• Year: 2009
• Review Type: Box Office
• Genre: Action
• Rated: PG-13
• Director: Guy Ritchie
• Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams

Genres

• All
• Action
• Comedy
• Animated
• Drama
• Sci-Fi
• Horror
• Western
• Romantic Comedy
• Action, Film Noir
• Action, Animation, Sci-Fi
• Adventure Fantasy
• Mind Thriller

Sherlock Holmes

Reviewer: Josh

Sherlock Holmes is the most iconic figure in the Mystery genre of literature. Most young boys grow up reading the man who was so perceptive nothing escaped his notice. Plus, where would we be without the phrase, "Elementary my dear Watson"? However, this is not exactly the Sherlock Holmes you get from Guy Ritchie. The Holmes we are presented is a little grubbier than what we might imagine, and quite a bit tougher. Does this mean that Ritchie strays too far from his source material? I don't think so.

The movie starts with Holmes and Watson putting a stop to the nefarious plan of Lord Blackwood. After his capture Blackwood is hanged and Sherlock Holmes returns to his study. Not long after Blackwood is said to have risen from his grave, and London is thrown into terror of Blackwood's reanimated corpse stalking its streets. Holmes and Watson begin their pursuit of Blackwood as they attempt to unravel the mystery.

Robert Downey Jr. in my opinion makes a perfect Holmes. He seems to be off balance and at times unstable as he thinks through events around him. Also he brings a dry humor to the movie that helps put Holmes at odds with Watson and other more proper people. This helps to distinguish Holmes from those around him, which would be the case in reality considering his genius and his perceptive abilities. Jude Law at the same time plays a straight laced Watson that tries to reign in Holmes and keep his eccentricities in check. The two play off each other very well and embody their characters in a genuine manner.

While it might not be a more traditional interpretation of Sherlock Holmes it is one that feels real. Ritchie's films tend to be gritty gangster films set in England, so it seems right for him to take a shot at Sherlock Holmes. He brings elements of his gangster films to Holmes, and it helps create an entertaining movie that keeps you wondering just what it is that Blackwood is attempting to do. If you've ever watched a mystery show on t.v. and sat through the wrap-up at the end of the episode you're going to see it here too, only Sherlock Holmes invented the wrap-up, and no one does it better.

Over all the casting was very well done. The acting feels right. The script is clever and ties all the ends together by the end of the movie. Guy Ritchie presents his take on the world of Sherlock Holmes giving it a realistic feel. He also has set up for a sequel where we will meet Sherlock Holmes' most dangerous foe.