and well I've got to say, they made the right choice when they decided to re-film it again.

Sherlock appears to look much younger in appearance than in the canon episodes. His hair is a lighter shade of brown instead of black, less curly and slightly longer at the back, also. He wears jeans instead of slacks which makes him again, appear younger, almost amateur-like.

His personality, I would say is not as cold and calculating as the current Sherlock; doesn't speak as fast too. Sherlock was not expressed as well as compared to the revised episode. Here he seemed to be slightly sloppy, almost soft even. His cognitive skills were not shown as much as in the revised version where for example in the canon episode, Sherlock actually spoke aloud which route the taxi driver would take and what he would pass by or go through such as traffic lights and no entry roads.

I didn't quite like the cinematography used in the episode; a lot of medium close ups. I didn't get to see much of what was going on as compared to the canon episode 01, where a majority of the shots used were long shots. The medium close up shots kind of made me feel compressed and restricted. But, the extreme close ups of Benedict's eyes and other features of his face; oh I quite liked that.

Over all I loved the canon episode 01, and not quite so on the un-aired pilot. Though, it was a good head start on to the series as it helped to set the basic plot for the series, but the revised version definitely got the ball rolling.

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Behold, a new fandom in my routine life.

I've just recently entered the wonderful Sherlock fandom and I have to say, 'I have absolutely no regrets'. Well, except that I regretted entering it quite late (2 years late in fact). 

It was evening and I was on a train back to my hometown after completing my exam and submitting my assignments in university. Sherlock Holmes (the movie) had just started playing silently with subtitles on a small screen just a few seats in front of me. I already had my laptop out; thinking of watching a random movie on my hard drive to pass the two and a half hours journey home. Well, I didn't know Sherlock Holmes was playing at first; so there I was, trying to identify the movie. I sort of had a hunch it was Sherlock Holmes, but I wasn't sure as I had not seen it before. 

Anyway, the train was already moving through the city and making its way out of it. About twenty to half an hour into the journey, the train made a stop at one of the small towns and literally just stopped; with its engines switched off, and since the engine was turned off, the screen went black as well. I literally rolled my eyes as my entertainment was cut short and proceeded to take out my laptop again (I kept it as I was engrossed with the movie on the little screen). Then I remembered that a friend had so kindly transferred two seasons of BBC's SHERLOCK into my external hard drive while transferring other files. 




Hence, commenced my 'fangirling' for SHERLOCK. 'A Study in Pink' was a fantastic experience. I watched; awestruck, as Sherlock explained how he knew so much about John's life just from the way he walked, stood, talked, and his cell phone. It was brilliant, and from that point on, I knew, that I had to share it with my friends. I knew (just) a few who were Doctor Who fans and even less of SHERLOCK fans (I might not be sure. They may be hiding underground from society for all I know). 

I was a little disappointed when I found out that there were only three episodes per season; and there were only two seasons. I was devastated. I wanted more. And so I googled about the series and to my absolute glee; there was going to be a season three! I was ecstatic. 

Sherlock (Benedict Cumberbatch) and John (Martin Freeman)
I just finished season one by myself and had watched two episodes of season one with my dad (yes, he has succumbed to the intellectual, witty, awesomeness that is SHERLOCK as well) and I have to say, every episode is such an adventure. I've never had such a crazed fanatic over live drama series as I've only ever been engrossed over Japanese anime, so this is something completely new to me. I have tried warming up to Bigbang Theory and How I Met Your Mother, but all attempts had had me switching off the tele and going on to the internet instead. But SHERLOCK had retained my interest for the past three episodes and I am sure, it will; is going to continue for the next two seasons.

The wit and dry humour isn't the only thing I looked forward to when watching the show, Benedict Cumberbatch has proven to be [almost] perfect for the role of Sherlock. He has that crazed, eccentricity that radiates off of him when he solves a case, and that; in my opinion pulls the audience deeper into the fandom. Of course, how can one not adore his profile?




However, many would beg to differ on my opinion of Benedict. Some would say he's not all that great, or that good looking but who cares? He's fantastic!