Przygody Sherlocka Holmesa i doktora Watsona: Nadchodzi wiek XX

"German is rather coarse, but still it is one of the most significant languages in Europe. What do you think, Watson?" Well, I myself would agree with the detective with a big D. But look out, I shall diverge. The question is whether he would agree with me that the fifth movie (again in two parts) should never have been made. Not that it would shame the movie that came before, but it is superfluous and thanks to its tendency away from criminal matters to the service of his majesty is disappointing. At the same time it is atmospheric, to the point of horror, the prolog of part one is absolutely splendid. But, before we know it, we find that a case that was panning out nicely becomes just a search for one letter. Nothing else happens, everything is clear not only to the viewer, but to the characters too and so there is nothing else to do than natter away in three different rooms till the bitter end. Which lasts an unbelievable forty minutes. This story had it in itself to be the best, but instead it became definitely the worst part. The second story is much better, and the espionage is at least presented with a hint of a detective plot, but still this isn’t the real Holmes. It was nice to see the polite humor and also not to see Watson’s comic excesses. It wasn’t nice to see that Maslennikov’s Holmes bids farewell on just average form, which isn’t far from being boring. (13.10.2008)

An excellent ending to a good series, especially the opening of the first episode with the hydraulic press was fresh, and the spy atmosphere of everything that followed was lightened by quite decent humor - this time there was no spasmodic goofiness, on the contrary. For example, the perpetual ringing of the telephones and telegraph in Mycroft's office was very funny and also nicely illustrated how much the world of the main characters had changed. (14.12.2016)