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[JohnIan101]

Past Tense - Beloved Literature Gets A Modern Facelift Part I


Time to dispense hyper judo chops - Victorian style in the reimagined "Sherlock Holmes"...



The motion picture opened on December 25th, 2009. It was made with a budget of $90,000,000 (estimated) and grossed over $209 million during its U.S. theatrical run. The film opened number two at the box office, the following week it kept its ranking.

The feature opened against "Avatar", "Alvin And The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel", "The Princess And The Frog" and "The Blind Side".

No slipcover nor insert.

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Single exclusive (times two) from Target; streeted on March 30th, 2010.



They sold the DVD with an exclusive slipcover and limited edition mini comic book (only 30,000 made).

Well, not so much a comic book as it is a reproduction of film producer Lionel Wigram's studio pitch in graphic form.

The back of the slipcover mirrors the back of the wraparound.



Slipcover was not embossed or foiled. The comic "Reinventing Sherlock Holmes" has a glossy cover and is fifty-four pages. This set sold for $22.99. The visual treatment was written by Wigram with artwork by John Watkiss.

Comic came under the slipcover - too big to fit inside the case, that's how it remains in my collection.

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Footnotes.

Lets do this; three pages from the treatment - characters (you're welcome)...



A creative idea, instead of giving a screenplay or scriptment, a comic book was created to sell the movie to the studios. Don't make them read 100 plus pages or have them give it to someone else to read for them. An easy, quick way to get your point across.

I'll admit it's a bit sad, but to play devil's advocate; do you have any idea how many scripts come across their desks on any given day? You need to stand out to get noticed.

Anyhow, it was Warner Brothers who bit - in case you didn't know.

The 2009 motion picture was written by Michael Robert Johnson, Anthony Peckham and Simon Kinberg (based on a story by Wigram and Johnson), directed by Guy Ritchie.

The studio pitch was based on an much earlier version of the film. The made movie bares little resemblance to the proto-tale. In fact, it was heavy on the supernatural.

Plot?

You asked...

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Unmade yarn centers on the disappearance of Crown Princess Alexa of Germany - in England for a visit. Ask to participate during a stage magic show (in the audience); made to disappear in a box. But Alexa does not reappear to the magician's shock - only her hat rematerializes. Search begins.

Days later, Inspector Lestrade of Scotland Yard appears at the sleuth's home asking for help, difficult case. The man is bored - in between jobs takes up the cause.

Holmes' investigation takes him to a masquerade ball thrown by General Lord Blackwood. While snooping he runs into foe/lover/bad girl, Irene Adler. She is on the dime, hired by the Russians who are looking for stolen property - taken from Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin himself.

The object is the "Talisman Of Saliphas". Before they can get acquainted - interrupted. Adler flees.

Watson did his own probe; if believed, Saliphas pre-dates known civilization by at least 1000 years. An object of allege dark properties; who gives a human sacrifice to the jewelry can conjure a demon who will bestow to the owner, powers; influence and invincibility/luck. Previous owners include Alexander The Great, Genghis Khan, the last reported holder was Napoleon - lost the talisman at the Battle of Waterloo.

Demon ceremony can only be performed every seventy-four years, aligning with the fly by of Halley's Comet. The celestial is coming next week.

Holmes dismisses as rubbish, but believes fanatics may sacrifice the princess for believed glories. Later that night, Holmes has an uninvited guest, Lord Blackwood. He hypnotizes Sherlock and shows what will befall him if he doesn't get that artifact (and give it to him) - disturbing images. Blackwood snaps his fingers, Holmes is alone once more in his home.

Blackwood has great mental prowess, but Holmes remained conscience during the persuasion - impaling himself in the palm with a pocket knife, pain kept him focused. The General does not know his influence didn't hold. The important question - who has the Saliphas?

...Irene Adler.

