Harry Potter News and Commentary
Movie, that is. Starring Robert Downey, Jr. and Jude Law as Holmes and Watson, the movie opened on Christmas Day. I haven’t seen it yet, and after reading some reviews, I doubt I will despite Downey’s performance, which is supposed to be good. I post two reviews for your perusal. They are mostly spoiler free. The first is from The Washington Post. The second is from The Torch Online.
If you have seen the movie, please share your thoughts on it.
H/T to R.Ross for the review from The Post.
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{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
The reviews cited by metacritic averaged at 57, meaning mixed or average reviews
Here’s a selection of one line reviews:
This is very much a Sherlock Holmes movie for the blockbuster era. The Onion
It pleases me to report, then, that Downey brings his brain, his wit, and his gift for intelligent underplaying, even as he understands he has been hired to play Sherlock Holmes, action hero. Boston Globe
Hey, remember “fun”? If you’re sick of the apocalypse and tortured anti-heroes, then you need to see Sherlock Holmes. It’s a blast from start to finish. Premiere
There’s a mystery at the heart of Sherlock Holmes, and it’s not the one the great master of detection has been called on to solve. It’s how a film that has so many good things going for it has turned out to be solid but not spectacular. Los Angeles Times
Challenged by Downey’s energy, Jude Law, who often seems aimless in his movies, comes fully up to speed. He’s virile and quick-witted, and his Watson, if not Holmes’s equal in brainpower, comes close to him in daring. Their repartee evokes the banter of lovers in a screwball comedy; they flirt outrageously but chastely. The New Yorker
Sherlock Holmes has been reimagined with fighting skills as potent as his intellectual acumen. USA Today
With a clamorous soundtrack and a whirl of elaborate chases and busily choreographed fight scenes, this is Sherlock Holmes with Attention Deficit Disorder Philadelphia Inquirer
Ritchie is all about the whooshing and headbanging, leaving no space between Holmes’ words to savor their meaning. Downey is irresistible. The movie, not so much. Rolling Stone
Sherlock Holmes dumbs down a century-old synonym for intelligence with S&M gags, witless sarcasm, murky bombast and twirling action-hero moves that belong in a ninja flick. New York Post
Sounds like it could be fun. I’m going to try to see it in the theatre.
Sherlock and Harry!
I saw new the Sherlock Holmes movie this weekend, I had fun with the new style. It reminds me of the movie “Young Sherlock Holmes” I have always felt that Dr. Watson was a genius in his own right as skillfully portrayed by Jude Law.
I know my favorite Holmes series is still Jeremy Brett with David Burke, Edward Hardwicke, Eric Porter and Rosalie Williams,
Read review at The Washington Post link: above
Here is a few highlights of the O’Sullivan review
Robert Downey Jr.’s ‘Sherlock Holmes’ plus Jude Law as Dr. Watson, isn’t for the Doyle faithful
By Michael O’Sullivan in the Washington Post says of the New Sherlock Holmes movie this Christmas.
“…But the movie also looks more than a little bit like the last couple of “Harry Potter” films. There’s black magic here, too, at least ostensibly. And the villainous Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong) — who has been going around London dispensing with people in ritualistic, occult executions on his way to world domination — is a distinctly Voldemort-like figure. Who has, I kid you not, apparently risen from the dead…”
“What else have we got? Would you believe a dash of James Bond, a pinch of Batman (“The Dark Knight” edition) and a sprinkling of kung fu? For Downey’s Holmes is not just a master of disguise, deductive reasoning and scientific inquiry. Here, he’s also a prize-winning pugilist whose brain gets only slightly more of a workout than his fists.”
thanks, RevGeorge
I think both reviewers missed some things. I enjoyed the movie quite a bit. It’s not great, but it’s very good.
Homoeroticism? Imagined. Holmes fighting style? Yes. Read the books again — he’s a boxer, with (IIRC) vaguely Asian training.
No, it’s not Jeremy Brett, but it probably comes closer to the Holmes of the stories than any other portrayal. Sure, the ending was no surprise, and the film would probably have benefitted from a more mysterious mystery, but overall, definitely a film worth seeing.
I enjoyed it quite a bit, certainly much more than I expected to (I think the first trailer didn’t do a great job of letting us know what the movie would be). It’s Holmes for a mass audience, not for the Sherlockians, and I have warned my Holmesophilic friends to that effect. Robert Downey was very, very good, and I think the character was treated with respect.
I also think that there’s more leeway when you’re dealing with a character who’s been portrayed, supposedly, by over 70 actors in over 200 films. That’s a lot of interpretation of the source material already.
