"Sherlock Holmes" (2009) is an intellectual mystery movie featuring a great deal of character through Downey Jr. and Law. If you want to get as much out of it as possible, there are a few things you need to keep in mind before watching:

The character known as Sherlock Holmes is perceived in pop culture as a charismatic investigator who with his almost-supernatural set of abilities can crack even the toughest murder mysteries. This movie follows suites and is filled to the brim with wit, charismatic glee, and the essential, almost stereotypical antagonists (which borderlines the Satanistic realms, so sensitive watchers to that are cautioned). Nevertheless, the dynamic relationship which Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law showcases glues the movie together and fill in the cracks excellently - save one point.

The thrill of the movie, as well as the plot itself, hinges on the clues and details scattered throughout the runtime. They are obvious to recognize, but practically impossible to understand and put into context, save to Holmes. Where Sherlock Holmes could have its audience analyzing and pondering about the implication about the revealed objects, it instead saves the relevance until one big presentation after the climax, at which point the objects have lost a great deal of interest. This lack and use of information can lead some audiences to feeling alienated, uninterested and possibly frustrated, which is something to be cautioned about beforehand. As average entertainment, however, Sherlock Holmes does just fine.

The music from Hans Zimmer deserves a mention for its creative use of contemporary instruments blended in a dissonance still harmonious. A unique piece for sure, and one of a few great things that still makes Sherlock Holmes a pleasant watching experience, which is even enhanced in the sequel.

My personal grade: a frustrating but fun 6/10. If you found this helpful, check my profile for more reviews.