Sherlock Holmes

It had been a while and the options were reasonably good so Saturday afternoon was an excellent time to make the journey to the cinema. After some deliberation Sherlock Holmes was eventually chosen as entertainment.

Now I had read about Sherlock Holmes The Movie. The review in my parents' newspaper was not enthusiastic at all. Slightly panicking I had gone to find out what Empire's opinion was. As I generally agree with Empire, I consider them a reliable source. Empire was not overly enthusiastic either with three stars out of five. As the price of cinema tickets steadily increases, one starts wondering whether a three-star rated film is worth the 8,80€.

Unfortunately there is little else to do but to go and see for yourself. Completely in accordance with the two reviews, the new Sherlock was rather violent. He was acceptable although beside my review-based warning, this might also be due to the fact that this was my first Sherlock Holmes experience. Portrayed eccentrically he is definately entertaining especially in combination with his medical side-kick Dr. Watson.

Where Sherlock and Watson succeed, Lord Blackwood regrettably fails. Initially surrounded by mystery and sinister plans, his credibility quickly evaporates and eventually completely disappears as the audience is left with an 'is that all' - feeling. In his freefall from high expectations and excitement to disappointment, Lord Blackwood does not go alone.

He takes with him the entire storyline which is probably not beneficial for the film as a whole. Surprise takes us as what seems like a short trip through London's sewers brings us to Tower Bridge, still in the process of being constructed. Now, in a film by a British director I had hoped more realism. The Houses of Parliament really are pretty far from Tower Bridge and therefore an illusion of considerable time spent in London's waste water would have been appropriate. In the film it is as if one just walks over in five minutes or so.

After this very curious and completely unrealistic moment and aha-Erlebnis-affected action the plot is revealed in all its plain simplicity. As the curtain falls we are left alone with 'is that all' and the question whether we have come to a stage at which it is almost impossible for directors to come up with new ideas to make the action more inventive and exciting. How often would Guy Ritchie have watched Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End or The Mask of Zorro?

Although his creativity in action is somewhat redoubtable, it is not in scenery. It is a real pleasure to see his 19th century London with known and less known streets and places. As it comes across as realistic it is almost like looking back in time. In the end the fun, Sherlocks eccentricity, wonderful scenery and a good soundtrack make the 8,80€ visit to the cinema definately worthwhile.