Another Revision of Sherlock Holmes Review

Actually made some legitimate changes this time around. I feel like my voice is more cohesive now. Enjoy.

Qualities usually associated with blockbuster action-films are far from the established norm for video adaptations of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes. This is what gives significance to the ‘shoot ‘em up’ style that Guy Ritchie is known for in movies like “Snatch” and “Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels” and which he brings to his latest project, a block-buster action adaptation of Sherlock Holmes’ character. The plot of this film, though, does a good job of outshining all of the glitz and glam of Hollywood with an excellent storyline.

Robert Downing Jr. (Sherlock Holmes) and Jude Law (Dr. John Watson) have great on-screen chemistry. As they stumble through a spectacularly gloomy set of the grimy London streets, their witty banter keeps you laughing while a super natural plot line keeps you on the edge of your seat. Downing Jr. , especially, seems to get completely enveloped into his character and is fun to watch. These two actors are the highlight of a movie that, on the whole, does a great job of bringing Sherlock to the big screen.

The gloomy set contrasts nicely with the bright, posh wardrobes of the two leading ladies in the film, who work to tear Holmes and Watson from their case as well as their friendship. Rachel McAdams does a better job than expected at her character, Irene Adler’s, devious nature while she seduces the audience in her attempts to capture Sherlock Holmes’ heart.

Writers Anthony Peckham, Michael Robert Johnson and Simon Kinberg work well with the team of Ritchie and Downing Jr. in adapting Holmes’ character while remaining true to the gloriously sublte details of Doyle’s makeup of Holmes. A number of striking close-ups in Holmes’ bedroom highlight a collaboration of an imaginative script, fantastic art-direction, and strong directing that creates a unique take on Holmes that remains true to Doyle’s character. The audience’s eyes burn along with Holmes as Watson pulls back the blinds to reveal a perfect attention to detail in Holmes’ Lair. These scenes make the character developed in the film unique while managing to avoid alienating Holmes fanatics.

Huge explosions and well-done, slow-motion fight scenes add to a successful set of special effects and highlight the stark difference between this movie and other video-adaptations of the book. The film’s 90 million dollar budget goes a long way as this beloved story is finally realized in a true blockbuster. The intricacies of the set draw the audience 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 one might start to worry that 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.