Sherlock Holmes: Movie Review
By Mali Elfman
It’s finally time for Guy Ritchie’s good ol’ English detective novel turned blockbuster, Sherlock Holmes to hit the screen with mega-stars Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, and Rachel McAdams. From deconstructing sight scenes to watching Watson and Holmes bickers like an old married couples, this is definitely the entertaining adventure that you’re all hoping it will be.
Let’s take a deeper look below…
The Players:
- Director: Guy Ritchie
- Actors: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Mark Strong, Rachel McAdams
- Screenplay: Michael Robert Johnson, Anthony Peckham, and Simon Kinberg
- Screen Story: Lionel Wigram and Michael Robert Johnson
- Based off Characters by: Arthur Conan Doyle
- Producers: Lionel Wigram, Joel Silver, Dan Lin, Susan Downey
- Music: Hans Zimmer
The Good:
- RDJ: You should already know what I’m going to say… he’s great. Fun to watch, attractive, clever, quick, overall, he’s the whole package. Technically he’s a bit too old, but he’s got enough tricks of his sleeve and boyish charm to help you forget.
- First Act: Every moment of the first act is solid fun. The acting, the set design, the writing, the camera movements, everything is fast, to the point, and enjoyable to watch. Sadly, they don’t quite keep up the momentum throughout the rest of the film but they do, do a damn good job at trying.
- Dialogue between Jude and Robert: Quick, witty, and harmoniously troublesome, much like a married couple at times — there were moments where it almost felt like we were watching a play or a great improv scene go perfectly right.
- Simple Action: Although Ritchie uses the massive crane shots and extreme special effects, he does so sparingly. A large hammer vs. a small hammer used correctly is all you need to make a fight scene both interesting and funny. When he did use crazy special effects scenes, he didn’t drag them out. Often directors like to point our where they’ve spent their money, but Richie let them come and go quite naturally for the most part.
- Very Richie: The fight scenes are text book Guy Richie. Some of you will love them, some of you won’t, but he stays true to what he knows and loves.
Bad:
- Make-up: There was way too much for this time period. Maybe a bit of rouge on the checks and charcoal on the eyes, but not the full 2009 harlot look. McAdam’s is beautiful enough, she doesn’t need that much junk on her face and it takes away from the authenticity of the film.
- Repetitive: Although they have a few good gags, they recycle them over and over again. Once you’ve seen the first 30 minutes you’ve seen it all, after that, you’ll just have to see the same tricks in slightly different ways.
- Length: This is a common problem for me, but it was 15 minutes too long, mainly due to a few too many subplots that could have easily been cut.
Overall:
This film is well worth a trip to the theater if you’re looking for a fun ride that is easy to watch. It’s not perfect by any means, but if you’re looking to be entertained for a a few hours without having to think or feel too much, or if you need something to plop the family in front of during the Holiday, it’ll definitely do the trick.
Rating: 7.3/10
In theaters on Christmas Day!
Photos:
Trailer:
Thursday, December 24, 2009 12:33PM
Why, oh why, did they cast Americans to act as British people? Hugh Grant would have been ideal for the role of Sherlock. I have just watched the movie and that fact irritated me througout.
Friday, December 25, 2009 6:22PM
Why the American Robert Downey Jr instead of the British Hugh Grant to play Holmes? Hugh Grant? Really? Probably because they wanted someone who the audience would believe COULD punch their opponent. GRANT would hesitate to slap the bad guy with a glove.
Saturday, December 26, 2009 5:41AM
No way Hugh Grant could have pulled off that character as well as rdj
Saturday, December 26, 2009 8:24PM
I really enjoyed the movie,and although I couldn't understand all the words in every conversation I was able to get the jist of what was going on. The fact that Americans were used as British people did not bother me at all. This was not a great movie, but I will definitely want to see the sequel(s). I've always loved Holmes stories; he was the first CSI!!
Sunday, December 27, 2009 1:48AM
slept through the whole thing….
Monday, December 28, 2009 12:59AM
wow..glad I wasn't there with Seth as there is nothing more annoying than the people behind you talking or someone who wants to play cool by saying they slept through the whole thing
It was a MOVIE and a pretty damn good one at that!!
Monday, December 28, 2009 4:45AM
the movie was excellent. i enjoyed how sherlock would solve everything in such a smart-arse way. definately a movie to see. don't know what all these other people are talking about. its a interesting movie with just the right amount of humour. i would definately go see it again at the movies.
Monday, December 28, 2009 10:04PM
Rubbish, very disappointing
Sunday, January 17, 2010 10:25PM
sherlock holmes is a @%$^%$#**
Tuesday, January 19, 2010 4:13AM
It totally sucked! Rubbish is about right old chaps!
The Americans come to England buy our stuff and totally strip our work of its and any dignity
in its integrity. They cheapen and vulgarize our English work. They serve a "not so sophisticated audience" and "not so demanding" audience. So blame it on the American people for not being smart to know the difference between rubbish and good entertainment….Incredible condescending and designed to a mindless mind of short attention span….perfect for America.
sincerely….Ben
Tuesday, January 26, 2010 10:11PM
Right’o Ben old chap! I apologize that you are so poorly educated. I needn’t go into further detail why because your post already does it for me. Personally I thought the movie was great. It definitely had its flaws, but it was nothing I couldn’t get past. I enjoyed the movie and i hope there will be sequels. And for Ben’s sake I hope they make it seem less “american”
sincerely…..a mindless Penn University graduate.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 10:59AM
I loved this movie, i have read the books and have not found them nearly as interesting as the movie. I guess it seems more real when watching it up on the screen. I totally loved the actor in this movie he played his character perfectly and pulled off a believable British accent.