Up to date but true to legend

Rating: 9/10 (10 April 2010)

I first came across Sherlock Holmes when my Dad brought me a present from a trip he had been on.It was a Complete Sherlock Holmes Volume. I was about 10 and very disappointed. About a year later I was bored so I tried reading it. I was absolutely entranced and gripped by the stories and read them again and again. I have seen a few movies and tried the TV series but although not awful they were not satisfying. I had no great hopes of Guy Ritchie's entry into this particular ring. An American playing Holmes? Even if it were Robert Downey Jr (whom I love as an actor)? Well, dear readers, it works superbly. Downey and Law are a charismatic pairing and the movie is just about as good as it could be. Such energy is brought to the story , it carries the viewer along at a tremendous pace. The whole depiction of Victorian London looks and feels right and is as much of a character as any of the actors. The supporting actors themselves are more than up to the job too - Mark Strong's villain is imposing, dark and menacing - but then he is a fantastic actor and he too would have made for an interesting Holmes, in my opinion. Eddie Marsan always gives good value and his Lestrade fitted right in. I would have liked to have seen the pace slowed a little from time to time so I could take a breath, but that is nitpicking. An excellent venture and I and my wife look forward to the next one. A wonderful achievement by all.