Guy Ritchie brought a 21st century slant to Arthur Conan Doyle's best known creation with a witty and thrillingly exciting film full of action. Best associated with London geezers and gangsters,Ritchie gives Holmes a fresh update and steers away from the Basil Rathbone deerstalker wearing detective of the 30's. Giving Holmes played by Robert Downey Jnr a sidekick with just as much gumption and intelligence in the shape of Jude Law's Watson was a wise move. The two spar beautifully and with crisp dialogue and a clever and engrossing plot that veers towards the occult, Holmes is perfectly set up for a new generation. Mark Strong again stars as an aristocratic villain and serial killer with a creepy and sinister…

Sherlock Holmes was a really ambitious project. Even though it's full of problems, it's charming and entertaining. Instead of just doing a normal period piece, Guy Ritchie attempts to combine elements from modern action films, design and execute some spectacular set pieces, and play up the comedic side of the Sherlock Holmes/Dr. John Watson relationship. I think that even though overall it tends to work, there is something kind of empty about the end product and it doesn't hold up as well on re-watches at home.

Technically, this film is hit and miss. The slow motion scenes are really compelling, especially when it came to the fight scenes. Being able to get visual insight into the inner workings of Sherlock's…

I've gone a little bit cold on the first of Hollywood's fresh take on Sherlock Holmes, after lapping it up at the cinema (and greatly enjoying the sequel I might add). Not because I've watched the highly-rated BBC series which people bafflingly seem to compare this to (they couldn't be more different for the same subject matter - and for the record I've only seen one of them) but rather despite being very easy on eye, full of vim and vigour and with all the players quite clearly having a hell of a time, Guy Ritchie's movie is a touch overlong, a narrative jumble and ultimately a bit too hollow.

Now I'm no authority on Holmes at all - I've…

I've never read Holmes. If I've seen any previous films, I don't remember them. So I came into this with no expectations or baggage. I was open to a new interpretation of the previously stuffy character. I knew he was more physical in this version. What I wasn't expecting was for Downey to portray him here as Shawn Spencer from TV's "Psych" in the Victorian era. Actually, most of the movie felt like Psych - his methods, his personality, his relationship with his partner, his interactions with the police... Not that any of that's a bad thing. I just never pictured Holmes like that. But where the movie falls short is the story, led by a weak villain (seriously, couldn't…

Guy Ritchie should stick to making the gangster/fantasy flicks he is more known for. Robery Downey Jnr should just stick to playing sego fuelled out heroes, and Jude Law should really have a better calibre for acting.

The trio tear the myth and legend of British staple Sherlock Holmes into an almost run-of-the-mill origins story, 'Sherlock Begins' so to speak, as the tale of a drunk, sleazy, yet logical thinking pit-fighter and detective is hired with his good friend Dr Watson to solve a baffling kidnap and murder crime and prevent the country from falling into chaos and a reign of eternal terror.

As detective stories go, never mind a Sherlock Holmes mystery, this is a very sloppy mix of…

Mocht er één oeuvre zijn waarbij we onze wenkbrauwen in een meewarige frons durven te heisen, dan is het dat van de Britse ADHD-filmer Guy Ritchie. Aan het eind van de jaren negentig schopte Ritchie het tot King of cool van de Britse cinema met twee bescheiden pareltjes ('Snatch' & 'Lock, stock and two smoking barrels'). Maar wie zich tot enige reflectie genoopt voelde, moet toegeven dat Ritchie eerder keizer was van de gebakken lucht, een Tarantino-epigoon die steevast style over substance verkoos en 'film' zag als therapie om zijn ADHD-stuiptrekkingen van zich af te filmen. Zijn eerste twee prenten waren toevalstreffers, badmingtonveertjes die nét over het net raakten, maar met de gerecycleerde stroop die de regisseur daarna afleverde ('RockNrolla', 'Swept…