Nothing to Write Holmes About

Rating: 4/10 (3 January 2010)

I guess I'm thankful for not being exposed to the previous movie installments of the Sherlock Holmes mysteries, as most critics are opposed to how this relates to them. I was able to enter with a clear and open-mind. Unfortunately, I wasn't that impressed.
There was a lot to like, however, in 2009's Sherlock Holmes. I've always loved, and probably always will love Robert Downey, Jr. He did a fantastic job in his stab at the brilliant, but troubled sleuth. He did have a lot of low-brow humor, which I favor in films. (You see this mostly in real British humor.) In addition, I am always about the "Super-Man" characters who know all and barely ever defeated. You'll see a "super-human" Holmes who can not only do no wrong, but can barely take a beating even when punched.
As for the previews, which did NOT in any way persuade me to see this movie, I didn't like how he, in slow motion, hit other men in "combat." I loved on how they explained that and what was going on in his mind at the time – the planning and execution. Too bad they only did that 2-3x in the film. And finally, I loved the cinematography, the sets and the feel/look of the late 1800s England.
Okay, that's where my warm feelings end. As for the rest, at very least I can safely say: I won't see any more sequels to this. Furthermore, I never want to see this movie again.
It was far too long, it was far too forced and though some scenes were well crafted, they were far too spaced out. The movie's set in England and yet maybe one person actually has an English accent. The movie boasts as a "fun, action-adventure" when I found very little fun, a few minor action scenes and the adventure was just so-so. And the ending? Not to give anything away, the climax has been done so many fracking times, I can't count. Actually, make that, I can. There probably have been as many movies made with this same "surprise/twist/revelation" ending as there has been years since this movie was set.
Holmes (Downey, Jr.) and heterosexual life-partner Watson (Law) are not only crime fighters, but roommates. Well, Watson wants out and in with his soon-to-be wife. Holmes finds he will be lonely without him, but continues on with a mission against a "Dark Lord" Blackwood (Strong) who kills for sacrifice and apparently can rise from the dead. Holmes is suspicious and works with Watson to solve the political mystery behind Blackwood's ambitions.
There, I described the entire 2+ hour film in a few short words. Throw in a mysterious woman (McAdams) who's in the movie as much as Angelina Jolie is in Gone in Sixty Seconds. In other words, less than 10% of the film and there: you have the whole film. Unfortunately, you will also have to throw in a bunch of smelling (literally), wise-cracks, ancient explosions and "National Treasure" sleuthing.
I have to give it to them; it was a unique film, whereas, it wasn't your typical action-adventure that, if made in the 1990s, Mel Gibson would star. But it wasn't anything really to write "holmes" about. Okay, that was bad, yet, so was the movie.