Sherlock Holmes dir. by

10 January 2010


Genre: , ,
Script: , , ,
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Setting:

Based on books by Arthur Conan Doyle

Dr. Watson & Holems

Dr. Watson & Holmes

IMDb ; Sherlock Holmes
Guy Ritchie’s re-imagining of Sherlock Holmes is quite a different man from the detective that might pop into your head when you hear the name. There are similarities, of course, but this film has all the flash of a Ritchie film. All that flash and very little depth. Which isn’t to say that it isn’t enjoyable, because it is. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but at the same time I don’t think it’ll be one that I’ll be rushing out to rewatch, or to buy when it gets released on dvd.

I think my main problem with this film was that it seemed to delight in showing how clever and cool it was. Something you notice in a lot of Ritchie’s films, imo. Plus Downey’s Holmes never really seemed like Holmes to me, not the Holmes I was familiar with[1] Which I suppose was sort of the point. But still. Changing a character that much always makes me think, well why didn’t they just call him something else and forget about the original fictional character

I know, I know, then they wouldn’t have had that buzz and speculation from the existing fans of the character. Plus it gives them something to build on.

Anyways, the briefest of plot summaries: Holmes & Watson are working on their last case together. Watson is moving out and getting engaged. Leaving Holmes behind. But they final case doesn’t end with the execution of Lord Blackwood, instead it turns out to be far more than they had first suspected. has he really risen from the dead? Is his black magic going to being about the end of the world as we[2] know it? Can Holmes figure it out in time… well of course he can, this is a blockbuster film after all :)[3]

The positives, Downey & Law have good chemistry together, the film looks fantastic, it’s fun and stylish. But, the negatives; it isn’t Holmes & Watson, there is little substance to the style, and its easily forgetable.

Watch if you’ve nothing else to do, but I wouldn’t be too upset if you didn’t get to see it.

Reviews: Stainless Steel Droppings ; Poor Richard’s Almanac ; Little Miss Attila ; Dopplegangland.

Linknotes:

  1. course it has been an age since Ive read any of the books I may be totally off base with this
  2. thats we as in 1860s Londoners of course
  3. I do hope I havent spoiled anything for you!

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