Sherlock Holmes

Rating: 10/10 (20 June 2010)

The famous detective, Sherlock Holmes, is best known by all for his genius, logical thinking that he uses to solve many of the cases from the short stories penned by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. There have been plenty of movies and series created to display the eccentric, yet brilliant mind through the years, but Guy Ritchie, well-known director for movies like Snatch (2000) and RocknRolla (2007), decided to bring it to the "big screen" in 2009. While Ritchie's past credits are more gritty and harsh with charming, yet crooked mobster personalities, he delivers us with a time-honored film from the detective point-of-view. He brings action-packed scenes and even comedic wryness to this new thrilling adaptation of the famous mysteries which significantly changes the original theme of the detective from Mystery to Action/Adventure.
The movie is cast with veteran actor Robert Downey, Jr., who plays Sherlock Holmes and is joined by his trusty colleague, Dr. John Watson (Jude Law) for yet another mystery involving a series of murders. Holmes and Watson's relationship is put to the test as Watson faces life changes that Holmes must inevitably face. Lord Blackwood, an oculist played by Mark Strong, is an unusual foe for Holmes because this plot holds more than the average thief or accidental murder of a jealous mistress. The question is "Can Sherlock Holmes solve a supernatural mystery that is lies beyond his scientific logic?" A fresh new face to the film is Irene Adler played by Rachel McAdams, a master thief who seems to be the only one that Holmes cannot figure out, yet carries for her an everlasting yen. Irene mysteriously returns to Holmes for hire and finds herself twisted into the case and in evident danger.
In recent years, Robert Downey, Jr. has been successful in integrating his career into block-buster Action/Adventure theme hits like Tropic Thunder and Iron Man, but with the intellectual plot of Sherlock Holmes, he seems to flawlessly capture the eccentricity and truthfulness of the original detective. The fight scenes and explosions seem minimal to his acting, yet Ritchie accomplished an excellent feat of taking the original somber character and turning him into an animated, dare-devil of a detective. It is a thrilling ride that leaves the viewer unaware of the next clue or lead into the case, but maintains itself high on the entertainment factor. This type of movie and theme relates to the typical action-movies that have feuding partners dealing with each other's issues while going after the bad guys. For example, there are movies like Rush Hour, Bad Boys 1 & 2, and classics like 48 Hours and Lethal Weapon. These movies involve high-tech explosion effects, fleeting chase scenes, and brutal exchanges of punches.
In summary, Sherlock Holmes (2009) is a twist on typical Action/Adventure movies. It contains brawls and explosions, a vicious villain, and at some point-a beautiful woman in distress like many other action-movies. Although, this story contains much depth and detail that allows the viewer to enter the intrinsic mind of a brilliant, yet unstable detective while he attempts to solve this extraordinary case.