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Warner Brothers has released to official stills from director Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes adaptation.  The photo above features Robert Downey Jr as Sherlock, alongside his trusted colleague Dr. Watson, played by Jude Law. The photo below features a bloodied, shirtless Holmes in some king of fighting arena.

Anthony Peckham’s script is based on a mixture of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic tales and the upcoming Lionel Wigram comic book adaptation which presents a more spry version of the famous detective.

Based on these photos, I’m glad they’ve gone with a more faithful rendition of Dr. Watson, who is described as being quite athletic - a former rugby player that doctor was.  Law hasn’t really done any acting in the last few years, in that he’s appeared in movies for sure but he’s never left much of an impression in any of them.  A far cry from his early career when he was a character actor and chewing scenery like cud.

The second thing I notice, is that Guy Ritchie intends to return Holmes to his roots as a bare knuckle boxer and hopefully, a drug addict.  In the Arthur Conan Doyle stories, Holmes was addicted to heroin and opium.  Physical RDJ isn’t a good match for Sherlock Holmes, who is described as “long, thin, aquiline, clean-cut” and “gentleman Holmes is too boring.”  But obviously, Downey Jr. is an exceptional actor, so it’s tough to critique the choice without looking like a namby pamby.

Thanks Jude Law, who while promoting something in Afghanistan asked that all fighting parties lay down their weapons for a day.? Just in case anyone is reading in Afghanistan from a remote mountain cave location, Law is hoping you’ll cease fire on Sept. 21.? And no, this isn’t a headline or article from The Onion but it might as well be right?? Seriously, Jude Law, stop acting like Angie Jolie.? It’s bad enough she’s decided to become the Earth Mother; it’s worse when people like you and Madonna all want to steal her thunder.? [Reuters]

Sleuth (1972) is the greatest mystery movie ever filmed, and they are about to come out with a remake. In 1972, there was a perfect storm of magnificent talent that came together to film a little play. The playwright became a screenwriter, the incredible Joseph L. Mankiewicz (The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, All About Eve) was set to direct, and arguably the two best actors of their generations, Michael Caine and Sir Laurence Olivier came together to give an acting clinic for the ages.

It was a truly amazing screenplay, with layers and layers of subtext, great twists and surprises, all beautifully realized by Caine and Olivier in a two-person tour de force. (An overused phrase, but no other description suffices.)

So who in their right mind would want to remake such a classic? Well, hold on to your seats, folks. Actor/director Kenneth Branagh (Hamlet, Frankenstein) is helming the project. Famed playwright, Nobel Laureate for Literature and screenwriter (French Lieutenant’s Woman), Harold Pinter has written the screenplay. And Michael Caine is playing the Olivier role in the remake, opposite Jude Law.

Remakes in general, make me pretty leery. I actually get ill listening to Michael Bolton singing Ray Charles’ ?Georgia?. But Ocean’s 11 and The Italian Job showed that remakes can sometimes be better than the original. I don’t believe there is any danger of that happening here, but it certainly looks worth a look.

Do yourself a favor, though, and see the ‘72 version. Unfortunately, the executive brain trust at the studio is not releasing a special DVD edition to coincide with the new release (What is WRONG with you people?). But do some sleuthing of your own and find it at your local video store.

Sleuth 2007 trailer

Sleuth 1972 trailer

Sleuth 2007 comes out in limited release this Friday, Oct. 12.