Although Guy Ritchie’s movies and shows can, at times, be hit or miss, his signature style of storyline with sharp dialogue, British humor, and quick-paced cuts never fails to leave audiences entertained. Owing to his ability to keep viewers gripped, Ritchie has been getting myriad opportunities on the big and small screens. His most recent addition to the small screen, Young Sherlock, has also been able to get him some impressive critical ratings.
After watching his Young Sherlock series on Prime Video, it is hard not to see how it makes up for his failed adaptation from almost a decade ago.
Young Sherlock’s Critical Success Is A Big Win For Guy Ritchie After 2017’s King Arthur
Considering the number of times Sherlock Holmes has been adapted for the big and small screens, it would be fair to say that its on-screen legacy matches that of other endlessly adapted classic stories of figures like King Arthur and Robin Hood. Unlike King Arthur and Robin Hood, however, Sherlock Holmes adaptations have rarely suffered from audience fatigue.
The fact that Guy Ritchie’s Young Sherlock series on Prime Video also boasts a “Certified Fresh” Rotten Tomatoes score of 82% proves this.
Interestingly, long before Young Sherlock, Guy Ritchie also tried his hand at delivering his take on the Legend of King Arthur. His 2017 movie, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, had a promising cast, including Charlie Hunnam, Eric Bana, Jude Law, and Djimon Hounsou, among others. The movie also had a massive budget of $175 million and could potentially launch an ambitious cinematic universe centered on Arthurian lore.
Despite having a lot going in its favor, though, the film stuggled at the box office and became another failed adaptation of the British legend. After earning a 31% score on Rotten Tomatoes and making a little over $148 million at the box office, the film proved that some classic stories are incredibly difficult to reinvent for modern audiences.
To some degree, Sherlock Holmes, too, is being affected by the same level of adaptation fatigue. However, Guy Ritchie manages to give it a whole new spin in Prime Video’s Young Sherlock by reimagining the iconic detective’s early years as a fun coming-of-age story.
By bringing new life to Sherlock’s vast lore and delivering a widely loved adaptation, the director has seemingly redeemed himself from everything that went wrong with King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.
Guy Ritchie’s King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword Is Arguably Underrated
In hindsight, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword is not half as bad as its underwhelming critical reception initially suggested. From its early chapters, the film puts Guy Ritchie’s signature visual flair and fast-paced storytelling on full display by walking audiences through the titular character’s childhood.
It features a compelling sequence in which Arthur grows up on the streets after his father’s death, quickly learning how to survive through grit, street fights, and cunning schemes. This perfectly paves the way for his unlikely rise from an orphaned boy to a legendary ruler.
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword was supposed to be the first installment of a six-part movie series. However, its sequels were scrapped after its box office failure.
Both Charlie Hunnam and Jude Law also brilliantly portray their respective characters throughout the film, with Hunnam bringing a rugged charm while Law perfectly capturing Vortigern’s desperation for power.
Over the years, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword has also built its own little cult audience, with many appreciating Guy Ritchie’s take on the original legend. Hopefully, Young Sherlock‘s success on Prime Video will prompt more viewers to revisit the Guy Ritchie movie and help it garner more attention than it initially earned.