Sherlock Holmes and the Shadow Watchers

The audience gets to see the murder of a young woman by a man, while people dressed in black cloaks and masks -- looking a good deal like the ghost in Spirited Away -- watch. Soon, Inspector Lestrade, sporting an accent that varies over the shop, shows up at the home of Sherlock Holmes, as portrayed by the film's writer and director, Anthony D. P. Mann. They have a newspaper reporter in custody because his paper published his story on the murder before it took place. Of course, he refuses to reveal his sources.

'Amateurish' is the first word that springs to mind in describing this movie. The second is 'inept' and the third is 'awful.' None of the performers, with the exception of Terry Wade as Watson, can speak more than two words at a time without pausing. Few of them have appeared in any movies save Mann's productions.

Every once in a while, someone shows up with enough money to produce a movie, but with no talent. Here's an example of that.

Oh my god indeed you predictable church members! Sadly the director cast a weird ensemble of hits and misses. However crime of high darkness was casting someone similar to an Irish nearly made it ex boy band member as the key reality character Inspector. Long scruff hair and sweetly high pitch voice asks too much for suspension of disbelief that this leprechaun could ever get to pound around Scotland Yard. Grated. Script holes as big as Sherlock's magnifying glass and tedious sound imbalance makes the good as dribbled out treat. Just no my dear Watson.

Particularly wooden acting, continuity rife with errors, not worth your time. There are so many other Sherlock Holmes movies why would you sit thru this one?

I purchased a copy of this DVD because I am an avid collector of all things pertaining to Sherlock Holmes; that includes the good and the bad. In reading the reviews for this film, I was expecting bad. I was much relieved to find what I'd purchased was a delightful 70 minutes of simple fun. Sure, the acting isn't completely professional, there are problems with the script, and the solution relies on an accidental discovery rather than Holmes's keen observation. However, you can tell everyone involved in this little production is having a ball. According to the director's comments this film only cost $3500 to produce. That is amazing considering what they were able to do to stretch each penny. The interior Baker Street set is a delight (just look at all the little details), the crew found cobblestone streets and a makeshift jail cell for some other locations. The costumes and outdoor scenes seem to give the impression that London is a small hamlet rather than a bustling city, but it's forgivable considering this is pretty much a fan film. I've seen the Robert Downey Jr. films. I liked the first one very much and have watched it a number of times, but that second one was so nonsensical as to make it nearly unwatchable. I saw it in theaters and bought the DVD (as I said, good AND bad) but I have yet been able to sit through it a second time. I know that SHADOW WATCHERS will be seen again and again over the years. According to the DVD a sequel is planned. I will be a customer for that film as well. Good job overall. Fun for most Sherlock fans as long as you don't take yourselves too seriously.

Credit Must be Given to Aspiring "Artists" that Despite All Odds Accomplish at Least a "Finished" Creation that will, No Doubt be "Sling-ed and Arrow-ed" to Death with Unkind, Sadistic Critics that will Give No Quarter.

This Could be Called a "Fan-Effort", and what can be Gleaned from the Limited Background to this 1-HR Entry in the Still Growing Fascination and Work with Conan Doyle's "Consulting Detective",

it was Made by, Writer, Producer, Director, an Leading "Mann",

Anthony D. P. Mann (should look to his Namesake for inspiration), Cobbled this Together with Friends and Willing Participants for $3,500.

Few "Professionals" were Involved, Making this "Amature-Hour", but Not Without some "Labor of Love" Appearing and Apparent in the Effort.

Taken with a "Context-is-Everything" Attitude, this can be an Instructive Effort for Film-Fans, Despite the Lack of Polish and Professionalism on Screen.

Did Someone Say "Primitive Art?".