Having always been something of a purist when it comes to Sherlock Holmes, I was a bit wary before seeing Guy Ritchie’s new Sherlock Holmes movie. He had seen one or two reviews and, on the whole, they were unfavourable. So I had to see it for myself.
As Ritchie’s first big-budget movie ($90 million), it’s surely looking for a box-office hit. As a big fan of the early Holmes movies, particularly those starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce. Also a big fan of the Jeremy Brett TV series, this movie was something of a revelation.
Guy Ritchie has certainly put his own stamp on the character, not only Sherlock Holmes, played by Robert Downey Jr., but also that of Dr. John Watson (Jude Law). Personally, having read all the Arthur Conan Doyle stories many times, I think this characterization of Watson is much more like the author’s intent.
Doyle never thought of Watson as a chubby, good-natured buffoon. He was written as an Afghan war veteran, strong and lean, and skilled with a revolver. Much more, in fact, as he is portrayed in this film. It would seem that Guy Ritchie read some Sherlock Holmes and got it pretty well. Downey’s portrayal of the great detective is brave and wonderfully acted.
The story focuses on the character of Lord Blackwood (played by Mark Strong) who has been imitating Jack the Ripper, killing young ladies. However, he is not a common or run-of-the-mill serial killer, as he has delusions of world domination involving the black arts.
There is much more action in this movie than in any other Sherlock Holmes I have seen. It works fine here. Downey’s bare-knuckle fight scene is excellent, if a bit spaced out at times, and I loved the scene where Watson punches Holmes in the nose when he becomes objectionable about Watson’s engagement and pending marriage to Mary Morstan. (Kelly Reily).
The female interest is compounded by the inclusion of the character of Irene Adler, a fairly disposable character as written by Doyle, but given much more prominence here as the ex-girlfriend (lady) of Sherlock Holmes. Played by Rachel McAdams, she has a pretty big role working for an inscrutable employer who apparently wants Holmes to investigate the murder of a chemist who is somehow connected to the resurrected Lord Blackwood.
The final scenes, which take place on the nearly completed Tower Bridge, are worthy of any Bruce Willis or Stevan Segal action thriller. To my surprise, I really enjoyed this latest Sherlock Holmes movie, and I think Guy Ritchie finally got his blockbuster.
