Sherlock Holmes

This reimagining of Scotland Yard's most famous detective is less Arthur Conan Doyle than it is director Guy Ritchie. With its fast-paced martial-arts frenzy, Sherlock Holmes represents an extreme makeover, a farce/comedy/mystery with bizarrely homoerotic overtones between brawny, insouciant Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) and his refined companion, Dr. John Watson (Jude Law). Set in London, circa 1891, in the midst of a series of brutal, ritualistic murders, the tale unfolds with Holmes and Watson arriving just in time to save the latest would-be victim and apprehend the killer, Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong), beating Inspector Lestrade (Eddie Marsan) to the punch. On the eve of his execution, Blackwood taunts Holmes with his knowledge of the dark arts, claiming that death holds no power over him and that his hanging is simply part of his diabolical plan to destroy Britain. Indeed, since the killings continue after Blackwood's demise, the murderer's baffling “resurrection” confounds Scotland Yard. Meanwhile, a comely American con-artist (Rachel McAdams) brings in a new case for Holmes, while Watson makes plans to move out of Holmes' Baker Street lair and marry his girlfriend (Kelly Reilly), whom Holmes resents. Holmes aficionados may balk at the cerebral sleuth's transformation into a slick action-adventure hero, but many will find this entertaining. Recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include a “Sherlock Holmes: Reinvented” making-of featurette (14 min.), and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is the “Maximum Movie Mode” feature with director Guy Ritchie taking viewers through the film with picture-in-picture featurettes and storyboard comparisons, as well as the BD-Live function, and a bonus DVD version of the film. Bottom line: a fine Blu-ray extras package for an often fun film.] (S. Granger)