Sherlock Holmes (UK - BD)
Cor blimey guv, it's only that bloomin' Guy Ritchie Sherlock Holmes remake
Once again time is short, so I've decided to dispense with a lengthy review of the film. Instead this review will concentrate more on the technical aspects of the Blu-ray release, although I have provided some brief thoughts about the feature.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous detective, Sherlock Holmes, gets an update in this reworking by oft-maligned writer/director Guy Ritchie. When Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) and Watson (Jude Law) foil a ritualistic sacrifice by the nefarious Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong) they uncover a series of events that threaten to bring down the British government. Holmes will need to use all of his considerable skill and cunning if he is to solve the mystery before time runs out, but he is frustrated at every turn by agents of evil. Matters are further complicated by the return of his old flame, Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams), who is in the employ of some fellow called Moriarty...
I'll be completely upfront and admit that I wasn't expecting a lot from the man who brought us such films as Swept Away and Revolver, but Sherlock Holmes has forced me to re-evaluate my assessment of Guy Ritchie. I'll admit to having a strange soft spot for his début Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels—if only because it was among the very first DVDs I rented back when Blockbuster only had about a dozen to choose from—but I was less impressed with Snatch, the only memorable effect of which seems to be the popularisation of the word 'pikey'. The less said about his work since then the better, with even the inexplicably successful RocknRolla leaving me stone cold.

In light of the above you can imagine my surprise when I found his approach to this reworking of the world's greatest detective to be very enjoyable. The film moves along at a brisk pace, there's great interplay between the leads, some neat comic touches, plenty of action, and some nicely staged set-pieces to enjoy. Of course it helps that Ritchie has such a great cast to work with, and actors such as Downey Jr. and Law are a step up from your Stathams, Jones and, well, Madonnas. In fact the chemistry between the male leads is one of the most enjoyable things about the production, and I can see why some have labelled it a ‘homoerotic bromance’. That certainly isn’t a negative though—in fact much of the comedy comes from the scenes where the underlying sexual tension between the pair is almost palpable. Of course I’m fairly sure that Guy Ritchie couldn’t give a toss what I think of his films, but nevertheless I feel it’s only fair to give credit where credit is due. Sherlock Holmes isn’t a masterpiece, but it’s an entertaining romp and about a thousand times more entertaining than Ridley Scott’s ghastly take on Robin Hood.
Contrary to the packaging, which lists the theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1, the film is actually framed at 1.78:1 (1080/24p VC-1). As you'd expect from such a recent release the transfer is very good, with a strong colour palette that is intentionally desaturated to lend the picture a 'cooler' appearance. Exterior daytime shots are especially drab and dreary and should be reassuringly familiar to those who have to endure the British weather on a regular basis! Detail is similarly impressive, particularly close-ups, although the film's visual style prohibits it from attaining the sort of razor-sharp clarity associated with some releases. The image is coated with a fine layer of grain throughout, which only serves to add to the gritty 'realism' of the Victorian setting, and contrast appears to have been intentionally manipulated to provide some blown out whites. The end result of this is that black levels aren't quite as inky as one might expect, but this improves as the film progresses. The image is also very clean; if there were any film artefacts I didn't spot them and I couldn't see any particularly obvious digital artefacts either. To put it simply, Sherlock Holmes' visuals shouldn't disappoint.

