FEATURE FIEND: SHERLOCK HOLMES

So you're standing in the theater asking yourself what to see since Avatar is still sold out. The answer of course is Sherlock Holmes!

This movie was definitely not what you'd expect from seeing previous incarnations of Holmes on film. Holmes, played by Robert Downey Jr., is much rowdier. He's a capable fighter, while still retaining everything that makes him the brilliant detective that audiences expect. I loved the way that director Guy Ritchie focused on Holmes' deductive skills, running the audience through his thought processes in slow motion then speeding things up to real time.

Watson, played by Jude Law, is also not typical of previous incarnations. He seems to have much more of an individual personality. He's capable of doing some reasoning of his own and isn't there solely to ask Holmes to solve everything for him.

The script moves along at a good pace, revealing just enough to keep the audience guessing the whole way through and setting up nicely for a possible sequel.

The only problem I had with the film was Rachel McAdams' portrayal of Holmes' love interest, Irene Adler. Her acting seemed flat and it bothered me that she had an American accent in a film set entirely in London in a time where it wasn't particularly easy to travel to and from England. But these really weren't enough to spoil my enjoyment of the movie.

If you're a fan of action films or mysteries, or if you've enjoyed Guy Ritchie's previous films I'd definitely say check this movie out.