torstensonjohn I did not hold any expectations while watching this as I had heard many composite responses. Going in I felt this was going to be a LONG 2 hr film with no real substance. I walked away more than pleasantly surprised the film was directed by Guy Ritchie and produced by Joel Silver (Die Hard, Lethal Weapon), Lionel Wigram, Susan Downey, and Dan Lin. The adapted and brilliantly written screenplay, by Michael Robert Johnson, Anthony Peckham, and Simon Kinberg, was developed from a story by Wigram and Johnson.Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law portray Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson respectively Law is clever, uniquely compelling to that of Downey's prowess as Holmes. Downey's performance showcases his diverse ability to delve into a character and make it his own.. Set in 1890, eccentric detective Holmes and his companion Watson are hired by a secret society to foil a mystic and warlock style craft of magic, a sinister plot to expand the British Empire by seemingly supernatural and dark means. Rachel McAdams stars as their former adversary Irene Adler and comes across feminine nut strong for the time of the century. Mark Strong portrays villain Lord Henry Blackwood methodically and conceptually dark, almost with a devious and mystic presence. I thought the concept of the film brought a different style and approach to the legendary Scotland Yard investigator. It was well paced, and drove the characters nicely following the plot. I give it a 7/10

reed-72967 A surprisingly action packed mystery. Sherlock Holmes is a very well executed detective movie. It brings a lot to the table, there's always something interesting on the screen. Whether it's a key plot point or banter between actors/characters, there never seemed to be a dull moment. I don't think this would have been possible without the story how it was written and the actors who played roles in this movie. The movie starts out with a chase scene and the introduction of our main character Sherlock (Robert Downey Jr.). He's running down an alley at night chasing someone. We then moments later are introduced to the films main villain, Lord Blackwood. He is a evil figure that is seeming to use black magic in the movie, and is gaining power. Sherlock's partner and friend Watson helps him with most everything throughout the movie. I believe that Robert Downey Jr. is perfect for Sherlock Holmes. Just like Sherlock, Robert has played many whitty characters so this role fit him very well. I would compare how he acts in this to how he portrays Tony Stark in Iron Man. For this movie adaptation i couldn't see anyone else playing Sherlock except Robert. Sherlock's companion and friend Watson who is played Jude Law. They make the duo perfect. This was good casting of actors. The director Guy Ritchie did practically everything right. I believe almost everything was executed perfectly except a few loose ends. The camera angling and shots were done incredibly well. They took every opportunity to have an interesting angle alongside movement of characters. This is similar to what Taika Waititi did in Thor: Ragnarok. The positioning of characters in both films is great. It's perfect for every scene in each movie. Fight scenes in each movie were perfectly thought out which made it way more entertaining to watch. One thing Sherlock Holmes could have done better was set up. In some point in the film I don't think they had enough. For instance even though we all are aware of who Watson is in relation to the story, but I think they could have introduced better and more thoroughly. It's a small flaw but I feel like it would make Watson a much better character. In the beginning of the movie we have our main character Sherlock running through a dark alley at night, chasing someone or something. Quickly we see Holmes in a building sneaking around and we are introduced to his thoughts, he goes through situations and scenarios in his head with his great intellect. This is a great way to introduce a trait or ability of the character. A word we can use for Holmes is "Ratiocination", which is the process of exact thinking. A train of thought that has reasoning. This is huge to Sherlock as a character because it can be a big part in his deduction skills. Sherlock Holmes overall is a incredibly well thought out movie with mostly everything going for it. A multitude of different people will most likely find themselves enjoying it. It's got great timing, a touch of comedic effect and even some sass. Sherlock Holmes is definitely a movie I would 100% recommend you watch. The only people that shouldn't watch this movie are people who dislike fun and exciting action, with a touch of humor. Detective/mystery films can be hard to get right sometimes but in this case, Guy Ritchie the director and it's writers; Lionel Wigram, Michael Robert Johnson, Anthony Peckham and Simon Kinberg nailed it. I was genuinely excited and engaged throughout the entire film.

