Sherlock Holmes Reviews?

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 12/27/09 at 11:16pm

Did anyone catch this movie over the weekend? If so, is it worth paying to see it in theaters?

[zepka102]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 1:05am

I'm wondering the same thing... kind of surprised no one has said anything yet.

[binau]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 2:38am

I personally wouldn't see it..

The story itself is not really special at all, typical bad guy who does bad things/tries to kill a lot of people etc.. - but he (the bad guy) is just so boring/not interesting - I just didn't care. The plot turned in predictable ways - it is simple but feels like it has been dressed up to make convoluted with various flashbacks and things.

I didn't think there was anything particularly special coming from either of the leads, who had one-note performances (but I don't really blame them), and I didn't feel anything between them (though I have read posts claiming they are gay, and I think some people have 'praised' them so perhaps it is there somewhere :P).

And the visuals felt like Sweeney Todd, which became so relentless and boring (it works in Sweeney Todd, with the bright blood, some moments of contrast [By the Sea], and the whole grittyness of it.).

I don't know, I didn't connect with it at all. I was bored. I liked the novelty of it for the first few scenes, then I just wanted it to be over.

[Q]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 3:33am

There is no way I could sit through this travesty.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 4:16am

I quite enjoyed it, and I am not a fan of Guy Ritchie's at all. Downey/Law had great chemistry (more of a bromance than a gay relationship). Downey was excellent. The CGI and Guy's love of explosions was way over the top, though. If you like the Holmes books, I think you'll like this.

How can you call it a travesty, Q, since it would seem you haven't even see it? While the story itself has no connection to any of Doyle's, Downey comes the closest to representing the written Holmes on film to date.

eta: don't know where the comparison of Sweeney Todd comes from - setting aside, the films have nothing in common.

Updated On: 12/28/09 at 04:16 AM

[binau]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 4:51am

"eta: don't know where the comparison of Sweeney Todd comes from - setting aside, the films have nothing in common.
"

I can't believe I wasn't clear enough, but..

The 'visuals' of Sherlock Holmes; the dark, consistently overcast, B&W London are similar to that of Sweeney Todd. (So this comparison should give some people an idea of what Sherlock Holmes feels like), but it doesn't work in Holmes like it does in Sweeney. So in Holmes, it becomes relentless and boring. (To me anyway).

The purpose of the comparison is to get people to easily understand what I think Holmes looks like. But see that although I think it works in some movies (e.g. Sweeney Todd), it doesn't work in others.

Updated On: 12/28/09 at 04:51 AM

[Scripps2]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 4:56am

The Financial Times gave this one star out of five and referred to it as:

Doc, Sh'lock and every scraped barrel.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 5:16am

I have been reading reviews from the general going public and those that are fans of the books say that the portrayal of Holmes in this movie is the closest to the actual books. I am going to give it a go and let you fine folks know what I think sometime in the evening hours. :)

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 8:02am

I'm seeing it tonight... I am a huge fan of the novels/short stories, but certainly NOT a purist, because my first introduction to Holmes was the animated TV show "Sherlock Holmes in the 22nd Century," which takes place on the moon when they revive Holmes from suspended animation and Watson is a robot. Awful and ridiculous, but I loved it SO MUCH when I was little.

Anyway, it seems to me that Downey and Ritchie took cues just as much from "HOUSE MD" and Hugh Laurie as House and Laurie took from the Sherlock Holmes novels. Downey even resembles Laurie. But I love House, so I'm intrigued. I also remember being extremely creeped out by Mark Strong in the movie of Emma with Kate Beckinsale, even though he was supposed to be a good guy, so I'm excited to see him playing a baddie!

Updated On: 12/28/09 at 08:02 AM

[Q]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 8:23am

ghost - it's quite simple. I unfortunately saw an extended clip, and couldn't stop laughing at the absurdity of it all. Seeing the entire thing would be like accidentally stepping in a pile of dog poo and then getting down on the floor and rolling around in it.

[D2]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 8:38am

How vivid, Q.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 11:21am

now, q, are you saying stop, drop and roll is to be abandoned?

[Q]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 11:24am

Depends on what's being rolled.

And I never say stop.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 11:26am

ah, let's twist again!

[D2]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 11:35am

"And I never say stop."

Unless it's preceded by "don't."

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 1:53pm

Well, I had a good time.

To respond to points made here (and please mentally add "I thought" or "In my opinion" to each of these statements):

1. The relationship between Holmes and Watson was both plausible and charming.

2. Downey was lots of fun and managed to smooth over any perceived disconnect between the man of thought and the man of action.

