Sherlock Holmes

• Title:  Sherlock Holmes
• Director:  Guy Ritchie
• Date:  2009
• Studio:  Warner Brothers
• Genre:  Action, Mystery
• Cast:  Robert Downey Jr, Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Mark Strong
• Format:  Color, Widescreen
• DVD Format:  R1, NTSC

"My mind rebels at stagnation, give me problems, give me work.  The sooner the better."  -- Sherlock Holmes

"Holmes, you must widen your gaze.  I'm concerned you underestimate the gravity of coming events.  You and I are bound together on a journey that will twist the very fabric of  Nature.  But beneath your mask of  logic, I sense a fragility that worries me.  Steel your mind, Holmes.  I need you."  -- Lord Blackwood

"It is a huge mistake to theorize before one has data.  Inevitably, one begins to twist facts to suit theories ... instead of theories to suit facts."  -- Sherlock Holmes

I loved this movie when I originally saw it, and it really loses none of  it's appeal upon subsequent re-watchings.  Robert Downey Jr is playing Holmes as an action hero, as he should be played.  And his relationship with Watson (Jude Law) is perfect!  They complement each other perfectly, and one can see how they drive each other crazy but still have a strong friendship and caring for each other.  Thrown also into the mix is Irene Adler (Yes, her name gets mis-pronounced -- it should be "I--REIGN-ah"), but anyway -- she and Holmes have known each other for awhile, and Watson tantalizingly says that Holmes and Adler ran into each other twice and she beat him both times.  But Irene Adler still has secrets, and she's working for a mysterious man.  Even once she tries to get out from under his clutches -- she is pulled back in, and can only warn Holmes about Professor Moriarty.

Meanwhile, Watson seeks to marry his Mary -- and Holmes seeks to stop the wedding, since he can't stand the thought of  losing his friend, even to marriage.  The Holmes and Watson relationship is intense; and on Watson's side - you can see how he puts up with Holmes' eccentricities because he truly cares for him, and he needs excitement in his life.

The plot of  this film involves Lord Blackwood -- who's killing women in Satanic rituals.  Holmes catches him in the opening act, and Blackwood is sentenced to die.  He's hanged and Watson confirms the death.  Later, Blackwood seems to come back from the grave and continues his killing spree.  But Holmes not only discovers exactly what is going on (all is not as it seems) but he stops a horrendous crime, confronts Blackwood, and insures he won't trouble London again.  To say more, would spoil the fun.

Director Guy Ritchie has Holmes talk through, in his head, what he's going to do during a fight sequence (filmed in slow motion) then he films it at normal to normal/fast speed as Holmes takes action.  This lets the audience in on how Holmes thinks and how fast he thinks.  I also liked the scene of  Holmes waiting in the restaurant for Watson and Mary, and we hear the over-whelming noise that Holmes hears.  It's almost as if rather than being a manic depressive as in the books or Jeremy Brett's portrayal, this Holmes almost is an autistic savant.  And, throughout the film there are visually stunning moments.

All in all, Sherlock Holmes, is a fun film.  It sticks to a lot of  the spirit of  the original short stories and novels by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, though the plot is more bizarre.  However, there were some bizarre plots in the later stories.  Also, the relationship of Holmes and Watson, always key to getting any interpretation of Sherlock Holmes correct was spot on.  A highly enjoyable and well-made film.

Trivia:  Jude Law also appeared in an episode of Granada's Sherlock Holmes series starring Jeremy Brett (as Holmes) for ITV.  The series title was The Case Book of  Sherlock Holmes, and the episode title was "Shoscombe Old Place", and Law played Joe Barnes.

Recommendation:  See it!  Highly recommended!
Rating:  5 out of  5 Stars
Next Film:  Shrek