Sherlock Holmes
Warner Bros.
128 mins
December 29, 2009
Rated: PG-13
I had high expectations for this movie upon heading into the theatre – and was a little let down. But I’m going to address the high points first. I thought that Jude Law and Robert Downey Jr. had some great chemistry together. They really had the relationship between Holmes and Watson that I enjoyed. I had never imagined in my head that Watson and Holmes would be “tough guys”, but they are the Holmes and Watson for the new millennium! Rachel McAdams’ character seemed a little pointless. She was there for the pretty factor but really didn’t affect much of the plot.
Now that we are speaking of the plot – it really left a lot to be desired. There was an aspect of the paranormal that was included, which ended up being explained – but it really didn’t fit with my impression of Sherlock Holmes stories. They could have had a perfectly good plotline without the paranormal.
I get the feeling that there will definitely be a sequel – based on the way the ending played out. I would recommend waiting to catch this on Netflix or DVD when it comes out (it was an enjoyable movie) – but I would see something else at the theatre.
Copyright © 2010 by The Maiden’s Court
I think "modernization" seems to be a trend in movies and TV lately (like The Tudors). I guess some of it works and some of it doesn't. I've only seen commercials, but I must say, I've never seen Robert Downey Jr. look this good before! Which is completely irrelevant to the plot or the quality of the movie, of course. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm a huge fan of Downey's work ... but I'm not sure I can shake the the Basil Rathbone/Nigel Bruce classic Sherlock Holmes films. Most of the modernizations seem like inorganic impositions and don't work for me on a theatrical or literary level because the writing and casting are physically painful for me to sit through (don't even get me started on "The Tudors"). But NYC cinema prices being $12 or higher, if I do see this Holmes incarnation I'll wait for Netflix!
ReplyDeleteI share your opinion, Heather. I had such high hopes for this movie and while it's relatively enjoyable, something just seemed to be missing or off. My husband was actually bored watching it. Robert Downey Jr. was great (as always) and while I'm not a Jude Law fan, I did enjoy his portrayal. Rachel McAdams was utterly wasted and I think the movie would have been better to eliminate her character altogether.
ReplyDeleteIf there is a sequel, I hope it's a little more focused and better done.
I thought that the acting by Law and Downey Jr. was good - and both looked amazing! But that was about the best part.
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