Guy Ritchie's vision of the world of Sherlock Holmes is perhaps a bit different from what you're accustomed to. In this seedy Victorian London, Holmes (Robert Downey, Jr.) and Watson (Jude Law) are not just brainy professionals, they are also action heroes, fighting with fists, pistols, and even swords to solve the mystery of how cult leader Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong) could come back from the grave - and they must do it before he uses his powers to take over all of London. At the same time, Ritchie explores the complex dynamics of the relationship between the doctor and the detective, and the women in their lives.
Like Holmes's detective method, the key to Sherlock Holmes is in paying attention to the details. The intricacy of the sets, which will take you into some of the most gorgeous rooms imaginable. The soundtrack, featuring some fiddling that almost made me want to jump out of my seat and dance - I walked out of the theater humming the theme. The little moments of brilliant acting between Downey and Law where facial expressions communicate everything (yes, anyone looking out for slash potential will be thoroughly pleased).
This was my second viewing of this movie (I'm starting to sound like a broken record here, aren't I?) and I loved it no less upon re-evaluation. No, it's not an intellectual thriller, it's just a ridiculously fun movie, with tight corsets, secret societies, almost-but-not-quite-gratuitously drawn out action sequences, and a bit of French dialogue here and there. Though I'm not the best authority - I loved the stories when I was a kid but haven't read them in a while - my Arthur Conan Doyle-aficionado roommate confirms my suspicion that Ritchie has the characters down perfectly. Even if I were to be charitable, I wouldn't say that this reads like a classic Holmes story: the scope is greatly expanded and the film emphasizes wit and a bit of situational humor. So if that's what you're expecting, this is probably not the best choice of film. If you want a movie that is slightly violent, tastefully sexy, suspenseful but not scary, and definitely not taking itself too seriously to delight in its own extravagance - then, best choice - yes!
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