o-31546 When a string of brutal murders terrorizes London, it doesn't take long for legendary detective Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) and his crime- solving partner, Dr. Watson (Jude Law), to find the killer, Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong). A devotee of the dark arts, Blackwood has a bigger scheme in mind, and his execution plays right into his plans. The game is afoot when Blackwood seems to rise from the grave, plunging Holmes and Watson into the world of the occult and strange technologies.Extremely entertaining reinterpretation of Sherlock Holmes; characters made believable and likable by Robert Downey, Jr and Jude Law. And the music by Hans Zimmer fit perfect to the fast action scenes in old world London. The two have fantastic buddy chemistry, and their good-natured bickering is a delight. Parents should be aware that this PG-13 film, while very light on offensive language and sexuality (a woman's bare back is seen, as is a man's bare chest in a different scene, and there is one innuendo) does have a good deal of action violence and some blood. Also, the storyline involves the occult, which is displayed as evil and to be combated, but its portrayal may still make some uncomfortable. Sherlock Holmes comes recommended to those who enjoy action films with substance. ---From Yidioo

aramis-112-804880 In older movies (specifically where Holmes is played almost to perfection by Basil Rathbone) Watson comes off as a senility patient in Holmes' care. By the time Jeremy Brett played Holmes to perfection (read the stories) he and his Watson(s) were equal partners. Now Jude Law plays a sensible young Watson with his life together and his wife in hand, while Holmes is reduced to crawling around on the floor.The BAD: Robert Downey Jr is a good actor but he's not playing Holmes. While in private Holmes was not the neatest of men (see Brett) in public he was immaculately dressed, as Victorian gentlemen were. I apologize for saying it, but Downey ought to know something about playing a drug addict; but Holmes was not an addict, he took cocaine and morphine to reduce the ennui when he had no cases to hand. Conversely, when he had a case, he might spend days without eating, sleeping or dressing neatly while thinking. Calling this movie by the name Sherlock Holmes is a misnomer. . . or, rather, let us say Downey is playing a great Victorian detective of the same name.But I'm a weird one. When I first started reading the Holmes stories in the 7th grade, way back in the early 1970s, I never liked Holmes much. I was a great fan of Doctor Watson and, until Brett's Holmeses came along I was disappointed Watson always looked a bit of an idiot (the worst being Stewart Granger's HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES with Bernard Fox as an absolutely brainless Watson).SO . . .The GOOD: Watson. He's young, energetic, masculine. Intelligent and not squeamish, as would be a man who went through Victorian medical schools. Good nerve, good shot, as a military doctor who performed surgery saving lives under fire. He only shacked up with Holmes the way young people today share rooms and houses, because they hadn't gotten their careers going. But Watson has his wife in hand, so he and Holmes won't be two middle aged men living together in a few small rooms.Curiously, Watson met his wife through the real Sherlock Holmes, so that's another indication this is just another man by the same name, since Holmes and Mary Morstan have not yet been introduced.Also GOOD, while so many movies and TV shows have talked about Holmes' abilities at deduction, this is the first time I've ever seen it filmed so the viewer can follow his reasoning. Kudos.OVERALL, an enjoyable romp through Victorian London with the true Dr. Watson and a fellow named Sherlock Holmes. Downey and Law are both good actors who work well together; you believe they're a team. The movie has some very good ideas I haven't seen used before, it's exciting . . . but the fast cutting and execution of clues I think are meant to keep the viewer from getting a step ahead of Holmes by confusion rather than fair play. And while pastiches have often taken on supernatural elements, and in real life Arthur Conan Doyle, Holmes' creator, became a wacky spiritualist, Holmes himself told Watson, "The world is big enough for us. Ghosts need not apply." Great movie for Watson fans (like me). But the pendulum has swung from the Rathbone/Bruce era of smart Holmes and dumb Watson; through the Brett area of an equal partnership; to now Watson being letter-perfect and Holmes being a basket case. It's time for the pendulum to swing back a bit.