Jeremy Brett is the best Sherlock Holmes ever. Even Better than Basil Rathbone, who did a pretty damn good job himself. (Unfortunately the same can't be said for Nigel Bruce's Watson, the bumbling idiot)
Just felt like putting that out there. Been rewatching some of the old TV Series. It really is a damn shame about how his health got so damn bad- and yet he INSISTED on continuing on the job despite not being able to withstand more than very short shoots, even collapsing on set.
Maybe im just spoiled by Brett's Holmes, but I never liked the New Holmes movies with Robert Downey Jr. I mean, I think he pulls off the character spectacularly, the very "Holmesesque" details are well performed, but I just dont really like what was DONE with the character as a whole.
I also don't like that new TV series "Elementary". The Brits already pulled off a well made and successful modern day Holmes, people- it was called "Sherlock"
Alternatively, House works too. And that's not even 100% Holmes to begin with, just heavily inspired by, with the idea of a Sherlock Holmes kind of modern day doctor in a medical show.
And it's not because of the Female Watson. The idea is nice, but the actress sucks. So does the Holmes for that matter. They just feel nothing like the characters they are supposed to be.