Monday's Movie is hosted by Sheri at A Novel Menagerie.(Disclosure: I used a birthday gift card given to me by my staff to pay for the movie tickets.)
Sherlock Holmes
(Action, Crime - 2009, rated PG-13; directed by Guy Ritchie; Sherlock Holmes & Dr. Watson based on Arthur Conan Doyle's characters)
Synopsis from Netflix:
It was a given that it would be more of an action flick than a cerebral one.
While I liked the movie, I was disappointed. It seemed disjointed in spots and, while the action scenes were good, the bigger ones reminded me of some of the tried and true displays at Universal Studios. You know, the ones you see on the tour--just with different set pieces. That aside, I liked the characters of Sherlock Holmes, and, in particular, Dr. Watson. Sherlock Holmes reminded me a bit of Bill Pullman's character from Zero Effect, only much more socially capable. It was enjoyable film--one that is probably best to walk into without high expectations. Ironman, it is not.
(Action, Crime - 2009, rated PG-13; directed by Guy Ritchie; Sherlock Holmes & Dr. Watson based on Arthur Conan Doyle's characters)
Synopsis from Netflix:
Robert Downey Jr. stars as the legendary London sleuth Sherlock Holmes, joined by Jude Law as dear Dr. Watson, in this Guy Ritchie reinvention of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's oft-adapted detective series. Based on a comic book by producer Lionel Wigram, the story follows Holmes and Watson as they face off against the villainous Blackwood (Mark Strong). Rachel McAdams co-stars as quick-witted beauty Irene Adler.I had been looking forward to seeing Sherlock Holmes since I saw the first trailer. I have only had the chance to meet Sherlock Holmes once before, in Arthur Conan Doyle's novel The Hound of the Baskervilles. I am pretty sure, however, that the Sherlock Holmes in the movie is quite different from the one on the page.
It was a given that it would be more of an action flick than a cerebral one.While I liked the movie, I was disappointed. It seemed disjointed in spots and, while the action scenes were good, the bigger ones reminded me of some of the tried and true displays at Universal Studios. You know, the ones you see on the tour--just with different set pieces. That aside, I liked the characters of Sherlock Holmes, and, in particular, Dr. Watson. Sherlock Holmes reminded me a bit of Bill Pullman's character from Zero Effect, only much more socially capable. It was enjoyable film--one that is probably best to walk into without high expectations. Ironman, it is not.
© 2009, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved.
If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.
That's too bad Wendy. Just from the trailer I suspected that this would not be a good fit for me. It looked like too much action than what I wanted out of Sherlock Holmes and a little too campy for my tastes.
ReplyDeleteHmmm. Well, the kids really wanted to see the movie but we never made it. I think the mediocre reviews were a little discouraging. We loved Ironman, so this one may have been a letdown for us. Looks like it is destined for Netflix!
ReplyDelete(How's your kitty???)
I so rarely go to the movies anymore, but since I teach Sherlock Holmes in the spring I decided to go for 'the sake of eduction' :)
ReplyDeleteI agree - the movie version of Holmes had far more action adventure (and fighting) than the literary version - but I hope perhaps that was a draw to bring teens into the theater. Perhaps they will be so enthralled with the movie that they might actually decide to pick up the book and read a bit for themselves (?)
I did enjoy the banter between Holmes and Watson, however.....and I could gaze at RDJ on the big screen all day :)
I hope Anya continues to improve each and every day.
I was also disappointed by this movie... while I loved Jude Law and Watson and enjoyed the bantering between Watson and Holmes, I was completely uninvested in the plot and the whole movie seemed to drag. Too bad, because it had such promise in the trailer!
ReplyDeleteI'm disappointed that the movie didn't live up to expectations. I'd still like to see it because of Jude Law, who looks to be charming in his role as Watson.
ReplyDeleteI've read a lot of mixed reviews for this one. I was looking forward to seeing it, myself, but apparently we won't be getting it here in my town.
ReplyDelete*sigh*
I think the kids said Avatar and The Tooth Fairy are in our theater. Figures he'd run crap for a month, then play two movies I'm dying to see when I have no money to go.
I really enjoyed this version of Sherlock Holmes, but I'm not married to a simply cerebral version of the detective. I like the idea that he has flaws and that they are some really nasty vices, and yet he's still smart enough to solve the crime!
ReplyDeleteI pretty much felt the same way you did. It took me a while to figure out what was going on when I saw it.
ReplyDeleteYour impressions of the movie are along the same lines as mine - entertaining, but definitely more convoluted than necessary at times. However, my husband actually saw it a second time (he took his daughter) and said he enjoyed it more then...for what that's worth.
ReplyDeleteBut yes, Iron Man it is not :-). We just have to hang in there till May!
Yeah, I thought it was really, you know, LOUD. But Robert Downey Jr. is adorable and sometimes that's enough for me!
ReplyDeleteI plan on seeing this one, but may not rush out any time soon after hearing your and other's reviews. Sorry to see you didn't enjoy it that much.
ReplyDeleteI've heard/read similar reactions to this movie. I'd still like to see it, but I'll probably wait for video.
ReplyDeleteI've read mixed reviews on this one, so I think I'll probably wait for the DVD release.
ReplyDeleteWe went and saw this one yesterday! I thought parts were fun and entertaining but there were some parts where I thought I'd start dozing off. And, one of these days I really need to read a Sherlock Holmes story!
ReplyDeleteI was disappointed too. It was visually impressive, and there were some good scenes, but for the most part it failed to live up to my expectations.
ReplyDeleteMy sons have both been to see this with friends and they all seem to have the same opinion you have. Which I think means that the director made a mistake because it seems to have been made for young men and it's not thrilling them.
ReplyDeleteI heard mixed reviews on this one so didn't rush out to the theaters to see it. It sounds like waiting for Netflix will work fine for me.
ReplyDeleteI think we both felt the same way about this one :)
ReplyDeleteMy reaction was I liked Jude Law - thought he made an interesting Watson. Also I thought there should have been way more 'deducing'.
ReplyDeleteI liked this one surprisingly well, and I really didn't think I would. I guess it's because I had a shaky relationship with ole Sherlock in print (he always put me to sleep), so the Downey, Jr. version kept me awake and giggling. And I was glad they left him smart (and made him hunky). :D
ReplyDeleteI agree on all points - the main thng that made it, for me, a go-to-the-theater movie as opposed to a wait-to-rent-DVD flick was the scenery. Though Robert Downing Jr. is always wonderful, isn't he?
ReplyDeleteNice to read the shout out for "The Zero Effect." Not that's my favorite Holmes updating - and, perhaps, more true to the original.
I mean, NOW, that's my favorite Holmes updating (the Zero Effect). Not "Not"!
ReplyDeletehow's your kitty?
I had the exact same reaction to the movie but my husband loved it.
ReplyDeleteThank you all for your comments! I really like the idea behind the more action-oriented Holmes, being the action movie fan that I am. I think I've gotten more picky lately.
ReplyDeleteClea - Zero Effect is such a good movie!
I want to watch this. I heard the good and bad about this movie, but mostly good. :)
ReplyDelete