Holmes finds the dubious woman, they bicker then fight (punching and martial arts); once over, reveals she did her job and gave it to the Russians, who have left for St. Petersburg. Time is running out for Princess Alexa. Don't have time to worry about Irene; Holmes and Watson hold her in handcuffs - the trio dash to Russia on a steamer.

Once in St. Petersburg - new problem, the artifact is around Rasputin's neck. Force to trust the woman, Irene sneak into the esoteric's room and tires to lift the necklace from the soothsayer. She is caught in mid-grab by the mystic, a fight occurs as the trio escape from Rasputin's guards.

They manage a getaway, the girl is indeed naughty, took the talisman.

Back in London they are ambushed by Blackwood; leaving Dr. Watson and Holmes in certain death - taking Ms. Adler.

If one sacrifice will bring the demon to him, imagine what TWO will accomplish. Nearly getting killed, the men break free and now Holmes has an invested stake in the case - death of his would-be girlfriend; has to deduce where the ceremony will take place (hours away).

We discover that Lord Blackwood is a practicer of the dark arts which is why he was successful in his various campaigns - becoming General.

The end game?

Blackwood plans to use Alexa's death to provoke a war with Germany. He will lead British troops to victories; beyond just Germany - an excuse to conquer Europe. And turning his armies against England, become the next Emperor. With the talisman he WILL succeed.

In Sherlock fashion, the shamus connects various random seemingly unconnected clues to located the rite.

But they arrive too late!

Blood has been spilled. TRUTH, not rubbish - a monstrous demon does emerges from the Saliphas.

In that moment both men are in shock, watching in horror as Blackwood prepares to give the princess a death blow from his dagger. The day is saved not by the duo, but by Rasputin's men who had been following Holmes. A gun battle happens between the armed groups.

In the melee, our heroes free Alexa and Irene who were nearly eaten by the conjured beast. Without the ladies, someone has to fill the void - it becomes Blackwood himself, consumed. The general's and Russian men are terrified by the unholy sight and flee screaming. With no master, the demon goes back into the talisman - powers nullified.

Holmes has a rude awaking and concedes that magik, though rare does in fact exist. There is abominable power in that object, must be kept secret. The artifact is hidden/locked inside the Tower Of London. Alexa is returned to her people; war averted.

Holmes and Ms. Adler part - their paths will cross again.

The end.

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Wigram's scriptment reminds me of the 1980s paperback by Martin Caidin.

"The Messiah Stone" (407 pages; cover art by David Mattingly). Published from Baen Books (ISBN 0671655620) on April 1st, 1986; $3.95.

The quest was centered on gun-for-hire searching for a mythical object...

Doug Stavers plays the mercenary game, and every time he plays he wins: in Africa, Central America, Vietnam or in the USA. Now he's on the biggest hunt of his life: to find and seize a certain object that, incredibly, confers the power of absolute belief on its owner. Christ once wore it. So did Mohammed. The last to own it was Adolf Hitler. The next will rule the world. It's code name is "The Messiah Stone"

- back cover

The object did not require a blood sacrifice nor conjured a demon. It was the first of two books on Stavers' exploits.

Man, that studio pitch has the same feeling as another period novel, "The List Of 7" (1993, published by William Morrow) by Mark Frost. For X-Geners fanboys, the name Frost is known; he's the co-creator of ABC's "Twin Peaks". That dude.

I have to...

The book (368 pages) is a roundabout Sherlock Holmes story.

The year is 1884.

Young doctor, unpublished writer, Arthur Conan Doyle meets the fellow who becomes the inspiration for his famous character. Jack Sparks is spy for her Majesty, uncovering a threat to the royals - grisly murders. Quest for answers crosses path with Doyle - witnessed two murders at a seance; Doyle can aid him.

Yup, he is Watson.

They find a supernatural connection that could lead to the end of the Crown; satanists/occult, the undead, femme fatales, insane aristocrats and an evil genius pulling the strings, Maximilian Graves - original James Moriarty.