Sadly, this is much more of an action movie than a mystery. The wet, grayness of the city seeps into every corner of the picture and mixes with the greasy, cold metal of factories to give a wonderful idea of place. The industry of Victorian London explodes off the screen.

Their banter is funny and enjoyable and makes the rather dull story seem incidental and painless.Īs is rather typical in a Ritchie movie, there is a lot of style and a rather busy, complicated mise-en-scene. They play off one another very well, giving a clear sense of long-time friendship, trust and companionship. They both look fantastic in the wonderful costumes and have snappy, fresh dialogue. The two best things about the film are Downey and Law. All the while Blackwood's actions are being followed by Holmes' nemesis, Professor Moriarty and his hired go-between, Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams). Holmes and Watson (Jude Law) have to catch the criminal before he can kill more people. Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong) is killing people in London as part of a loose connection to secret society ritual ceremony. Watson, who is always on the straight and narrow. Director Guy Ritchie shows Holmes as a prankster and childish man, kept in line by his trusted friend Dr. This is perhaps the darkest and most unhinged Holmes we've seen in awhile.

Downey is a interesting fit, of course, because he brings with him a lifetime of self-abuse and drug use.

Basil Rathbone, Jeremy Brett and Peter Cushing, to name a few, all had their time with the role in the past. is just the latest in a long line of actors to tackle the complicated and wonderful character Sherlock Holmes.

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