Cementing Warner's relatively new commitment to DTS-HD Master Audio, Sherlock Holmes arrives with a robust 5.1 lossless track. Right from the opening scenes the mix features plenty of atmosphere, with horse-drawn carriages clip-clopping over the cobbled streets of Victorian London. This continues throughout, with crowd noise, rainstorms, church bells and more. There are also some inventive directional effects, especially during the raucous bare-knuckle boxing match and the fight with the gigantic Frenchman at the shipyard, in which every element works harmoniously to provide a thoroughly enjoyable aural experience. Dialogue is well-rendered and effectively steered around the soundstage when the occasion calls for it (the slaughter house scene springs to mind), while bass is also punchy without overwhelming the rest of the mix, so you should be relatively safe from irate neighbours. As usual, Hans Zimmer’s score is a highlight, blending the traditional violin sounds one usually associates with Holmes with banjos and out of tune piano. Yes I said out of tune, and it works to great effect. As with the video before it, Sherlock Holmes’ audio is very capable and should please the film’s devotees.
Maximum Movie Mode (02:11:32 HD): As with some of Warner's other high-profile titles ( Watchmen, Terminator Salvation), Sherlock Holmes includes the option to watch the film with this BonusView feature engaged. When activated, director Guy Ritchie occasionally walks on-screen to talk about specific scenes, often pausing the playback to explore topics in greater detail or provide technical background. Also included are interviews, storyboard comparisons, featurettes and still galleries. As with the main feature, I was surprised by just how entertained I was when watching this track. In fact, I think it's the best implementation of the feature I've seen to date.

Focus Points (31:17 HD): Although an additional thirty minutes of bonus material sounds good, the fact that these clips can also be found during the Maximum Movie Mode takes the shine off of things. I guess it's easier to view them separately (or via the play all function), but claiming them as separate features is a bit of a swizz. Anyway, the Focus Points are: Drawbridges & Doilies: Designing a Late Victorian London; Not a Deerstalker Cap in Sight; Ba-ritsu: A Tutorial; Elementary English: Perfecting Sherlock’s Accent; The One that Got Away; Powers of Observation & Deduction; The Sherlockians; and FuturePast.
Sherlock Holmes: Reinvented (14:06 HD): This relatively short featurette provides an overview of how director Guy Ritchie and star Robert Downey Jr. went about the task of reinventing the world’s greatest detective. Although essentially a fluffy EPK piece, there are some interesting facts to learn, such as the filmmakers’ conscious decision to move away from the previous theatrical incarnations of the character and instead portray him as more of an adventurer. The cast and crew are all very complimentary about their director as well.
DVD Copy: A handy DVD copy of the main feature is also included, which is ideal for watching in a second room if it lacks a Blu-ray player (or maybe even loaning to friends if you're less paranoid about disc safety than me).
Digital Copy: If you like to watch your films on the move, this is for you.

Film snobbery and irrational dislike of Guy Ritchie aside, I have to admit to enjoying Sherlock Holmes a lot more than I expected. Maybe it's because I don't have any real attachment to the literary character, but I didn't have a problem with Holmes' reinvention as a Victorian action hero. Downey Jr. is always a delight and I really enjoyed the interplay between him and Jude Law. Of course a hero is only as good as the villain he must overcome, and Mark Strong delivers his usual capable performance. Technically the Blu-ray does just about everything you could reasonably expect from such a recent feature film, offering up an extremely solid audio-visual presentation and some informative bonus material. This one comes as a surprising recommendation.
* Note: The above images are taken from the Blu-ray release and resized for the page. Full-resolution captures are available by clicking individual images, but due to .jpg compression they are not necessarily representative of the quality of the transfer.

Feature
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous detective, Sherlock Holmes, gets an update in this reworking by oft-maligned writer/director Guy Ritchie. When Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) and Watson (Jude Law) foil a ritualistic sacrifice by the nefarious Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong) they uncover a series of events that threaten to bring down the British government. Holmes will need to use all of his considerable skill and cunning if he is to solve the mystery before time runs out, but he is frustrated at every turn by agents of evil. Matters are further complicated by the return of his old flame, Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams), who is in the employ of some fellow called Moriarty...
I'll be completely upfront and admit that I wasn't expecting a lot from the man who brought us such films as Swept Away and Revolver, but Sherlock Holmes has forced me to re-evaluate my assessment of Guy Ritchie. I'll admit to having a strange soft spot for his début Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels—if only because it was among the very first DVDs I rented back when Blockbuster only had about a dozen to choose from—but I was less impressed with Snatch, the only memorable effect of which seems to be the popularisation of the word 'pikey'. The less said about his work since then the better, with even the inexplicably successful RocknRolla leaving me stone cold.

