REVIEW-- Sherlock Holmes
Ashlee Davis
Issue date: 1/26/10 Section: Entertainment
Our generation has been spoon-fed a picture of the famous Sherlock Holmes that usually involves the meticulous detective sucking at a pipe and speaking in a boring, long-winded manner about how someone pulled off a seemingly perfect murder. You can kiss that image goodbye, thanks to the recent film adaptation, "Sherlock Holmes."
The story takes place in London where a satanic, power hungry aristocrat is hanged for murder, only to rise from the grave, much to the terror of the public. Holmes (Robert Downey, Jr.) is hired by Scotland Yard to take the case. This leads him and his partner, Watson (Jude Law), though the twists and turns of a gripping mystery surrounding an international secret society and a psychotic maniac bent on new world order.
For those of you out there who have ever read any of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's books about the legendary detective, you will not be disappointed. Though the movie isn't a direct adaptation of any one of the stories per se, it pulls themes and characters straight from each of the novels, including the evil Professor Moriarty. Also, the movie stays true to the books by portraying an athletic Holmes with a slight drug problem and Watson as a young war veteran instead of a fat, middle-aged man who waddles behind the great detective offering advice.
This adaptation of Holmes infuses the backdrop of a newly industrialized England with morbid themes of the dark arts in a compelling way. The mysterious plot is very well written, and with each turn of Lord Blackwood's calculated, murderous rampage you'll find yourself asking "How'd he do that?"
The humorous banter between Holmes and Watson is enough to lighten the mood, however, and there are enough fight scenes among all of the smoke, streets, and slaughterhouses to capture anyone's attention. With catchy dialogue and a clever plot, what's not to like?
Whether you have read each Doyle's stories cover to cover, or you are simply in the mood for a casual night at the movies, "Sherlock Holmes" is well worth the watch.
3.5 out of 5
The story takes place in London where a satanic, power hungry aristocrat is hanged for murder, only to rise from the grave, much to the terror of the public. Holmes (Robert Downey, Jr.) is hired by Scotland Yard to take the case. This leads him and his partner, Watson (Jude Law), though the twists and turns of a gripping mystery surrounding an international secret society and a psychotic maniac bent on new world order.
For those of you out there who have ever read any of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's books about the legendary detective, you will not be disappointed. Though the movie isn't a direct adaptation of any one of the stories per se, it pulls themes and characters straight from each of the novels, including the evil Professor Moriarty. Also, the movie stays true to the books by portraying an athletic Holmes with a slight drug problem and Watson as a young war veteran instead of a fat, middle-aged man who waddles behind the great detective offering advice.
This adaptation of Holmes infuses the backdrop of a newly industrialized England with morbid themes of the dark arts in a compelling way. The mysterious plot is very well written, and with each turn of Lord Blackwood's calculated, murderous rampage you'll find yourself asking "How'd he do that?"
The humorous banter between Holmes and Watson is enough to lighten the mood, however, and there are enough fight scenes among all of the smoke, streets, and slaughterhouses to capture anyone's attention. With catchy dialogue and a clever plot, what's not to like?
Whether you have read each Doyle's stories cover to cover, or you are simply in the mood for a casual night at the movies, "Sherlock Holmes" is well worth the watch.
3.5 out of 5
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