Plod, plod, plod

Rating: 4/10 (14 February 2011)

We have an updated Holmes character for a modern audience. I don't really have a problem with that, in fact I think it's necessary to make it connect with (some of) today's cinema-goers. The real thing that's wrong with this film in my opinion is the pacing. As the title says, it just plods along at the same speed throughout. The film looks great with some nice cinematography and strong production design and I didn't even mind the characters - most of them anyway - but the editing and music especially combine to create a final film that trundles along with absolutely no suspense, no intrigue and no mystery. I'm no expert on Holmes but from what I have read/seen these are pretty key. I just finished my third (maybe fourth) attempt at watching it all the way through... I don't remember how many because every time before now I fell asleep at around the same point (when the boat sinks after the fight with the big French guy). Today I still nodded off a couple of times but woke up in time to see the dull and uninteresting ending. From reading other reviews it seems this is very much a love it or hate it film. Such a shame because really it lies in the mediocrity of halfway on the scale.