Nothing great but a stylish, enjoyable film nevertheless

Rating: 7/10 (20 March 2012)

I have never read any of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories but ever since I have come across the Granada series with Jeremy Brett (most of which I love), I have become fascinated with the entire Sherlock Holmes world and canon. So I was very interested in seeing this movie from the start. Although it is not the best Sherlock Holmes movie ever made, it is certainly a lot of fun.
Robert Downey Jr. take on the character is not up there with the greats perhaps but it is uniquely his. His Holmes is often rude, droll, but his deductive brilliance gets him out of deadly situations.When bored he smokes opium while doing drug experiments with his dog. Jude Law makes very good young Dr.Watson as someone often bantering with Holmes and having to put up with his selfish and impulsive demeanor. On screen, Downey and Law show great chemistry as Holmes and Watson playing off each other very well. Rachael McAdams makes a good Irene Adler (a character from the story "A Scandal in Bohemia") and Mark Strong is strong (no pun intended) as Holmes's nemesis Lord Blackwood.
The script is full energy and is able to hold your attention from start to finish moving at a quick pace. Yet, Holmes purists may have problems with the fact that this movie has more action and adventure than it does mystery (which is not to say that it doesn't have elements that keep you guessing or that Holmes doesn't use his traditional deductive methods of investigations). Sherlock Holmes has always been a cerebral hero who rarely gets into fights but the Holmes in this movie gets into a lot of them and survives many deadly encounters. Still, taken as an exercise in escapism which is what movies are for, it does succeed.
The film is cleverly directed by Guy Ritchie. He gives a special look and feel to the film. In terms of pure visual design this film is something to admire. The editing is excellent and the cinematography is first rate. The production values are superb where instead of showing Victorian Era London as beautiful they present it's alleys and street corners as dingy, grimy, with the air full of industrial smog. The music score also blends in with the scenes and imagery beautifully. Without, any doubt this movie is technically well made.
So this isn't a great movie nor is it the kind of film that you would want run home about. Yet, taking it for what it is, which is Sherlock Holmes combined with action and adventure, I found it enjoyable. I certainly prefer it over it's recent sequel.