Sherlock Holmes : Detective Sherlock Holmes and his stalwart partner Dr John Watson engage in a battle of wits and brawn with a nemesis whose plot is a threat to all of England.
Hello Film Fans
Welcome to my latest rant on the media of film, in today's review I will reviewing Sherlock Holmes. Starring Robert Downey Jr as Holmes and Jude Law as Dr John Watson.
Sherlock Holmes; is not a great film, by any stretch of the imagination. I've always been a bit sceptical with this film, because it is one of those films where I've always felt, you have to be in the right mood to watch it. And there are a few films out there that are like that, and Sherlock Holmes is one of them. You got to be in the right frame of mind, to watch this film, in order to get everything out of it. And even then it isn't brilliant; by any means.
Sometimes I've watched this film and believed it to be utter dire tripe. Other times I've watched it and thought it was an okay movie, and considered it to be easy viewing. Today as I go through the film I will be giving my own biased opinion on this film, and you as the reader can make up your own mind afterwards.
The film starts off really well, very atmospherically, you got the Victorian gaslight streets of London. I really liked the setting. I thought it was pretty authentic, then we are introduced to Robert Downey Jr's interpretation of Sherlock Holmes, we whiteness his character, calculating an act of violence and what he's going to do before he does it. Step by step, he does exactly what we know he said what he was going to do, which is to be expected, we saw it coming.
Already, just by viewing that little aspect of the film, the viewer is given an instant piece of knowledge about Downey Jr's Holmes, what his character is about. That can calculate a method of violence in seconds, which makes him brainy as well as unusual. It gives the viewer something to cling onto and drive the story forward through his character, which is great. The audience is entertained and interested within seconds of the film starting.
Later on in the beginning scene, Holmes and Watson are on the brink of solving a case, and preventing a murder. They prevent the murder, catch the culprit. Meet with the police who arrest the culprit, it is then we are introduced to a opening credits sequence, which is over all flamboiant and graphic.
After the opening credits, We start to get caught up into the story. Holmes and Watson have finally caught serial killer and occult "sorcerer" Lord Blackwood, legendary sleuth Sherlock Holmes and his collaborating assistant Dr. Watson can close yet another successful case.
Blackwood is hung by the neck until death, people assume that is the end of him. However after Blackwood mysteriously returns from the grave and resumes his dark and chilling killing spree, Holmes and Watson must take up the hunt once again. Contending with his partner's new fiancée and the dimwitted head of Scotland Yard, the dauntless detective must unravel the clues behind the mystery. Which will evidently lead him into a twisted web of murder, deceit, and black magic - and worse still, the deadly embrace of temptress Irene Adler.
So as you can tell by the premises of what the plot offers, that this film has the basis of a good story. The concept is there. I would be obliged to agree that there is nothing wrong with the story. I feel however maybe the films biggest fault, if probably due to the pase of it, or the progression of the story, it certainly gets better and more dramatic towards the end. I do think, that the major fault in this film, is probably the pase of it. It doesn't really do anything for me at all.
That being said, There some great fight scenes in this film. It's funny, the concept is clever, nice twists and turns in the plot that keeps the audience guessing, I love the costumes and settings to impersonate the 1880's /90's; It's very authentic and believable to the audience to extent their imagination.
As a crime drama, yes I would say that this film, stands up pretty well as being a decent feature length crime drama. It has a certain cleverness to it, which as I said keeps the audience guessing and wanting more. Which is why I think it's important that you should be in the right frame of mind to watch this film, otherwise your just not going to get it, at all. It will bore you.
Performance wise, You have some fantastic actors coming into this production who have a plethora of experience, so there is no doubt that he or she will do a good job.
I liked Robert Downey Jr, as Sherlock Holmes, I think Downey Jr is one of those people who is really good as being unusual, and strange. He has that quality of essentricty to him which in turn pays off, because it makes him likable as an actor.
Jude Law as well, very good performance from him, he plays Watson. very controlled and bold performance, again Jude Law is one of those actors who knows how to act, and act well, so he and Robert Downey Jr together are absolutely dynamic. They are a fantastic pair.
Mark Strong, playing the baddie. very sinister appeal to his character, sharp and controlled. He looks convincing to me as someone who could be evil, what Mark is able to do with his expressions and his eyes is brilliant, he takes a gift that he has, and uses it in order to tell his character. He is an actor with a lot of skill, and like Downey Jr, he to is eccentric. Again brilliant performance.
Rachael McAdams as Irene Adler, on one hand the over confident sex appeal of the show. on the other a scared little girl who just wants to stop running. Rachael McAdams, again very experienced, she's very good in other serious drama's that she's done. In this she's great for the purpose of her character being supported by Downey Jr.
As far as the Production is concerned on Sherlock Holmes, it has it's moments of accuracy and necessity of being a crime drama. Which is all very good, it accomplishes the task set. Holmes of course being an incredible story, and now that we have these new films out we as the viewer can enjoy and of course, we have the TV series with Benedict Cumberbatch which is brilliant as well.
Overall I do believe that is film is very much down to how the viewer is feeling, if your in the mood to sit down and watch it and intake all you can from it. Then do. I think you'll take a lot form it. If you however don't feel that way, then my advice would be, to watch it later when your in a better mood.
I will give it a 6/10, It's an ok film, with a decent plot and storyline.
1 Gold Star to Robert Downey Jr
1 Gold Star to Mark Strong
Thank you for reading this review, I hope my review has been useful to you. Should you go on to watch the film.
NEXT TIME : I will review Spy action thriller 'Red' starring Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman and Helen Mirrin.
I will post that review on Monday the 29th of July 2013.
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