In light of the above you can imagine my surprise when I found his approach to this reworking of the world's greatest detective to be very enjoyable. The film moves along at a brisk pace, there's great interplay between the leads, some neat comic touches, plenty of action, and some nicely staged set-pieces to enjoy. Of course it helps that Ritchie has such a great cast to work with, and actors such as Downey Jr. and Law are a step up from your Stathams, Jones and, well, Madonnas. In fact the chemistry between the male leads is one of the most enjoyable things about the production, and I can see why some have labelled it a ‘homoerotic bromance’. That certainly isn’t a negative though—in fact much of the comedy comes from the scenes where the underlying sexual tension between the pair is almost palpable. Of course I’m fairly sure that Guy Ritchie couldn’t give a toss what I think of his films, but nevertheless I feel it’s only fair to give credit where credit is due. Sherlock Holmes isn’t a masterpiece, but it’s an entertaining romp and about a thousand times more entertaining than Ridley Scott’s ghastly take on Robin Hood.
Video
Contrary to the packaging, which lists the theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1, the film is actually framed at 1.78:1 (1080/24p VC-1). As you'd expect from such a recent release the transfer is very good, with a strong colour palette that is intentionally desaturated to lend the picture a 'cooler' appearance. Exterior daytime shots are especially drab and dreary and should be reassuringly familiar to those who have to endure the British weather on a regular basis! Detail is similarly impressive, particularly close-ups, although the film's visual style prohibits it from attaining the sort of razor-sharp clarity associated with some releases. The image is coated with a fine layer of grain throughout, which only serves to add to the gritty 'realism' of the Victorian setting, and contrast appears to have been intentionally manipulated to provide some blown out whites. The end result of this is that black levels aren't quite as inky as one might expect, but this improves as the film progresses. The image is also very clean; if there were any film artefacts I didn't spot them and I couldn't see any particularly obvious digital artefacts either. To put it simply, Sherlock Holmes' visuals shouldn't disappoint.

Audio
Cementing Warner's relatively new commitment to DTS-HD Master Audio, Sherlock Holmes arrives with a robust 5.1 lossless track. Right from the opening scenes the mix features plenty of atmosphere, with horse-drawn carriages clip-clopping over the cobbled streets of Victorian London. This continues throughout, with crowd noise, rainstorms, church bells and more. There are also some inventive directional effects, especially during the raucous bare-knuckle boxing match and the fight with the gigantic Frenchman at the shipyard, in which every element works harmoniously to provide a thoroughly enjoyable aural experience. Dialogue is well-rendered and effectively steered around the soundstage when the occasion calls for it (the slaughter house scene springs to mind), while bass is also punchy without overwhelming the rest of the mix, so you should be relatively safe from irate neighbours. As usual, Hans Zimmer’s score is a highlight, blending the traditional violin sounds one usually associates with Holmes with banjos and out of tune piano. Yes I said out of tune, and it works to great effect. As with the video before it, Sherlock Holmes’ audio is very capable and should please the film’s devotees.
Extras
Maximum Movie Mode (02:11:32 HD): As with some of Warner's other high-profile titles ( Watchmen, Terminator Salvation), Sherlock Holmes includes the option to watch the film with this BonusView feature engaged. When activated, director Guy Ritchie occasionally walks on-screen to talk about specific scenes, often pausing the playback to explore topics in greater detail or provide technical background. Also included are interviews, storyboard comparisons, featurettes and still galleries. As with the main feature, I was surprised by just how entertained I was when watching this track. In fact, I think it's the best implementation of the feature I've seen to date.

