I’d been looking forward to this film since I seen the trailer a few months back, I thought it looked funny, full of action and I have a new appreciation for Robert Downey Jr since Iron man. I always liked him but I’d be lying if I said I loved all his films. I know a lot of people out there are big fans but his movies just didn’t really appeal to me, most of them anyways. By the same token I would not, in any way, shape or form, consider myself a Jude Law lover. In fact I downright don’t like the guy (Not personally obviously! Just his movies.) The only film I have really bothered to watch him in was A.I. and we all know what a letdown that was. Maybe I should go back and have a look at his films again and give him another chance, he plays a great character here.

Guy Ritchie too, is a Director that has had a few good films, Lock Stock, Snatch, but has never really delivered the goods since. RocknRolla, revolver, and swept away need I go on? I always thought his directing style was interesting but it is based on a gimmick that had its day and now is used too much in films, in my opinion.

All that said, I enjoyed Sherlock Holmes, it’s not a classic film you will watch over and over, but it’s worth seeing. It has plenty of action, good comedy and the characters are great. It’s shot well too in fairness, Ritchie keeps himself in check and doesn’t go all out with his usual style, here it’s used to show off Holmes thinking. For example when in a fight, before acting Holmes goes over what he is going to do in his head, punch to the stomach, left block, broken jaw, this is all shown in slow motion then preformed again in real time and works well as a view into the mind of Holmes.

The story begins at an end, the great detective and his side kick Doctor Watson have solved the latest in a string of murders and tracked down the killer. They find him in the middle of a satanic ritual to kill his latest victim. The killer in question is Lord Blackwood, an all round evil guy with apparent magical powers. Holmes and Watson stop him in his tracks and he is subsequently hanged for his law breaking ways.. That is until he breaks out of his grave seemingly returning from the dead.

I won’t go into the story too much, I hate ruining films on people but the flick goes from one scene to the next with Holmes trying to piece together the mystery with Watson being dragged along for the ride. Make no mistake though, this Watson isn’t the bumbling sidekick of past incarnations. Law’s Watson is every bit the equal of Sherlock this time around and even has a few vices of his own. Thrown into the mix with the crime fighting duo is Rachel McAdams as the street wise love interest for Holmes, Irene Adler, the only person ever to outsmart the detective.

The three leads have a great chemistry together and it’s no surprise that talk of a sequel is already doing the rounds. It was rumoured Brad Pitt was brought in to shoot scenes playing Professor Moriarty, but these seem to have been just rumours as the genius professor is reduced to hiding in darkness to shroud his face.

One thing I noticed about the film, considering it’s based on a classic British detective, there sure is a lot of Irish in it. The London of this film is not some clean posh city, it’s filthy, in the heights of development and is a stark but more accurate representation of the time, which is probably why there are so many Irish characters floating around. Keep your eyes peeled for the commitments Bronagh Gallagher as a Ronnie sporting Irish palm reader! The Dubliners play out the end credits with the Rocky Road to Dublin too! Like is said, full of Irish and the music fits well with all the fiddles playing over the boxing matches.

All in all I enjoyed the film, I have to admit based on the trailer I was expecting it to be slightly better but I may just have had my expectations too high, it’s an enjoyable adventure though and a lot better than past efforts to bring Sherlock Holmes to life, except of course for Data in Star Trek the next Gen.

I give Sherlock Holmes 4 Shatner heads out of 5!

Click here to comment on the forum