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 enlarge | Director: David Attwood
Actors: Richard Roxburgh, Ian Hart, Richard E. Grant, Matt Day, John Nettles (ii)
Studio: BBC Warner
Category: DVD
List Price: $19.98
Buy New: $13.50
You Save: $6.48 (32%)
New (22) Used (8) from $10.97
Avg. Customer Rating:  63 reviews
Sales Rank: 14161
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dvd-video, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 100
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: DE1731E
ISBN: 0790774208
UPC: 794051173126
EAN: 9780790774206
ASIN: B0000797E7
Theatrical Release Date: January 19, 2003
Release Date: January 21, 2003
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: BRAND NEW, Factory Sealed items direct from the Studios. 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee. Quick International Airmail!
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| Customer Reviews:
 UNUSUAL INTERPRETATION OF HOLMES AND WATSON July 14, 2003
1 out of 4 found this review helpful
Arthur Conan Doyle, MD, had a lot of spare time on his hands between patients. To fill the empty hours, he created Sherlock Holmes. He based Holmes on medical professor Dr. Joseph Bell, known for his awesome powers of deductive reasoning. Sherlock and Holmes were the names of two of his favorite cricket players. Sherlock Holmes is the most famous of all Victorian literary creations. Mail still arrives at 221B Baker Street seeking his help.
There are 10 films based on THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES. This striking Masterpiece Theater version about the strange executioner hounds that kill Baskerville family members takes a few liberties from Doyle's text but captures the intensity of the terrifying tale. I'm not a Holmes fanatic or purist and was totally engaged by this production, even though I was familiar with the basic plot. Also, I was thoroughly entetained by the interesting and somewhat unexpected interpretations of Holmes and Watson. And, unlike other reviewers who may be a bit picky, the CGI hound is not so glaringly bad that it takes you out of the story, in fact, quite the contrary.
I recommend this nice-looking DVD transfer of a great mystery with unexpected twists and a scary climax.
Excellent adaptation July 11, 2003
22 out of 28 found this review helpful
This is one of the best adaptations of the famous Conan Doyle Sherlock Holmes book. It does take numerous liberties with the text but it's a handsomely mounted production featuring an excellent cast. Ian Hart is great as a more lively than usual Watson. Richard Roxburgh wouldn't have been my first choice as Holmes (co-star Richard E.Grant would have been my pick), but he does a fine job. The direction, costumes, lighting, special effects and excellent location work combine to make for a great looking production. The DVD itself is well worth purchasing. The widescreen transfer and audio are excellent, and the various interviews and 'making of' feature are informative. I mark this down one star because of the scriptwriter choosing to include Holmes' drug use. It doesn't add anything to the story and I assume that it was only added to be controversial. Holmes did not use drugs during a case...the character only succumbed to the needle to relieve his boredom between cases, and I don't recall his drug use being part of the original novel. At least we get to see Watson's disgust with Holmes' habit, but it doesn't excuse including it in this adaptation.
 I'm sorry I watched it May 19, 2003
5 out of 7 found this review helpful
This is an unsatifying version of Hound. First, Richard Roxburgh is a fine actor but he's no Sherlock Holmes. His version of the great detective is a cold man who doesn't really care about Sir Henry at all. He's only in it for the thrill of the chase and almost gets the baronet killed. Watson's portrayal wasn't bad. The "real" Dr. Watson of the books was no fool but the chemistry between the actors just wasn't there. The Watson of this movie found Holmes to be a maddening companion.
The villain was quite good but the hound was a terrible mistake. They should've used a real animal. This computer animated creature looked like it cost five dollars to create it.
Bottom line: rent this movie or catch on PBS. Don't waste your money buying it.
 Ripoff May 11, 2003
3 out of 10 found this review helpful
There have been many versions of "The Hound" since it was first filmed in Germany in 1914. This isn't the worst but it's certainly the sleaziest, since it takes Ernest Pascal's screenplay for the 1939 version and merely "updates" it with dreadful dialogue. Fresh? Thrilling? Fuhgeddaboutit. Richard Roxburgh is a dull, unconvincing Holmes, and Ian Hart is a laughably bad Dr. Watson -- he plays him "tough," but like George W. Bush strutting around in a flight suit, it's not exactly convincing. By the time the Hound, a CGI relative of Scooby Doo, shows up, you'll be lunging for the remote.
Pretty disappointing to be honest. April 16, 2003
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
After so many re-makes, I can't blame the makers of this film for wanting to try adding new twists to the Conan Doyle storyline. What I do blame them for, however, is casting a Holmes who is a complete nonentity, totally lacks any kind of on-screen presence. And do they think scenes of him beating up cabbies and shooting up somehow excuse those flaws? Holmes took drugs, yes, but only to relieve boredom when he wasn't working on a case. Henry also lacks character, it has to be said, just comes across as a stereotype rude American. Thankfully the intelligent Watson and scheming Stapleton are much better. The film has some genuinely good scenes, and the hound is a truly disturbing creation. Overall, this is worth seeing if you're a fan of the story, but I'd recommend searching for the far superior Richardson and Cushing versions.
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