The Song Fight Bulletin Board

I went in expecting an action packed detective story, but what I got instead was really just an action movie. It didn't have any of the cleverness or intelligence that I thought a movie about the greatest detective of all time should have. Still, it was a fun enough action movie, with really good performances from most of the cast. I wish they had played up more the angle of how difficult life would be for someone who was so open to all sensory information around them. They hit on that briefly in one scene, but since it was really an action movie they couldn't focus for too long on anything like character development, etc.

If you're looking for a different modernization of Sherlock Holmes, check out "The Zero Effect", which has Bill Pullman as the detective and Ben Stiller as the sidekick. There are similarities in how they portray Bill Pullman's character in that movie to Robert Downey Jr.'s Sherlock Holmes. but that movie is so much more about the characters and the central mystery, since it's not an action movie at all.

Lunkhead wrote:I went in expecting an action packed detective story, but what I got instead was really just an action movie. It didn't have any of the cleverness or intelligence that I thought a movie about the greatest detective of all time should have.

And that's exactly why I stayed away from this film.

Lunkhead wrote:If you're looking for a different modernization of Sherlock Holmes, check out "The Zero Effect", which has Bill Pullman as the detective and Ben Stiller as the sidekick. There are similarities in how they portray the Bill Pullman's in that movie but that movie is so much more about the characters and the central mystery, since it's not an action movie at all.

I heartily endorse this recommendation.

Lunkhead wrote:the angle of how difficult life would be for someone who was so open to all sensory information around them

That sounds like the film "Schlafes Bruder" (Brother of Sleep) - German, good organ music.

Your review backs up the feeling I got from the ads, thanks. Didn't seem much like Sherlock Holmes at all.
-bill

I liked so many things about this movie. But I don't know the original story, other than he was a detective and his buddy was "dear Watson". I do remember hearing he was a heroin addict or opium, being from that period. I understand his addiction. It's hard to live with an over active mind that needs to understand everything.

It seems a lot like House and his doctor friend. I couldn't help but notice the similarities in the characters, right down to one trying to have a relationship with a woman and the other ruining it, lol. But both brilliant minds. Just that House is a little more genius in his own way.

I've only seen bits and pieces of this movie, but I'd wished they just called it Guy Ritchie's Old English Action Flick instead of Sherlock Holmes.

The Zero effect is a brilliant film - excellent recommendation!!

I'll have to rent The Zero Effect. Thanks for the tip.