This week’s DVD releases are adaptations or twists on classic stories, films, or television shows.
Mr Holmes
Mr Holmes is a twist on the tales of famous fictional detective Sherlock Holmes, and stars Sir Ian McKellan as an ageing Holmes. With his health and memory ailing, Holmes relies on the care of his housekeeper Mrs Munro (Laura Linney) as he attempts to rectify the embellished recounting of his last case by former partner John Watson. An interesting and original twist on the original character, Mr Holmes thinks about the other side of the Consulting Detective’s life, and the inevitable consequences of ageing.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E
This action/comedy/spy film is based on the 1964 television series of the same name, which was created by James Bondcreator Ian Fleming. Starring Armie Hammer and Henry Cavill as KGB and CIA operatives respectively, The Man from U.N.C.L.E sees the two agents team up with German Gaby Teller (Alicia Vikander) to stop the dastardly Nazi sympathiser Victoria Vinciguerra (Australia’s Elizabeth Debicki) from using Teller’s father’s technology to build a nuclear bomb. The Man from U.N.C.L.E is visually stunning, and an entertaining spy comedy. See The Iris reporter Carina Nilma’s review here: http://iris.theaureview.com/
Pan
Devised as a prequel of sorts to the classic J.M. Barrie story Peter Pan, Pan follows a young Peter (newcomer Levi Miller) as he finds himself kidnapped taken to Neverland by pirates. There he meets classic characters Captain Hook (Garrett Hedlund) and Tiger Lily (Rooney Mara) and tries to defeat dastardly pirate Blackbeard (Hugh Jackman). Despite a mediocre taking at the box office, Pan is an interesting take on a classic story and a good holiday watch.
———-
