The Art of Deduction.

BBC’s Sherlock is a very exciting and mind boggling show. It visually shows you a lot (the text messages, what sherlock deduces, etc...) and it also forces you, the viewer, to deduce things on your own, by leaving out small pieces of information which are only revealed as the show progresses.

The first season of Sherlock introduces the main characters, John Watson and Sherlock Holmes himself, along with many other, loveable, side characters, (Detective Lestrade, Mrs. Hudson, etc...). In the first episode, John Watson meets Sherlock Holmes and the two of them become “flatmates”. During the season we see how John gets caught up in solving murders and other cases that Sherlock takes on and you watch their friendship develop. Mrs. Hudson is also introduced within the first episode. She is carried on through the entire season and is the owner of the flat that Sherlock and John rent. Mrs. Hudson is sweet, funny and acts like a grandmother to John and Sherlock. Finally, Lestrade the Detective Inspector is the person who brings seemingly unsolvable cases to Sherlock. He and Sherlock have known each other for quite some time and Lestrade always turns to Sherlock in times of need, despite what his rather irritating colleagues think.

The season has three, one and a half hour episodes and in each episode is a new case. Throughout the season you learn that there is one single mastermind behind all the crimes that Sherlock gets involved in.

The story lines are known to those who have read the Sherlock Holmes books, but people who are unfamiliar with the story will be surprised at every turn. Actors Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock Holmes) and Martin Freeman (John Watson) do a fantastic job of playing the roles that they were given, along with the many other actors in the show. Benedict Cumberbatch does a beautiful job of speaking and acting like Sherlock through his intelligent and quick speech and his fluid motions. Martin Freeman does an amazing job portraying John Watson as the exact opposite of Sherlock: his motion and actions are stiff (as they have been drilled into him by the military), and he talks commonly, but professionally.

The music in Sherlock adds a scientific or adventurous feel. In times of action, the music is exciting and fun, whereas in scientific scenes or times of deduction the music is more serious and gives the viewer the same serious feelings as the other characters in the show.

The camera angles give the viewer a closer look at what Sherlock deduces and how he sees the different items or people. The zoom-ins on the particular clothing pieces or the science experiments throughout the show help to make the show more visually exciting to the viewers.

In my opinion Sherlock is a fantastic show. It is interesting and exciting for viewers of all kinds. whether you have read the Sherlock Holmes stories or not it is a show that I feel everybody will find a amazing show to watch.

My Opinion on Doctor Who.

Doctor Who is one of my favorite shows to watch. It is fun, thrilling and thought provoking.

My favorite episodes so far are the final two episodes with Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor. Those episodes in particular were action packed and full of suspense. 

The season with the Ninth Doctor (more commonly known now as Season 1 to new viewers) was full of great episodes, fun side characters and amazingly fearsome enemies. In my personal opinion, it is a must-see show for those who have not watched it.

There and Back again: A Hobbit Review

“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.” - J.R.R. Tolkien.

The movie The Hobbit, much like the book, opens with the explanation of a hobbit hole and the comfortable life that Hobbit’s lead in their lush, green Shire. The story follows the young hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, and his adventure with his thirteen dwarf companions and Gandalf the Grey (a wizard). Their adventure takes them to the great Lonely Mountain to defeat the evil dragon, Smaug and reclaim Erebor (home of the dwarves). The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is the first of a trilogy Directed by Peter Jackson.

Peter Jackson picked a very good cast to play their respective roles. Martin Freeman did an amazing job as Bilbo Baggins, from the cute squeaks to the frustrated anger. Martin plays his role perfectly. Richard Armitage plays the leader of the dwarves, Thorin Oakenshield. Thorin in the movie is different from the book (in the book Thorin is wise and likes to talk or ramble, in the movie he is a strong and serious leader). Despite the difference Richard Armitage did an amazing job playing the role of Thorin Oakenshield. Peter Jackson also brought back some old actors from the Lord of The Rings Trilogy such as Ian McKellen as Gandalf, and Elijah Wood as Frodo. Viewers can also expect to see Orlando Bloom reclaim his role as Legolas in the upcoming movie.

The music in the movie really helped the viewer to feel the same emotions as the characters and it always fit the desired mood. Such as, in the fight scenes the epic music that plays really helps the viewer to feel that it is a life-or-death situation. They also kept some of the songs that are present in the book, such as the two songs that the dwarves sing when they are at Bilbo’s home.

The movie follows the storyline of the book very closely with some added material from other Tolkien works. The extra bits make the story better by answering unaddressed questions that the book posed. It also makes the movie less predictable for the viewers who have read the book.

The stunning landscapes shown while the company is traveling really give the viewer a strong sense of how long and tiring the adventure truly is. Camera angles are also used to show the different heights of the characters. Since Gandalf is a wizard and of common human size, Peter Jackson used camera angles to make Gandalf look taller than all the other actors playing the dwarves and hobbit.

In my opinion the movie was fantastic, visually stunning, and the extra add-ins really made the movie more enjoyable and easier to understand. The team of actors that Jackson chose did an amazing job and the music was captivating. I also feel that the idea of making The Hobbit into a trilogy was a very good one. It gives the opportunity to answer unanswered questions from the book and it is also an interesting way to elaborate on The Battle of the Five Armies.

Introducing the Magic

The pilot episode of Merlin is visually beautiful, full of action and a ton of laughs. It introduces the  main characters, and it isn’t long before the show has you giggling at how the characters interact. For example, when Merlin first meets Prince Arthur, Merlin stands up to Arthur, who is bullying a pageboy. This scene is comical and believeable.

The episode uses good camera angles and beautiful scenery, with the view of the castle, the small villages and the vast forests and fields, giving the show a gorgeous and stunning visual effect. The costumes are amazing with their bright colours and authenticity. For example, the Lady Morgana (who is the ward of the King) wears beautiful, bright and very decorated dresses that are fit for a princess. In comparison, Gwen (who is a maid) who wears nice dress but certainly not a dress for a princess.

The fight choreography is realistic and fun. In this scene, Arthur wants to get back at Merlin for standing up to him. Arthur wants to make a fool of Merlin and gets Merlin worked up so that he will fight him. Merin, however, cannot fight with weapons and instead (secretly) uses his magic to move objects which makes the Prince, who has been “trained to kill since birth”, stumble around like a fool. On top of that, the fun music that plays during this scene makes the serious situation more comical.

Although it may take some time to get used to the magical element, Merlin is an amazing series and any fantasy fanatics will absolutely love this show. The people who love the stories of King Arthur and his knights will definitely enjoy this show.