Sherlock Holmes ·The Phantom Reviewer

Sherlock Holmes

Posted by phantomreviewer on December 30, 2009

This is not Your Father’s Sherlock Holmes

Plot Summary for Sherlock Holmes: After finally catching serial killer and occult “sorcerer” Lord Blackwood, legendary sleuth Sherlock Holmes and his assistant Dr. Watson can close yet another successful case. But when Blackwood mysteriously returns from the grave and resumes his killing spree, Holmes must take up the hunt once again. Contending with his partner’s new fiancée and the dimwitted head of Scotland Yard, the dauntless detective must unravel the clues that will lead him into a twisted web of murder, deceit, and black magic – and the deadly embrace of temptress Irene Adler. Written by The Massie Twins

If you go to this movie looking for a classic Sherlock Holmes story you might be a little disappointed. However, if you are looking for some escapism and a good action story then this is the movie for you. Director Guy Ritchie seems to have made a long awaited sequel to 1985’s “Young Sherlock Holmes“ though this may be unintentional.

Robert Downey Jr. does a good job as an action/adventure olmes. This Holmes is not done the way he is described by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Jude Law, who I have been waiting for him to do another good action role since 2004’s “Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow” doesn’t disappoint either.

I believe this story takes place before the Doyle stories of Holmes and Watson and that could be the reason Holmes is more action than deduction. We do get to see the deductive mind of Sherlock Holmes a few times in the movie. There are a few of the iconic references and nods to Doyle’s Holmes: the clay pipe, the violin, the aversion to physical contact and the use of disguises to follow suspects.

All in all if you are looking for a couple of hours to escape into a world not too far from our own then please go see Sherlock Holmes at the movies and let me know what you think.