Focus Points (31:17 HD): Although an additional thirty minutes of bonus material sounds good, the fact that these clips can also be found during the Maximum Movie Mode takes the shine off of things. I guess it's easier to view them separately (or via the play all function), but claiming them as separate features is a bit of a swizz. Anyway, the Focus Points are: Drawbridges & Doilies: Designing a Late Victorian London; Not a Deerstalker Cap in Sight; Ba-ritsu: A Tutorial; Elementary English: Perfecting Sherlock’s Accent; The One that Got Away; Powers of Observation & Deduction; The Sherlockians; and FuturePast.
Sherlock Holmes: Reinvented (14:06 HD): This relatively short featurette provides an overview of how director Guy Ritchie and star Robert Downey Jr. went about the task of reinventing the world’s greatest detective. Although essentially a fluffy EPK piece, there are some interesting facts to learn, such as the filmmakers’ conscious decision to move away from the previous theatrical incarnations of the character and instead portray him as more of an adventurer. The cast and crew are all very complimentary about their director as well.
DVD Copy: A handy DVD copy of the main feature is also included, which is ideal for watching in a second room if it lacks a Blu-ray player (or maybe even loaning to friends if you're less paranoid about disc safety than me).
Digital Copy: If you like to watch your films on the move, this is for you.

Overall
Film snobbery and irrational dislike of Guy Ritchie aside, I have to admit to enjoying Sherlock Holmes a lot more than I expected. Maybe it's because I don't have any real attachment to the literary character, but I didn't have a problem with Holmes' reinvention as a Victorian action hero. Downey Jr. is always a delight and I really enjoyed the interplay between him and Jude Law. Of course a hero is only as good as the villain he must overcome, and Mark Strong delivers his usual capable performance. Technically the Blu-ray does just about everything you could reasonably expect from such a recent feature film, offering up an extremely solid audio-visual presentation and some informative bonus material. This one comes as a surprising recommendation.
* Note: The above images are taken from the Blu-ray release and resized for the page. Full-resolution captures are available by clicking individual images, but due to .jpg compression they are not necessarily representative of the quality of the transfer.
Review by Chris Gould
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Existing Posts
Intergalactic Ponce wrote: It occurred to me while watching this that they seem to have borrowed an aspect of the House/WIlson relationship from House M.D. (itself a spin on Holmes) and grafted it back on this updating of the famous detective. Holmes in the new film is always trying to sabotage Watson's attempts to leave him and/or get married. This mirrors the House/Wilson dynamic since House first began.
Art imitating art, imitating....
....art again.
Glad you pointed that out, I thought the same thing too, until it occurred to me that from some behind-the-scenes interviews I've seen about House they have been quite upfront about it essentially being a detective series that just happens to be set in a hospital. Holmes has always been having a laugh at Watson's expense, but never in such a way as pushes him too far. If anything, it was House that pinched that.
Anyway, thought this was a belting film. Haven't seen Robin Hood, but based on the posts in this thread it seemed necessary to make a comment on the film. Forget Russell Crowe, Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, Errol Flynn and all the rest; the best Robin Hood is the 70s Disney one for me!
Art imitating art, imitating....
....art again.
Glad you pointed that out, I thought the same thing too, until it occurred to me that from some behind-the-scenes interviews I've seen about House they have been quite upfront about it essentially being a detective series that just happens to be set in a hospital. Holmes has always been having a laugh at Watson's expense, but never in such a way as pushes him too far. If anything, it was House that pinched that.
Anyway, thought this was a belting film. Haven't seen Robin Hood, but based on the posts in this thread it seemed necessary to make a comment on the film. Forget Russell Crowe, Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, Errol Flynn and all the rest; the best Robin Hood is the 70s Disney one for me!
It occurred to me while watching this that they seem to have borrowed an aspect of the House/WIlson relationship from House M.D. (itself a spin on Holmes) and grafted it back on this updating of the famous detective. Holmes in the new film is always trying to sabotage Watson's attempts to leave him and/or get married. This mirrors the House/Wilson dynamic since House first began.
