Sherlock Holmes Dosent Dissapoint

If you’ve ever watched a video adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes you might not expect to see many explosions or extreme violence in a Sherlock Holmes movie. Yet when you go to watch Warner Brother’s new blockbuster adaptation of the old detective novels, that’s exactly what you get; lots of explosions and violent fight scenes. The plot of this film, though, does a good job of outshining all of that glitz and glam of Hollywood with an excellent storyline. Not to mention, Robert Downing Jr. (Sherlock Holmes) and Jude Law (Dr. John Watson) have great on-screen chemistry. As they stumble through a spectacular set of London their witty banter keeps you laughing while a super natural plot line keeps you on the edge of your seat.

As for the leading ladies in this adventure you have two female roles that drive Holmes and Watson away from the pressing nature of their case as well as from the destiny of their friendship. Rachel McAdams does a better job than expected at her character, Irene Adler’s, devious nature as well as seducing the audience in her attempts to capture Sherlock Holme’s heart. Kelly Reilly, on the other hand, keeps me wondering whether or not bad acting was a tool to make her character, Mary Morstar, less likeable. Whatever the case her acting is not very good and makes you aware of her characters expendable nature within the plot. Specifically, her reactions to Holme’s custom to analyze every situation to the last detail, and usually fairly accurately, detract from Downing Jr.’s terrific acting in the shot and make the scene fall short of the films otherwise witty flow.

Writers Anthony Peckham, Michael Robert Johnson and Simon Kinberg do a great job of innovating and exploring Holme’s unique character. With a violin and a pipe as his vices, Downing Jr. stumbles through the chaos of his bedroom with his own unique sense of order. With a number of shots in Holme’s bedroom the writers do a great job of keeping Doyle’s key character traits intact while taking advantage of the intimacy film provides an audience with a character. These shots prove to give Downing Jr.’s character an intriguing mix of old meets new.

Great special effects help to realize a long awaited devotion of a real budget to this long-time idled character. The film’s 90 million dollar budget takes you a long way in this one as a wait that has lasted decades is finally realized in a true blockbuster. The intricacies of the set draw you to the movie for a whopping 128 minutes. At first glance this two hour plus run time seems daunting but it flies by as the twists of the plot take you through the twists of the Thames and to the top of record-breaking bridge heights.

And just when you start to think they left out the most important part, Moriarti makes a guest appearance just long enough to give you a glint of what is sure to be a disappointing sequel. Robert Downing Jr. and Jude Law may prove otherwise, though, as their great success in this movie had me brimming from ear to ear when I left the theatre.