Review 76: Sherlock Holmes

Guy Ritchies take on the legendary detective updates Sherlock Holmes perfectly for the modern audience.

Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey, Jr.) has made his reputation finding the truth at the heart of the most complex mysteries. With the aid of Dr. John Watson (Jude Law), his trusted ally, the renowned "consulting detective" is unequaled in his pursuit of criminals of every stripe, whether relying on his singular powers of observation, his remarkable deductive skills, or the blunt force of his fists. But now a storm is gathering over London, a threat unlike anything that Holmes has ever confronted...and just the challenge he's looking for. After a string of brutal, ritualistic murders, Holmes and Watson arrive just in time to save the latest victim and with the aid from former adversary Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams) uncover the killer: the unrepentant Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong) who has somehow returned after his execution with a plot to take over the British Empire using an arsenal of dark arts and new technologies.

The plot is a great mixture of humor, Intelligence and great action and it just perfectly updates Sherlock Holmes for the modern audience. It's a more modern, more bohemian take on legendary detective and takes into places like the supernatural, the age old Victorian times and a mystery full of twists and turns. It returns to the complex, thought provoking, contempery tales of Arthur Conan Doyle but keeps it fresh and modern.

Director Guy Ritchies direction is stylish, the production design is precise and captures the industrial times of Victorian England, the score by Hans Zimmer is excellent, the costume design is top notch, the special effects are stupendous, the cinematography is engrossing, the action scenes are thrilling and exciting, there are some brilliant moments of humor e.g. a scene were Holmes is hand cuffed to a bed naked, the scenes were we see Holmes' thoughts are amazing, the suspense never dies, the sound effects are terrific, the make up is gorgeous, the props are great and the ending was superb.

The acting is top notch, Robert Downey, Jr. and Jude Law play their roles as Holmes and Watson respectively effortlessly,

Rachel McAdams is hot and a lot of fun as Irene Adler, Eddie Marsan is fantastic as D I Lastrade, Kelly Reilly is sweet as Mary Morstan, Geraldine James is fabulous as Mrs Hudson and

Mark Strong was a fantastic villain.

Sherlock Holmes perfectly updates the legendary detective for the modern audience and is possibly the best Shelock Holmes movie yet, 4/5.

The Anonymous Critic