Guy's nice turn at an old classic

Rating: 8/10 (26 May 2010)

It can't be easy coming to something like Sherlock Holmes and trying to find a new angle on it, without completely throwing out the essence of what Holmes is all about. However, Guy Richie manages to do just that.
The plot is a tangled one. Holmes and Watson are called to a mysterious house where a ritualistic ceremony is about to take place. Wielding the knife is the mysterious Lord Blackwood, played in very dark fashion by Mark Strong. Blackwood is finally arrested by Lestrade as usual and taken away.
After a trial, Lord Blackwood is deemed to be guilty and subsequently hung. Before his death, he has a visit from Holmes. It is Doctor Watson who pronounces the man dead. Apparently. A few days later, Blackwood apparently rises from the dead and begins a reign of terror. It turns out that Blackwood is a member of some weird and wonderful Masonic style cult who are intent, on domination of the government and country. It is down to Holmes, Watson and a mysterious associate of Holmes to stop him.
I came to this film, having read one book (A study in scarlet) and seen a number of TV series, including the Jeremy Brett Holmes. Initially, the trailer was very misleading, making this out to be an action film whereas it is one part action and mostly establishment of plot and delving into Holmes' relationship with Watson, who has moved out of Baker St and is trying to have a relationship with Mary, his fiancé.
Downey Jr gives Holmes a nice, edgy performance, befitting with the character's upper class origins and intelligence. He also affords a glimpse into Holmes' experience as a bare-knuckle fighter which some purists feel is not in keeping with the character's origins at all. I personally felt Jude Law was good as Dr Watson, although the book makes Watson out to be an older man, dealing with the terrible consequences of fighting abroad and being world- weary in a way that Law doesn't quite manage to convey. Other characters are interesting but not particularly well realised.
All in all, a nicely done movie. Plenty of good plot exposition and some fine moments. Richie has managed to give us attention to detail which is always nice and hasn't gone overboard with CGI, which has a tendency to happen when you're dealing with a London which really, for the most part, no longer exists.