A Little Shallow But Very Entertaining

Rating: 8/10 (13 January 2010)

Being a fan of previous Guy Ritchie directed films like Snatch and RocknRolla, my expectations were high for his first, in my opinion, mainstream film. He did not disappoint. His trademark frenetic style has been toned down a bit for a wider audience but it is still a delightful visual feast. The script is tight and quick paced, weaving a complex and ultimately satisfying mystery while still creating likable and three dimensional protagonists. The performances are excellent across the board with the exception of an underwhelming performance by Strong as Blackwood. To be fair though, he is a great actor in other projects but the character does not make for the best villain. It's much less his fault than it is the character's. Of special note is the Han Zimmer's score. I'm usually not one to notice original scores in films but his compositions always made me smile whenever they were featured. They were very spirited and whimsical and fit the tone perfectly. With an ending obviously open for a sequel, there is no doubt more to follow, and I plan to be there on opening night.