originally plan a the first of a series and young sherlock holmes be a bit of a misfire at the box office . it cost $ 18 million and only gross about 20 per cent of it budget back . in the year since it release it have become a cult film for those who can appreciate it for the blockbuster it never be . i personally discover it on a christmas eve show on bbc in the late 80 . even then and i think it be great despite it be a darker christmas film than be use to . in a snowy and sinister december at the height of the victorian era and watson and a a teenager and be send to brompton and a private school in a fogbound london and when his old one be shut down due to lack of funding . upon arrival and he meet a violin play smart alec who deduct his character from his mere appearance . it the beginning of a life long friendship . holmes life on campus be rather cosy . he have a pretty girlfriend elizabeth ( sophie ward ) and her uncle and professor waxflatter and be a crackpot inventor of the doc brown variety who live in the school attic with all of his crazy invention . at first and watson and holmes have fun get up to mischief on campus but a series of bizarre suicide soon distract them . the local inspector lestrade be too lazy to do anything about it and leave them free to investigate . apparently the victim be all sane and happy men who seem to go suddenly mad with fear and hurl themselves to the near oncoming death . thing get personal when waxflatter suffer the same fate and stab himself in fit of madness . why be ordinary men go crazy . who be the mysterious black rob person hiding in the shadow . what dark secret be waxflatter hiding . all question to which holmes demand answer and he drag along the nervous watson and elizabeth a he scour all the dodgy area of wapping talk to load of cockney and people who call you govna . what they discover be an ancient blood oath and a huge conspiracy brewing in the spooky alleyway . in the 80 and chris columbus pen a string of imaginative movie from gremlin to the goony and later he direct the home alone film as well a bicentennial man ( yes and i like it ) and the first two harry potter . he one of those writer who can hide a surprising amount of darkness in a kid film and young sherlock be a fine example of his most sophisticated writing . with strong direction from barry levinson and enchant production value from steven spielberg there no denying that this movie look absolutely great . but it how it sound that will really impress you . bruce broughton a tragically under rat composer who have talent equal to john williams have be unfairly slum most of his career in tv movie . here and he deliver one of the most spellbinding and gothic score you have ever hear . there be dozen of theme and moment of real magic and evil menace and breathtaking action . if this film have be a hit it really would have become as famous a theme for jaw and indiana jones and harry potter . and speaking of harry potter and one can not deny that jk rowling be inspire by this film in many way when create her potter universe . i be not crude enough to list all the similarity in this review but let me just say that while there may not be anywhere near enough to call it plagiarism there sure be more than enough to call it a coincidence . watch the film and you will know what i mean . originally the critic dismiss young sherlock holmes a another effect fill spielberg fantasy and but that an unfair judgement . the visual effect ( really quite something for it time ) be essential to the story as well a be pioneer . you may not believe it but ysh be actually the first ever film to feature a fully cgi character ( a stain glass knight who come alive ) and create by pixar . future toy story director john lasseter be even one of the computer wizard who help bring it to life . unfortunately it lose it well deserve academy award to the inferior effect of cocoon . even 20 year on a sequel definitely need . chris columbus have state he be upset that a sequel never get off the ground and that the series never take off . he shouldn not sell himself short . of course it would need new actor but so many have put on the hat and coat of sherlock holmes that the role doesn not belong to just one man . there be still life in this spin off franchise . all it need be the right story and some of the magic that be miss from most kid film these day . and when i say kid film i should really play down the negative connotation of such a label . a one of the first pg 13 rat film and ysh have a bit of a savage edge and a hardness unfamiliar the condescending kid film of today . sir arthur would be proud . he may have felt indifferent towards his most famous creation and but if he be alive today he would have love this film . and it well and truly deserves positive . this surely one dvd you must get . the 1 . 78 represent1 anamorphic picture look great and the dolby 5 . 1 soundtrack sound good consider it have be remastered from plain old stereo . the only extra be a trailer .