One of the best summer blockbusters I've seen in awhile

Rating: 8/10 (2 January 2010)

Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.), with his sidekick Dr. John Watson (Jude Law), accepts the task of unraveling the mystery surrounding Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong) and his plot that threatens England and the rest of the world whilst dealing with Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams). A seemingly standard mystery is turned into an exciting, fast-paced movie thanks to many people. Guy Ritchie infuses the film with his gritty style and fast action which keeps the story running at a steady pace with no lull. The cast is excellent, Downey Jr. and Law are perfectly cast as the mystery-solving duo, with the perfect amount of side-by-side fighting and bickering to make it believable. Hans Zimmer's score suits the tone and style of the film very well, and late 1800s London is recreated realistically. The only weakness I found was the screenplay, which was not bad, but personally I found the story got quite convoluted towards the middle. Of course, Holmes' explanation at the end reveals everything very nicely. Sherlock Holmes is a great summer movie, a perfect balance of mystery, drama, and action with a charismatic cast and a brisk pace which should entertain everyone that is willing to go along for the ride.
4/5