Sherlock Holmes (2009)

STUDIO:     Warner Bros.

DIRECTOR: Guy Ritchie

STARRING: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Mark Strong, Rachel McAdams, Eddie Marson

RATED:         PG-13

OPINION STARS: 4 out of 5

THIS FILM IS:  Dark, Suspenseful, Clever

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DESCRIPTION: As a murderer and a practicer of occult arts, Lord Blackwood (Strong) was condemned to death by hanging. He was pronounced dead by Dr. Watson (Law), and his body was removed for burial. But now, shortly after his execution, Blackwood is back from the dead and abroad once more, cunning and devious as ever. However, he finds his match in Sherlock Holmes (brilliantly played by Downey Jr.), who takes on the case and begins a harrowing game of cat-and-mouse with the criminal mastermind. The game's afoot! Winner of the 2009 Golden Globe Award for Best Actor (Downey).   
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VIOLENCE AND GORE:   0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
FRIGHTENING CONTENT: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
LANGUAGE:            0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
MATURE THEMES:       0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
INDECENT CONTENT:    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
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NOTE: I am an ardent fan of Sherlock Holmes. I love the original stories by Doyle, having read quite a few of them. And I must say that this film contains the most accurate rendering of Doyle's famous detective I have ever seen on screen. Ever. That's not an exaggeration, either. The Holmes in Doyle's stories was not just a man of peerless intellect - he was also a boxer, could shoot and fence well, and knew an early form of martial arts. He also had serious bouts with depression, was often unpredictable and blunt, and kept an untidy apartment. It may sound odd, but the Holmes was the epitomy of oddness, and this film shows him as such. Another plus is that Watson is shown, not as a bumbling fool, but as the muscular, intelligent Army doctor he was. The one flaw is Irene Adler - her character is a much different than the one Doyle created. (And while Holmes did admire her, they never had a relationship). This aside, however, the movie is blast, and definitely worth watching. Just ignore the guff from the "critics" and the people-who-think-they're-true-Doyle-fans-but-really-aren't.         
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Iffy for Age 15

"He's killed the dog...again."