A nice attempt of making an updated action-adventure themed film; that just didn't quite cut it...

Rating: 3/10 (6 October 2013)

It could had been easily inferred that this movie wasn't destined to be any good; at least by the original Sherlock Holmes character. Because not only feels that it was forced into a newer era; but that it was the first installment on a stupid, deficit attention series. I'm not against pimping it; a little. But this just went all overboard. So much, in fact; that it just doesn't make any sense. Which is an obv problem, specially in a series that prides itself on logical deduction and thinking. The first issue it had was that it simply was too modernized. The late 1800s settings were merely a visual style; for it could as easily been set in the mid 1900s, without any other noticeable contrivance. Eg, electromagnetism wasn't even well established; let alone the building of hand-held, singular radio controlled devices. What's next; gas driven automobiles?! So if you're going to introduce those elements in the grandfather of murder mysteries; then make sure there aren't so many anachronistic mistakes. Or you'll end steampunking your way into another pitiful, unintended comedy; like The Wild Wild West, and that's not a good idea. The second is that the movie also portrays Sherlock too unrealistic; even more than originally intended. Ie, as a spiritual new age renaissance man / master of disguise / mad scientist / weird delusional genius / expert hand to hand combatant / biological chemist / etc, etc, etc; you name it. Since he was so much high and mighty stuff; the question begs; why does he need Watson in the first place then? (Medical expertise obv notwithstanding) Well, it turns out, he doesn't really need anyone; unsurprisingly. At least, to solve this "mystery" (standard bland self revealing plot, really) Everybody that lives in the real world knows (even if intuitively) that things are probabilistic, not deterministic; without any need for modern convoluted physical models. There are lit thousands of explanations that could equally qualify for any given deduction. Eg, there's a scene when he gets "wrong" the finger mark of a ring on Watson's fiancée. So why is that the only thing he fails at it?! The ratio of hit/misses shown is obv statistically impossible. It's like he's even above godlike psychic normal humankind, and nobody else is on par; except at the final introduction of his commonplace nemesis. Yet another example would be that we're supposed to believe that he can "infer" where he's at; after being taken blindfolded for a carriage ride? Why do people bother to begin with; seriously!? I for once, would like to point out that the emperor is; indeed; naked. But thirdly and lastly, the worst was the plot itself; this was an even greater affront to all true Sherlock Holmes fans. Without revealing too much of it; it would be suffice to say that is also an extension of Sherlock's superhuman capabilities. Ie, just a coincidental dumb excuse to show off. It revolves around trying to stop a creepy cliché guy for making himself ruler of the UK, and the US, as well. Again; why stop there, when you can have the whole world :rolleyes: Apparently common megalomaniacal villains from back then also never did bother to kill their adversaries from the start. Yet, it couldn't be more boring that sitting thru this movie. Or maybe he knew that Sherlock would have inferred his lame attempt; or that he'd then start dodging bullets Matrix style :shakehead: There just wasn't any stop to the ridiculousness of this silly film. Nevertheless, on a positive note; it was pretty to look at, had high production values, and had some decent performances (except Downey's accent obv); but it still wasn't a good addition overall to the Sherlock's saga, IMHO. Unless you're planning the next movie to be an even more ludicrous hybrid James Bond/MI type of deal, of course. Bottomline; it was just another sad case of form over substance cash-in milk cow...