The genius of Conan Doyle

Advantages: A classic Holmes story
Disadvantages: Very theatrical style to it

...In the world of Sherlock Holmes there are two very well known screen portrayals of Conan Doyle?s immortal detective. Jeremy Brett on the TV screen in the 80?s and 90?s and Basil Rathbone on the cinema screen in the 40?s. There have been many other versions of the character in both formats but most of them are lesser versions, unable to match the style and quality of these two. Before even Rathbone played Holmes though there was a British series of Holmes films starring one Arthur Wontner. The Sign of Four was made in 1932 and is one of five Holmes films made in the thirties starring Wontner. One of these is lost forever, a second is rarely seen but the other three are all available on DVD very cheaply. My copies came from the much lamented Murder One shop in central London, a shop that sadly vanished very recently from its location...

Ailran 23.10.2009 · Read review
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Review of The Sign of the Four (DVD)

Conan the repeater

Advantages: It can be quite funny (without intent) in places
Disadvantages: Too much of the original movie is reused

...This must have been filmed very quickly after the first film. Both Grace Jones and Arnold have got almost nothing to say, the lines seem to have been passed to those who could speak them more clearly. Despite being a sequal theres no real continuity with the first movie other than its still Arnold playing Conan and that clearly a little bit of time has passed since the end of the first movie. Basically the plot is this:- Conan doing a favour to try & retrieve a magical gem and get his lover brought back to life which devolves into a rescue movie as only 1 person can touch the gem and Conan has to get her back from the evil wizard who actually has the magical gem they've gone to steal which is rather handy as it kills 2 birds with 1 stone. The film recycles music from the original (the stuff used during the snake cult which is reused...

atytyut2434 12.06.2009 · Read review
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Review of Conan The Destroyer (DVD)

"There are heroisms all round us." Don't let them be lost forever

Advantages: A great classic book
Disadvantages: A little dated with some PC matters, but well worth reading.

... THE LOST WORLD SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE "For a fairyland it was - the most wonderful that the imagination of man could conceive. The thick vegetation met overhead, interlacing into a natural pergola, and through this tunnel of verdure in a golden twilight flowed the green, pellucid river? That is an example of the lovely writing and descriptions that we are treated to in the lovely little book. I do think that it is a shame that in today?s literary world of chick-lits, vampire books, thrillers and horror stories, good old fashioned ?classics? like ?The Lost World? by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle are completely overlooked. I hope that with this review I might be able to tempt at least a couple of people to read this book as I?m sure that when you do, you?ll love it. Released in 1912 it is like a Victorian...

oldchem 24.09.2009 · Read review
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Review of The Lost World - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

The mystery of the sinister steps

Advantages: No football colours. Mixed crowd. Cafferys.
Disadvantages: A bit small. Can be crowded. Sinister Steps. TV.

...The frost was thick on the ground, I was wandering down an absolutely freezing York Place at about dinner time and I was thinking. Wait around in the cold for a crowded bus, risk getting to my friends’ home too soon and hang around there as well and risk freezing? I tried to distract myself with other thoughts. What shall I try and tempt the readers at Ciao with next? The better distraction came in the form of the cosy looking pub on the corner of the street. Have a pint in the warmth, maybe a bite to eat, catch the later bus and arrive at a time when my friends were sure to be at home. So, I walked into the reading room of Conan Doyle. No football colours. I guess he wasn’t a sports fan, either that or the location of the pub – not very far away from where Hibs play and not that far away from Hearts play - has...

Manx 17.01.2001 (18.01.2001) · Read review
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Review of The Conan Doyle

A Study In Scarlet

Advantages: Incredibly addictive read. Interesting story and characters
Disadvantages: If not pre-warned about it the second part could seem WEIRD!

...THE very first novel of Arthur Conan Doyle to introduce, back in 1887, the character of Sherlock Holmes, destined to become the most famous fictional detective of history. Surely many of you have read this book already, perhaps some of you have never read Sherlock Holmes at all... well it's never too late. I just started reading Doyle few months ago and I already love it! ---------------------------------Teaser Plot--------------------------------- I don't want to say too much about the plot but enough to interest those who haven't read this book just yet: So, it's London 1881, John Watson, a medical doctor, is just back from the Afghan War, where he served as a field doctor, with a wounded shoulder (wound that in later stories will move to the leg but we forgive Doyle for this little mistake) and is looking for a decent...