And I’m always happy when the movies take us to the 19th century…. as it opens up the possibility that studios will start buying more Victorian Era movies…. So thumbs up from me…
As a Baker Street Irregular, I must regretfully but firmly decide–everything I’ve heard about this movie has convinced me I will loathe it with every pore. In the interest of my general sanity, therefore, I will not see it. When the other alternative is gnawing off my own leg to make it through to credits–yeah.
I saw the film a few days ago. I’m not an avid Sherlockian, so I can’t comment on it compared to the books. The movie itself is quite fun. Law and Downey are both fantastic and play very well together. The plot is interesting, if a little predictable at times. It dances with the macabre in many places, packs in enough action for most modern audiences, laughs at itself along the way, and shows some brains, as well.
Much of it feels like a Guy Ritchie film, if you know anything about his other movies. The fight scenes are very reminiscent of Snatch, and Ritchie has shown a very good knack for getting great banter between two main characters in other movies.
What some of the reviewers have tagged as homoeroticism I would read more as a depiction of Holmes’s need to trust someone. And the only person on which he can “thoroughly rely” is Watson. As someone said above, what I really liked in the movie is that Watson is very much his own man with his own keenly honed set of skills. It provides a nice balance and allows us to see Holmes as a little more human and fragile, rather than overbearing and pompous — which has often been the case in past adaptations.
I’m with others in praise of the movie. I haven’t read any Sherlock Holmes, but I saw it with my boyfriend who has and he really liked the movie as well. It was a fun movie. From what I understand, the movie’s Holmes is a much more physical person than the very cerebral original, and part of me wondered if they made Rachel McAdams’ character American because she couldn’t do a British accent, but it’s a fun movie for the holiday season, worth seeing.
It looks amazing. In the books Sherlock is actually a formidable fighter, it’s just that the story usually places greater emphasis on his intellect than his physical prowess. I think it’s daring of the movie to explore the latter. You see, always keep an open mind.
I intend to go and see the movie later this week. Interestingly, I’ve heard that the character of Lord Blackwood was based on celebrity occultist Aleister Crowley. Crowley also inspired Ian Fleming’s creation of Le Chiffre in Casino Royale.
It’s been ages since I last posted here – Happy Holidays everyone (and Happy almost New Year)!
I just saw Sherlock Holmes last night and thoroughly enjoyed it. I’ve only read a couple of the stories, but I felt Downey Jr reamained true to the heart of the character. I must admit that I had pretty low expectations going into the movie – based on the previews I thought that it would essentially be James Bond set in Victorian England. It was much better than I expected! Even though he does fight a lot (which as others have mentioned, he is also skilled at in the books), there is a focus on the cerebral activity involved in the fights.
Welcome back, aerisflowers! I’m pleasantly surprised at the number of people who’ve commented on this post. Nice to see the various comments on the movie. I may actually go see it now.
James Bond set in Victorian England sounds right up my street! I’m a great advocate of Steampunk.
Tom, fixed the multiple comments for you.
Never got much into Steampunk but only from lack of exposure to it, not from any dislike of the genre.
Thanks so much Revgeorge. You really should try Steampunk. Examples of it include the Lemony Snicket Books, Hellboy, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Alan Moore, The Time Machine by HG Welles and numerous books by Phillip Pullman.
I finally got around to seeing this film last week. I absolutely loved it. I agree with Phillip’s assessment about the film’s ending – no big surprise and all that. But this was a really fun, really well done film. It’s one of the movies that, halfway through, my wife and I were saying to each other, “We’ll have to own this one.” And we’re not big on buying DVDs.
The Holmes/Watson chemistry was great. (And if you liked that, it’s really time for you to catch up on House, MD, because the House/Wilson relationship is the same thing, and based on the same Arthur Conan Doyle foundation).
Definitely a movie worth your time.
Tom, I haven’t read the Alan Moore League of Extraordinary Gentlemen but I have seen the film & love it. It’s probably nothing like Moore’s graphic novels & it got panned by the critics, but I just like the way the movie works.
Travis, yeah, I thought the same thing too, I’ve got to get this on DVD.
Just went to see the film. Bloody loved it. Downey’s Holmes is a loveable and highly accurate depiction of an autistic genius, Jude Law’s Doctor Watson presents a dry foil to Holmes’ grandstanding and Irene Adler is a first-rate empowered female. She’s sexy too!
Lord Blackwood meanwhile is a top class villain. Mark Strong makes him creepy and menacing, channelling aspects of Anthony Hopkins’ Hannibal Lector into the part.
All in all, highly recommended.
I’m going to make such a great journalist.