Ricky Barlow – The Corsair
Like so many of today’s movies, there has been a lot of pre-release buzz floating around the fan (a.k.a. nerd) community. “Sherlock Holmes” seems to have generated some rather negative feedback. However, after having seen it for myself, I would have to respectfully disagree.
Now I admit, this movie isn’t right for those out there seeking a 19th century British “Iron Man.” Though there is plenty of fighting, explosions and blunt force trauma to go around, we must keep in mind that this isn’t an action movie. In case the title didn’t give it away, it’s a mystery film. That means keep your eyes peeled, ears opened, and thinking caps on.
Let us take a break from bashing the naysayers and shift into a more positive direction.
As the story began to unfold I started to sense a slight tinge of disappointment on the horizon. The more references to “magic” and “the dark arts” that I saw, the more I began to wonder if this film’s creators were smart enough to give the story a good ending (Hey, it happens. Don’t believe me? Go watch “Knowing.” Sorry folks; that’s another review for another day). I was, however, delighted to find an answer to even the most bizarre of questions. Super-natural powers, mind control and even rising from the grave were among the many mysteries soon reduced to “elementary” (Sorry, I couldn’t resist).
Robert Downey Jr. turned in another, in a long line of interesting and unique performances. Grimy and seemingly a little off balance, Downey gives a fun new take on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic, clean-cut cavalier of criminal capers. Jude Law’s performance was another pleasant surprise, taking the character of Watson from simple sidekick to a very confident character with many attributes of his own.
Overall, I’d say this is a great movie; it’s thought provoking, yet exciting, with just enough humor and heart to connect with. I give four and a half out of five stars.