screenwriter chris columbus do a good job of explain the character of sir arthur conan doyle fictional hero . why do he become a professional private detective . he be a great student and love to solve mystery even while in school . why do he never get marry . because he lose great first love and kill by his arch enemy . why do he always wear that ridiculous cloak and hat . they be trophy take from his arch enemy and professor moriarty . well and this be certainly more exciting and fun than that other ride on movie on the great detective and the seven percent solution a dour and put down treatment of holmes . this one be more to my taste with a handsome and crafty villain and a murderous secret organization with bloody rite and a pretty love interest and a climactic fencing duel . a with all prequels write by another author and however and some of the detail of the new story do not always fit seamlessly with the old . in conan doyle original and dr. watson make it clear that he be meet holmes in london for the first time after retire from service a a surgeon in the indian army ( imperial british military during the raj ) . but in this movie and it be allege that they be boyhood chum in grammar school .