EVIT 08.10.2008 · Read review
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Review of A Study in Scarlet - Arthur Conan Doyle

Sherlock Holmes --The Sign of Four--

Advantages: Great story, highly entertaining
Disadvantages: none

... THE SIGN OF FOUR by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle INTRO Sherlock Holmes and Watson are back in this second novel of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle who, after the incredible success of the previous (A Study In Scarlet) where the famous detective was first introduced to the public, was commissioned to write a second one which I am reviewing just now. PLOT AND REVIEW The story starts again from where we left, 221b BAKER STREET where a bored Holmes is fighting depression with the use of cocaine, awaiting a new case which would take his incredible mind back in use again and wearing his caring friend Dr. Watson's patience thin with his drugs usage. Watson is seriously concerned for his flatmate's health. Luckly enough a case soon arrives! A pretty young lady come knocking at 221b Baker Street seeking for help in...

EVIT 27.11.2008 · Read review
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Review of The Sign of the Four - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

Advantages: fast pace stories, lots of action and romance
Disadvantages: none

... The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle INTRO The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is a collection of twelve stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, featuring his famous detective. It follows the novel "The Sign of Four" (which I already reviewed) and it is the first work on Holmes which has been written in the form of short stories. From what I could gather online, I can tell you that they were originally published as single stories in the Strand Magazine from July 1891 to June 1892. The book was published in England on October 14, 1892 by George Newnes Ltd and in a US Edition on October 15 by Harper. The initial combined print run was 14,500 copies. The book was banned in the Soviet Union in 1929 for occultism, although the book shows few to no signs of such material. Later, the embargo was lifted...

EVIT 01.12.2008 · Read review
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Review of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Arthur Conan Doyle

Arnie's breakthrough as Conan

Advantages: Great atmosphere throughout the film
Disadvantages: Quite simple, not a lot of dialogue from the star

...In 1982, internationally celebrated strongman and bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger burst onto the big screen with his portrayal as the title role in Conan The Barbarian, a film directed by John Milius. Arnie, as he has become better known, had appeared in a few films already, but this is considered to be his breakthrough film. The Plot As a child, Conan witnesses the vicious killings of his family and clansmen at the hands of a vicious warlord who is controlling of his people and of all the land, Thulsa Doom. Years later, following a childhood of slavery, Conan finds himself as a champion gladiator, and sets his life to finding Doom and exacting his revenge. He teams up with Valeria and Subotai, two thieves, in taking on Doom, his lieutenants and his fearsome warriors, the Vanir, with the blessing and aid of King Osric...

pmcds 07.06.2008 · Read review
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Review of Conan The Barbarian (Special Edition) (DVD)

Conan goes on the hunt again

Advantages: Great scenery, Arnie's English improves slightly
Disadvantages: Lacks the brutal punch of Conan

...Following the success of Conan the Barbarian in 1982, 1984 saw the sequel, Conan the Destroyer, with Arnold Schwarzenegger once again taking the lead role. The film was toned down a little to attract wider and younger audiences than Barbarian did, and it was released in the same year as Terminator, which is perhaps Arnie's most famous role. The Plot Queen taramis summons legendary fighter Conan to her in order to send him to retrieve a special gem and a magic horn that will give life back to the God Dagoth. Conan leads a band of adventurers on the quest, and encounters his old friend Akiro the wizard as well as some other friends and foes. Wondering whether the rebirth of Dagoth is a good idea or not, his troop put their lives ont he line for their quest, for in return, Taramis has promised to resurrect Conan's dead lover, Valeria...

pmcds 09.06.2008 · Read review
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Review of Conan The Destroyer (DVD)

Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World

Advantages: Good acting, great story
Disadvantages: Some violence

...The other "Lost World" category featured pics of the Bob Hoskins BBC drama but was full of Jurassic Park 2 reviews so I've added this review here. This great BBC adaptation of Conan Doyle's famous novel was on TV over Christmas 2001 and the DVD and video were released about six months later. The basic story is that it's the early 1900s and academic Professor George Challenger (Bob Hoskins) believes there is a "lost world" where dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures still roam, even though they died out 65 million years ago. He leaves his museum in London and goes to the rainforests of South America in search of this mythical land. He takes sceptical rival academic Professor Leo Summerlee (James Fox) with him as well as hunter Lord Roxton who funds the trip(Tom Ward) and journalist Edward Malone (Matthew Rhys). They follow...

Mel27 10.09.2005 · Read review
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Review of The Lost World (DVD)