Sir Arthur Conan Doyle never imagined his cerebral London detective as a ball-busting action hero. But director Guy Ritchie did. And he's persuaded Robert Downey Jr. to mainline testosterone. You never saw Basil Rathbone, the best movie Holmes, or Jeremy Brett, the best TV Holmes, strip down in a freestyle-fight ring. You do here. Even old Dr. Watson is a scrapper in the studly person of Jude Law. Ritchie directs with the kind of “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” gusto that's meant to batter you into submission.

The time is 1891, and the place is still London, but Ritchie can't be bothered with period details, especially dialogue. Noticing that the villainous Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong) has scratched bloody messages all over his filthy prison cell, Holmes quips, "Love what you've done with the place." Holmes scholars will cry their eyes out over this update from hell. Rachel McAdams is mere window dressing as a mystery woman from Holmes' past. Ritchie is all about the whooshing and headbanging, leaving no space between Holmes' words to savor their meaning.

The film’s locations – 19th century Paris (the scenes of the Paris Opera are sensational) and Switzerland (the spectacular wintry alps are breathtaking) certainly add to the elements as the story about the threat to destroy the civilised world. The villain is the mastermind, ruthless Professor James Moriarty (Jared Harris) who is taking advantage of the conflict in Europe for his own avaricious, evil intentions.

Robert Downey Jnr is irresistible. As Johnny Depp has done so brilliantly with his devilish Jack Sparrow, Downey has made this sly sardonic Sherlock stylistically all his own.

Case closed!




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