Sherlock Holmes

REVIEW: Sherlock Holmes IMDB & WIKI

INTRO STUFF

• Holidays over...back to work, gladly....4000 miles, a busted fog light, and a cracked windshield later.
• Listening to the audiobook Atlas Shrugged still...almost done! Only 8 hours left.
• Playing Forza 3...weather too bad to drive, do it virtually...

SYNOPSIS

• In a world where crime is rampant, one man has the detective skills to solve any crime...until mysterious nemesis appears to test the very nature of a man called Holmes...

WALKING IN F&T (FEARS & THOUGHTS)

• Always afraid of politics in a new franchise
• Didn't know if it would live up to my expectations. I've grown to expect a lot out of Robert Downey Jr because of his past performances have been great.
• Love Downey, neat reboot from the series...
• Really, no fears on my end, I was counting on a solid 4-star experience, maybe even better...

OPENING SCENE

• Like the intro in with the symbols in the street
• Love the setting, accents, music, everything was great
• I have not read any of the A.C.Doyle works, no idea what the "in" jokes are...
• Holmes is an interesting property, in that virtually everyone in the world knows him, I would bet that few have actually read any of the books...We get out sherlock from other sources: Movies, Star Trek TNG, House (yes, I said house), and so many crime procedurals (Law ana Order, CSI - Everywhere, and many others)
• Holmes set the tone for so many things, going back to his story gets a little flat, it seems a little tired.

OTHER SCENES

• The irish fight - the music - the attire, the hats, the cut of their jib
• Sherlock disguises:
  • Sherlock bum - love the sequence
  • The Dr - gave me flashes back to the movie the Saint with Val Kilmer. (did that reduce your score for the movie)
• Humor was well placed. Absolutely no jar jar moments (uncomfortable forced laughter)
• The cast: (QUESTION - Why doesn't everyone -actors- have their picture in IMDB already?) (To piss you off...)
  • 'Big Man' (Joe Egan) in the Irish bar fight, hilarious title but it belonged to the giant French guy.
  • Moriarty had a very small part. He stole the macguffin.
  • The huge french guy (Robert Maillet?) was perfect for his role.
  • Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong) played the part perfectly.
    • Didn't seem to have much of a back up plan besides his special device to smoke them out...weak writing?
  • Robert Downey and Jude Law. Jude is taller than I thought, kind of dwarfs Robert. They meshed very well.
• Characterizations were prefect, plot fell a little flat - MacGuffin was too much of a Macguffin...just make the darned thing...
• I loved the effects of Entropy on Holmes...but also felt very much like house (Vicodin, anyone???)
• Really liked his slo-mo predictions of how to take down people...

• I am chronically not interested in 19th century period dramas, but this one had me...but it was a little more interesting than the BBC version of Sense and Sensibility
• Chemistry between Downey and Law was great...he was a perfect straight man with some actual personality
• I saw the Iron Man Trailer before the movie, then watched the first Iron Man movie with my wife later that night...pretty much the same thing...crazy genius, super villian, straight-man sidekick

QUESTIONS:

• Was Sherlock Holmes a drunk? Cocaine...I have read that is the case (Mike)
• Reardon a common name back in the day? Atlas Shrugged character's name Hank Reardon - I think you are trying too hard for a connection...(true, I just write what is in my brain and will sift out later. Needless to say that this question will probably not be on the show)
• We all know that Moriarty is the nemesis for Holmes, how long until the sequel...(already listed on IMBD, but you can take or leave that...)

THE MACGUFFIN

• The Radio Frequency (RF) transmitter/receiver on the doomsday machine

CLOSING THOUGHTS

CHUCK Rating: 4

• Positives
  • Very fun movie from beginning to end.
• Negatives
  • Killed Lord Blackwood, didn't really have much of the series villain Moriarty

MIKE Rating: 3.5

• Positives
  • Excellent chemistry and characterizations
• Negatives
  • Plot was a bit tired, something out of a lesser movie, or on TV...