Executed black magic practitioner and serial killer Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong) has, ostensibly, returned from the dead, and now Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey, Jr.) and Dr. Watson (Jude Law) have been entrusted with the job of stopping him before he can carry out his dastardly plan to bring down the British Government.

CRITIQUE

If, like me, you’re an aficionado of the Basil Rathbone/Nigel Bruce Sherlock Holmes films, then you are probably going to have some difficulty getting into this movie.  The same would be true if you enjoyed the performances of Jeremy Brett, Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Peter O’Toole, Nicol Williamson, Christopher Plummer or even Charlton Heston in the role of the super sleuth.

These stars, as well as other fine actors who have played Holmes, were often involved in scenes of violent action and, on occasion, even dealt with the detective’s emotional problems, including his use of drugs.  But, their basic interpretation of the part was that of a laid back genius with an aristocratic air, who solved his cases through keen observation and deductive reasoning.

There is nothing aristocratic about Robert Downey, Jr.’s take of Sherlock Holmes.  Except for the British accent, you could call his character “Joe Blow” or even “Tony Stark,” and you wouldn’t know the difference.

In director Guy Ritchie’s film, Downey plays Holmes as an unshaven, slovenly superhero, more than willing to engage in fisticuffs at any opportunity, and Jude Law also portrays Dr. Watson as a young man-of-action, unlike the bumbling, lovable character created by Nigel Bruce in the Rathbone movies.

According to the filmmakers, this “reimagining” of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson is, actually, closer to the characters found in Conan Doyle’s original stories than was seen in all of the earlier Holmes movies.  That may very well be true (I don’t know), but it does take a bit of getting used to when the world’s most enduring (and portrayed) detective is presented in a manner so radically different than people have been comfortable with for the better part of a century.

Actually, it took me about twenty minutes or so to adjust to this new version of Holmes, after which I found the movie to be quite entertaining with some exciting action sequences that were, for the most part, not hampered by an over abundance of CGI stunts.  I particularly liked the climatic fight between Holmes and Lord Blackwood atop the unfinished Tower Bridge.

Downey is a brilliant actor and, once you accept (or can forget) that he’s playing Sherlock Holmes, he’s a delight to watch, as is Jude Law as Watson and Rachel McAdams in the role of Irene Adler, the only woman that our detective hero had ever loved.  Ms. McAdams is a beautiful, talented actress, who if she continues to pick the right parts, could become a major star.

Mark Strong is properly villainous as the evil Lord Blackwood and Eddie Marsan plays Inspector Lestrade as the usual dolt.

However, the most impressive aspect of this movie is its art direction.  The filmmakers have recreated 1890s London in such a seamless manner that it is often difficult to tell what is CGI and what is an actual building or set.

Sherlock Holmes is a film that will, in all likelihood, be enjoyed more by younger folk, people who are unfamiliar with the Holmes films of the past.

THE VIDEO

The anamorphic widescreen picture is crisp and sharp.  There are no flaws whatsoever.

THE AUDIO

The Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound is crystal clear.  My only problem, at times, was understanding Downey’s English accent.

THE EXTRAS

Sherlock Holmes: Reinvented is a 15-minute “Making of” featurette that has interviews with all the key cast and crew members.

FINAL THOUGHT

Sherlock Holmes is a well made, entertaining action movie that will be appreciated more by viewers who have not been exposed to earlier Holmes movies.