Sherlock Holmes

 

Perhaps if I had seen Robert Downy Jr's version of Sherlock Holmes before seeing Benedict Cumberbatch's version I may have like this film more. This is not to say that the film was bad it just wasn't nearly as good as BBC's Sherlock. The film hinged on the title character which for the film fell flat. Downy Jr's interpretation of the characters didn't feel like Holmes. He was more sexually inclined and didn't seem as smart as he should. More than anything I perceived him as a pest rather than a consulting detective. I could see somethings working but overall it wasn't engaging. Jude Law as Watson I think pulled it off although he was boring as well as he was trying to pull away from Holmes. I liked the overall look of him, although there was a moment in which he looked Russian and I could see why he was cast in Anna Karenina. The relationship aspect of the film took away from the crux of the show, and here I may be comparing the film to Sherlock which has a great comradery between Sherlock and Watson, but the Holmes and Watson of Sherlock Holmes seemed like squabbling children. However, I did enjoy Downy Jr and Law together I just think the roles weren't right. 

Mark Strong is a great bad guy although his character was more laughable than sinister and Rachel McAdams as Irene Adler was a disappointment (here again I am comparing to Sherlock). 

The plot of the film is too supernatural, even though Holmes debunks all the magic in the end there isn't any inkling in the beginning that the magic is not real. As the audience you expect it not to be real because this is Sherlock Holmes after all but it begins to trick you into think it might be true until the very end. Part of the problem is that more time is spent on capturing cool special effects and slowing the camera down to really delve into the plot and characters. The camera work is partly why I never finished the film the first time I tried to watch it because it totally distracts from the film.  

Seeing a Victorian London was a good use of special effects. I especially enjoyed seeing the half completed Tower Bridge (not London Bridge), that added a nice element. You get the industrial feel of the city through the steampunk aesthetic.   

Even after all the plot problems it was still fun and light entertainment but not for those who found Sherlock first.