Reviews

I saw the start of the series yesterday and immediately thought, "That's not Leonardo da Vinci". To be reasonable it should have had a different title that didn't refer to Leonardo, but to someone else. But... that wouldn't sell, would it? I found that action of the episodes to be good quality and good acting, except that Leonardo da Vinci wouldn't behave like that... A series that showed him as he really was would only interest historians. A major problem is that most studies conclude that he became celibate following an incident where he was nearly prosecuted the 9th April 1476 for a gay act while he was still at the workshop of Verrocchio. But that wouldn't sell either!

I watched all the way through, partially because Tony Randall's 'Hercule Poirot' was so different from others I've seen; Hastings played by Robert Morley too was not the 'standard character' for the role. Many times he mentioned his 'little grey cells' but didn't seem to be using them until... The whole of the film contained the odd 'funny bit' that took away the idea that it was a serious investigation. On the other hand there were not enough to keep the spectator laughing throughout. At one point there is a 'gun waving moment' where the way the gun's used doesn't really provide protection. So it was fun to watch but perhaps not for serious Hercule Poirot fans.

I found the film to be utter rubbish - the Sherlock Holmes character was more like a cross between Steven Seagal and McGyver, and unshaven! He didn't "look intelligent" when he was trying to solve problems. His pipe wasn't right and some of his shirts – I wondered if they really existed before 1900. And, of course, his accent wasn't quite right – the English accent or rather English accents can be difficult to achieve and ends up as a mishmash of different regional accents. I find myself trying to sort out which regions and that spoils the film for me As for Irene Adler, at first I thought the American accent incorrect, but then realised that Conan-Doyle had her born in New Jersey in 1858, so she would have been around 32 at the middle of the construction of Tower Bridge.

The French speaking thugs had a French-Canadian accent - strange.

I agree that the special effects seemed to have been bought from a charity shop. All the buildings scenes seemed not right, not real. If you can't get it right, don't put it in!

And all the chase scenes, not very Sherlock Holmes-esquire, were nothing to do with what I had expected, as were the "last second saves" in the pig abattoir. The amount of violence was far greater than ever seen before in previous renderings of the great detective. I concluded that it should have been given another name, e.g. Herlock Sholmes, the Parody invented by Maurice Leblanc in his Arsène Lupin books (Conan-Doyle was, apparently, annoyed).

That just about sums it up – it wasn't Sherlock Holmes – it was a parody.

I found the twists and turns amusing right up to the very last one. Having seen it I feel that I shall have to watch it again to see if the chronology is right. For instance when you learn the truth about each character you would think that Crystal Ball should have already met Sam Kane. Another is the hit and run car having been stolen from... was it Cleveland, I'll have to see it again and do a pause on the driver as I have the impression that it was the "other woman". That would complicate no end the logic of the story.

I found the acting good overall - though it was a little contrived to prevent the public seeing "more" of Natasha Henstridge in the "love" scenes.

The DVD was sold here, a week ago, for 2euros, so the film company obviously didn't place much value in it.

This is a series about two bachelors (one French (Marc), one American (Daniel)) who live in a top floor (17th) duplex flat. The first episode has 3 ladies moving in to the flat next door ; they are all separated from their husbands. One (Claire) has a teenage son (Vincent), another (Fanny) has a young daughter (Wendy) and a baby son (David).

Marc immediately wants to try to seduce one of them and, as the series progresses, focalises on the third girl (Magalie). Daniel, on the other hand, wants nothing apart from a platonic relationship with the women as they are still married (only separated).

The flat is owned by Daniel, a successful commercial photographer, who allows Marc, an unemployed writer, to live in free. Daniel says that Marc's father looked after him during his first years in France so it's normal for him to look after Marc.

Each episode shows the egocentricity of Marc, with Daniel taking a lot of hassle. Marc uses Daniel's cheque book and credit card and occasionally forgets to tell Daniel when he loses them! Marc is always imagining different ways to seduce (mainly) Magalie, but loses out every time with Daniel "winning" (but not seducing the ladies). The three ladies have all fallen in love with Daniel and try to lure him at the same time as trying to avoid Marc.

The opening titles show the names and the part played by the leading actors - only the first name of the role is given - even if they are not in that episode. The closing credits show their names again, but not their parts, followed by "And" with the names only of the other actors (walk-ons and bit-parts are uncredited) Thus if there is more than 1 guest of the same sex it is impossible to determine who is who. The surname of Marc is shown to be Malloy in some episodes (e.g. when he launches his apartment block radio "Radio Marc Malloy" - and Daniel says that his surname is "Green" - however as it is never written (at least in episodes 1 - 100) the spelling is uncertain. The only other persons, apart from Marc's father, whose full name is known, are Georgette Bellefeuille (a very large lady who is always trying to seduce Marc) and Mme Villemarinet (whose first name is Magalie too).

Ages: Vincent is 12 in episode 2 and 13 in episode 6. In Episode 2 Wendy is 6 and the baby, David, is 8 months old. Daniel is said to be around 40 and Marc is assumed to have a similar age. The girls' ages are not mentioned except that Magalie is younger than Fanny and Claire.

The only person who stays on throughout the 170 episodes is Claire. Magalie disappears, to go to Peru, after four fifths of the series, Marc too (to try and tempt her back). His part is taken over by Charlie, who has paid him 3 months rent (even though Marc lived there for free). Marc returns later on in the series and then either both or one of them is present in each episode up until episode 164 (Adeline Revient). Brusquely in episode 165, la Fuite, Daniel disappears (said to have gone back to his ex-girlfriend, Cindy in New York). Charlie, too disappears, but nothing is mentioned. Marc then takes over as the male leading role. Luna replaces Magalie and Sabine replaces Fanny. Claire's 2 sisters appear on and off till the end of the series. The same actors are in "Les Nouvelles Filles d'à Côté", which follows on. The "Nouvelles Filles" (new girls, i.e. next door) are Adeline and Gérard, who move into an apartment together.