(by Dedra Cordle, Staff Writer - December 30, 2009)
I have to admit that my knowledge of the entire Sherlock Holmes world could probably be counted on one hand. I know he's a brilliant detective whose adventures are chronicled by his sidekick Dr. John Watson. I know he is the invention of Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I know Sir Arthur Conan Doyle killed off Holmes, but public outcry forced him to resurrect the detective. I know there have been many movies about the character, but have never personally seen any of them. And I think I read 'The Hound of Baskervilles' in high school, not sure if I finished it though.
Anyway, that paragraph sums up what I do know about the franchise, so I can't use the saying "This isn't your grandfather's Sherlock Holmes" when describing the latest reinvention directed by Guy Ritchie, but I can use the phrase "It's all right, I guess."
Set in the early 1890s London, the film begins with Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) and his Watson (Jude Law) racing to prevent the murder of another young woman from taking place. Upon seeing written symbols, bodyguards (some robed: The Snuggie craze started early) and hearing chanting, the duo quickly realizes that this isn't an ordinary crime scene, but a human sacrifice ritual led by Lord Blackwell (Mark Strong).
Luckily for the girl, Lord Blackwell is stopped before the ritual is completed, apprehended by police and sentenced to be hanged in three months time. Case closed, right? Wrong.
As his last request, the seemingly mystical Blackwell tells Holmes that there will be more deaths following his execution that will change the nature of the world, or something. Holmes is all like 'Whatever Lord dude. You'll be dead, so good luck with that plan.
Now I'm going to go ponder life's mysteries and get in some bare-knuckle fighting time.' Three days later, a witness reports he saw Blackwell rise from his tomb. Thus begins a new slew of murders, only this time they are prominent figureheads with political power, and now Sherlock has something more to do than fighting and testing sleeping potions on his Bulldog.
Even though I wanted to see "Sherlock Holmes," I didn't go into the movie with any expectations, so I didn't come out of it with any real disappointments. Okay, I was a bit bored at times (like whenever the secret society people were on screen), but I enjoyed Downey Jr.'s portrayal of Sherlock Holmes and the bickering chemistry between Holmes and Watson, and loved the original score (featuring broken piano notes, banjos and gypsy fiddles) by Hans Zimmer. That music is what really pulled me back into the movie during the dull parts, which are few and far between in this movie, but are there. C+
