Sherlock Holmes

Holmes was quite fond of whispering sweet nothings into Watson's ear...

That Brit wot brung us Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch and RocknRolla has pointed his gritterfying-machine all over one of literature's most dynamic duos and ended up with something that ain't half bad at all.
Set in 1891, Holmes, played by the rather dashing Robert Downey Jr, and his 'life partner' Doctor Watson, the best character Jude Law has played since I don't know when, are about to part ways. They've just finished a case, Watson is soon to be engaged and moving out of his rooms in the famous 221b Baker Street. After enduring Holmes' outlandish and irritating behaviour, I don't blame him.
Ritchie has endowed his Holmes as a roguish, unkempt genius, he's keen for round in the boxing ring one minute then the next he's experimenting with a violin and a bunch of trapped flies. Watson, his ever loyal companion, now has a touch of the gambling bug and a darn good left hook.
Every good guy needs his bad guy and Mark Strong is respectfully creepy as supernatural wanna-be Lord Blackwood. Strong has worked with Ritchie on a few projects now, I do hope there will be more. The bigger a baddie's cape, the badder the baddie... or something like that. Darth Vader didn't just wear a sarong did he. No.
Sherlock is a visual treat. Ritchie does a bang up job of transporting us back to the grimy streets of an industrialised London but there was something amiss... It felt in parts a big lagging in the pacing department. Only a couple of times though, I just felt like I was waiting for the next thing to happen. However, I must say that when it did happen, it did happen. With big explosions, lots of fist on cheek action, witty banter between Holmes and Watson, and a very nice love interest in the shape of Rachel McAdams as Irene Alder, overall it certainly impressed.
Thankfully there is talk of a sequel. You don't show glimpses of one of literature's most brilliant villains and not do anything about it. Now that would be a crime.
Have a butcher's hook and a bubble bath with your best China plate. It's a darn good flick and that ain't no pork pie.