3. The plot was far from revolutionary (no pun intended), but it was clever and clearly resolved and explained.

4. I really loved the "pre-caps" Holmes does, followed by the scene in real time. (I.e, "If I do this, then this will result.")

5. The women were both kind of annoying.

6. It looked like "Sweeney Todd" only to the extent that Victorian London was foggy, dirty, and dark and its skyline was dominated by St. Paul's.

7. It's far from faithful to the stories, and yet . . . There's lots of dialogue lifted straight from the originals, and Holmes is more of a man of action in the books than Basil Rathbone or Jeremy Brett would lead you to believe.

8. Oddly, Ritchie, a Brit, seems to think that a five-minute walk through the sewers beneath the Houses of Parliament would bring you to Tower Bridge. (Ok, nobody mentioned that, but it bugged me.)

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 3:32pm

the movie was ok... but i really enjoyed the score!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 4:45pm

I'm looking forward to it. I don't care if it's faithful or not. There are so many other versions that are faithful that are faithful so I can always go back and see those--or read them!

I've had a good feeling about this from the first trailers--despite the CGI effects and the hyper-violent cartoon-like fight scenes, which seem to be the style nowadays.

It all hinges on how fascinating the Sherlock Holmes is, and in this case Ritchie, Downey and Law seem to have made an intriguing case of Sherlock.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 5:20pm

I agree with everything Reginald has said, with one minor clarification: while the story itself has little to do with the Holmes stories, as Spiderdj has heard, I believe Downey comes the closest to representing Holmes than any other film Holmes ever has. Holmes was a man of action as well as reason, knowledgeable in stick, bare-knuckle and sword-fighting, as well as martial arts (baritsu, mostly).

Q, I can understand how you wouldn't want to see it after viewing even an extended clip, but I still don't understand how you can deem a two hour plus film a travesty without viewing it first. Especially since, oddly, there are quite a few things in the trailers that are not in the film. A matter of semantics, perhaps.

And Reg, speaking of dialogue lifted straight from the books, one thing that mildly annoyed me was the way they had Watson using Holmes' words regarding his (Watson's) deductions regarding the pocketwatch. Also, the women seemed shoehorned in to me.

eatslasagna, I also liked the score.

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 5:29pm

eatlasagna....Glad I read your post. It made me go to my ZUNE Marketplace to sample the music where I found they gave us the 1st track from the soundtrack (Discombobulate) for free. I just downloaded it. And I didn't know Zimmer did the music. That was a nice surprise. I like the track.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 6:23pm

I havent personally seen it yet, and have my doubts, but I know at least TEN people who have seen it and loved it. I may be going later this week, though.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 7:21pm

Okay, I just got back from seeing it. I thought it was REALLY good. Yes, it was too long and it dragged in spots, but Downey Jr. and Law made that movie so much fun.

[Plum]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 8:18pm

Can anyone tell me the names of the stories where Holmes gets into fights? I've only dipped a bit into Holmes canon, and while he's depicted as athletic, all I remember him doing to that effect is running.

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 8:30pm

I had a good time watching it, but I agree with Owen Gleiberman when he insinuated that the movie was forgetful (he writes about having to see it twice to refresh his memory). Downey Jr. is a very likable, if a bit wishywashy on the accent and articulation.

I appreciated that many of the fight scenes were raw. Yes, the film is effects heavy, but the combat is almost always believable. I also found the score of the film to be the most exciting I've heard in some time; kudos to Hans Zimmer.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 12/28/09 at 8:52pm

"Can anyone tell me the names of the stories where Holmes gets into fights?"

Plum, most of Holmes' action happens off the page, but is recounted or off-handedly referred to.

In The Red-headed League:He chases a man and knocks a pistol out of a mans hand w/a riding crop.

In The Sign of Four: He meets up with a bodyguard who fondly remembers him as someone who went four rounds bareknuckle with him years before.

He threatens to "thrash" any number of men, usually those who have abused women, odd from someone considered a mysogynist.

In the first Sherlock book A Study In Scarlet, he's described as â??an expert singlestick player, boxer, and swordsman.â?? He also gets his ass kicked a few times, The Adventure of the Illustrious Client coming to mind. He claims that his experience with baritsu saved him from certain death by Moriarity, and also on another occasion, says "but for my single-stick expertise, I'd be a dead man".

That's all that immediately comes to mind. I'll have another look at the books for more.


Updated On: 12/28/09 at 08:52 PM