It is not awful - just not for the purist.
I suspect that Johnny Lee Miller adapted his Sherlock after watching this film.
Watson is excellent as are the villains.
I have a complete collection of the original Strand magazines and am well aware of how many versions of Holmes do vary as do many of the plot lines. However, I feel that a little artistic licence can be allowed otherwise it would be like watching the Shakespearian society reciting Othello as against watching Orson Well's superb adaption.
One thing was missing though - Holmes' cocaine addiction, remembering that these drugs could be freely purchased in that era.
Overall worth a watch.
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