Robert Downey Jr. brings the legendary detective to life as he has never been portrayed before. Jude Law stars as Holmes’ trusted colleague, Watson, a doctor and war veteran who is a formidable ally for Sherlock Holmes. Rachel McAdams stars as Irene Adler, the only woman ever to have bested Holmes and who has maintained a tempestuous relationship with the detective
I read Arthur Conan-Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes books with great glee when I was a child, they were actually quite scary at the time as they tend to feature rather dark and gruesome plots in seedy, back-alley locations.
My mother bought a rather large Sherlock Holmes compendium one Christmas and it was absolutely fantastic, with this movie coming to the big screen it makes me wish I still had those books and perhaps I shall consider buying some again to re-read.
After the disaster that was Fung Wan (Storm Warriors) a few days ago, I’m so glad I watched a truly good movie to end the year.
There’s no rating on IMDB yet as it doesn’t actually come out until tomorrow, but I’d guess within a week or so it’ll be somewhere about 7.5 (that’s my prediction anyway).
But then again I foresee the hardcore Holmes fans not liking the movie, it’s a very different and rather more modern portrayal of the character. Quite opposite in fact from the stuffy, pipe smoking, tweed wearing, slightly eccentric Holmes portrayed in the books.
As for me, I absolutely loved it! London was superbly portrayed for that era (exactly as I remember from my schools day history books) and the dialogue was quick and witty in a very Guy Ritchie way.
There was a few signature Guy Ritchie scenes, like the bare-knuckle boxing – does it seem familiar? Well if you’ve watched Snatch and you remember Brad Pitt as the gypsy boxer you could make comparisons.
Robert Downey Jr. was superb as Holmes, bringing a very weird, fairly intense and incredibly smart Sherlock to the big screen. Mr Downey Jr. has had his moments in the 90’s and his ups and downs with drug problems and rehab, Ironman really smashed him back to the mainstream with a great amount of force and this movie has cemented his position as one of the best lead men currently acting.
I rate this as one of my top 5 movies of this year, totally enjoyable, great script, solid acting, well paced and just really really fun.
Unfortunately we had to watch it in the TGV at 1U which has the smallest most uncomfortable seats ever, I used to go there before 1U had the new wing because I had no other choice…and honestly they haven’t upgraded a thing in the past 6 years. No wonder GSC is pawning their face.
Anyway go catch Sherlock Holmes at the cinema ASAP! Next…I need to watch Avatar in 3D!
I give it a pipe smoking 8.5/10.
