Best Holmes I've seen.

Rating: 8/10 (29 May 2010)

I really enjoyed the new Sherlock Holmes, at the centre of which I found to mainly be a look at the relationship of Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) and Dr. Watson (Jude Law), than any other plot line in the movie. The main characters play well off each other, I must admit not being a Jude Law fan I was quite dubious that he was the best choice out there but I cannot fault him as his Watson is exactly what I wanted from the role.
I believe that working with such established characters the movie didn't stop to introduce them, instead we move straight into an excellent pre credit scene where we see the evil Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong) unveiled early on, with his supposed super-natural abilities that are later revealed to be the illusions they are. Unfortunately Mark Strong, with whom I have high hopes for if he continues his recent run of form, was massively underused considering his natural talent for playing the bad guy.
Guy Ritchie's take on the late 1800's London is dark and dirty, but sets the tone perfectly with a half built Tower Bridge catching the skyline and being the setting for the movies climax. The action scenes have had some scrutiny in some of the articles I have read but I don't see it, I feel they fit the films pace and subject, as he is a detective after all and he wouldn't get very far by blowing everything up. I particularly liked Holmes plan of attack, step by step going through each strike and assessing the damage it would do before executing them.
It is left wide open for a sequel with Holmes' primary enemy Professor Moriaty seemingly pulling the strings behind Irene Adler's (Rachel McAdams), Holmes old flame, involvement. Over all great value entertainment and one more notch on Robert Downey Jr. blockbusting belt.