"Sherlock Holmes" a Pleasant Surprise

I must admit I wasn't quite sure what to expect with the new "Sherlock Holmes" movie. When I first saw the ads I was skeptical. Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law? What could these two actors possibly bring to Holmes and Watson, two of the most enduring fictional characters of all time?

Full disclosure, part of my skepticism comes from the fact that I have come to know and love the Holmes stories through the Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce black and white movies made way back in the 1940s. For me they are the standard and will always be the quintessential Holmes and Watson.

But back to the new movie. What must be said first is that this movie is never boring. It took many twists and turns I did not expect. It kept me guessing just as the original Arthur Conan Doyle stories did. The plot: an occult sorcerer named Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong) who at the beginning of the film is caught by Holmes and Watson, executed, and somehow rises from the grave. As to how this is accomplished, well, it's not so elementary my dear Watson. The plot involves a secret order that even involves members of Scotland Yard and also a plan to essentially destroy the British government. That's all I can say without giving the story away.

This film, directed by Guy Ritchie, does excel at being true to the spirit of Sherlock Holmes. There are always logical explanations for the various plot points, Holmes and Watson are a great dynamic duo, and of course you have the delightful backdrop of Victorian England. The sets and costumes really took me back to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's vision in the stories. What I also appreciated about this movie was that while there was a lot of action, none of it was mindless. It wasn't fighting for the sake of fighting, or things being blown-up for the sake of pyrotechnics. My favorite sequence involves the Tower Bridge, which is not completed yet in the movie, and that's all I will say.

Over the last few years I have slowly come over to the Robert Downey Jr. fan club. It started for me with a small role he has in "Good Night and Good Luck," and then solidified with "Ironman," (this was another surprise considering the adds made it look like a mindless action movie). Jude Law is not just comic relief but brings real weight to Dr. Watson. Special kudos to Rachel McAdams, who in this movie gets her best part since "Red Eye." It should also be noted that the end of this movie leaves the door open for a sequel (not that the story has a completely open-ended conclusion mind you). This is good news, because with this movie I am dying for another round of sleuthing with this Holmes and Waston. Bottom line: I highly recommend this immensely entertaining mystery!