Modern Version of Sherlock Holmes works well!

Rating: 9/10 (28 March 2012)

Robert Downey, Jr. IS Sherlock Holmes, and he NAILS this role down cold. The film deals with the supernatural Lord Blackwood, who is at the beginning of the film arrested by Sherlock Holmes whilst performing a human sacrifice. Blackwood is sentenced to death and hung. The following day, Lord Blackwood rises from the grave and puts into motion a plan that will completely warp the fabric of life as we know it, and it is up to Sherlock Holmes to stop him, alongside his legendary sidekick, Dr. Watson, played by Jude Law.
The film is less of a mystery and more about the ride, which might disappoint a few fans of the famed detective, but it's what I enjoyed so much more about this adaptation than previous adaptations of this classic character. The film does have a mystery, but rather than giving the audience the hints and clues throughout the film to try and let us solve the mystery alongside Holmes, we literally see and hear Holmes's thoughts as they're happening and we go along with him as the audience as he solves the mystery; this really comes through in the scene where Holmes pummels a Big Guy whilst in an underground street fight.
Sherlock Holmes is very different than the trailers. The trailers paint it as a stupid amusement park ride made up of cheap thrills and explosions, while it has some fun action sequences, this is not a correct portrait. In actuality, this film had some thought behind the creation of the story. The script was filled with highly clever dialogue, and the witty banter between Holmes and Watson was hilarious, not to mention the chemistry between Downey, Jr. and Jude Law attributing to the success. Then, the villain, Lord Blackwood, is the first badguy I've seen in a longtime that legitimately creeped me out. Blackwood was mysterious and evil, being given that all-evil moment that I am always looking for out of a villain when he makes a man spontaneously combust! The only weak link to this film is Rachel McAdams. She just doesn't really work in her role as Holmes's love interest, Irene Adler, although her character does allow to set-up a potential sequel. Also, the action in the film is fairly generic, never having that memorable action sequence that would allow one to put this film alongside movies like Star Wars or Indiana Jones, even though all of the action sequences are fun, entertaining, and extremely well-done, even if they aren't highly original.
Sherlock Holmes is an extremely fun time at the movies. Robert Downey, Jr. and Jude Law are great together, and I hope to see a few sequels.