Art imitating art, imitating....
....art again.
Art imitating art, imitating....
....art again.
I saw this movie and before, I was thinking I was going to hate it, but actually, I really enjoyed it. I loved the performances, I thought the story was captivating, and the scenery was eye-popping. Great movie in my opinion.
Oh and have you guys seen Shrek Forever After? I RARELY watch kids movies but I grew up with Shrek, so I MIGHT watch it. It depends. If it's some "an ogre is a human too" sort of c**p, I'm not watching it.
Oh and have you guys seen Shrek Forever After? I RARELY watch kids movies but I grew up with Shrek, so I MIGHT watch it. It depends. If it's some "an ogre is a human too" sort of c**p, I'm not watching it.
Such a big let down with all the hype that was here....
Robin Hood at least was only meant to be average....
Robin Hood at least was only meant to be average....
This movie was alright. I only saw it in the theaters because well, I invited a friend and a friend wanted to join along and my friend wanted to come too, so we all had a fun time. Watched it again on Movies OnDemand and still enjoyed it and like all things that Robert Downey Jr. has done, but I don't need to buy it.
It's an odd fascination with me this one. I have K.O.H. and Troy on BD, both extended cuts, and own the theatrical and directors cuts of Alexander and I sometimes wonder why. I have know real knowledge of the history or periods they are trying to recreate yet I like watching them, parts at least, from time to time.
As far as K.O.H. goes, I wasn't expecting much as I'd heard bad things of the theatrical cut but ended up being quite surprised by the film in it's extended form. Also, after Bloom's wimpy portrayal in Troy, I came away again, reasonably impressed at how he appeared to throw himself into Kingdom. He was miscast though but that in itself earned him Brownie points for effort.
Alexander is starnge one. I can listen to Hopkins all day so he's a draw in that film plus the Vangelis end credits music makes the hairs stand up.
Out of the 3 films though I think Troy is the most entertaining watch. As ludicrous as the whole story might be, I think the casting of Pitt worked really well within the context of the film they ended up with.
It helps that Kingdom and Troy look incredible on BD as well. Proof that the turds can be polished I suppose.
As far as K.O.H. goes, I wasn't expecting much as I'd heard bad things of the theatrical cut but ended up being quite surprised by the film in it's extended form. Also, after Bloom's wimpy portrayal in Troy, I came away again, reasonably impressed at how he appeared to throw himself into Kingdom. He was miscast though but that in itself earned him Brownie points for effort.
Alexander is starnge one. I can listen to Hopkins all day so he's a draw in that film plus the Vangelis end credits music makes the hairs stand up.
Out of the 3 films though I think Troy is the most entertaining watch. As ludicrous as the whole story might be, I think the casting of Pitt worked really well within the context of the film they ended up with.
It helps that Kingdom and Troy look incredible on BD as well. Proof that the turds can be polished I suppose.
Well I only recently watched Kingdom of Heaven on Blu-ray and if that was better than the theatrical version (as I've been told numerous times) I'm glad I never went to the cinema. I just found it incredibly dull and long-winded. My sister in law is an RE teacher and she rants about its historical inaccuracy.
Still, I probably found it more engaging that Robin Hood, if only just. Robin Hood was devoid of any excitement and the acting was all over the place. My opinion of Crowe had been more favourable in recent times, but after hearing his petulant interview with another BBC journalist I am now back in the 'he's a t**t' camp. He's got a Irish accent in the film whether he likes it or not.
If I'm brutally honest the only Ridley Scott films that I really like are Alien and Blade Runner (I can take or leave Gladiator). I think I actually like a greater number of Tony Scott films...
Still, I probably found it more engaging that Robin Hood, if only just. Robin Hood was devoid of any excitement and the acting was all over the place. My opinion of Crowe had been more favourable in recent times, but after hearing his petulant interview with another BBC journalist I am now back in the 'he's a t**t' camp. He's got a Irish accent in the film whether he likes it or not.
If I'm brutally honest the only Ridley Scott films that I really like are Alien and Blade Runner (I can take or leave Gladiator). I think I actually like a greater number of Tony Scott films...
Chris, how is Robin Hood compared to say, Kingdom of Heaven?
I avoided the theatrical of K.O.H (and have never seen it) but appreciate the expanded Directors Cut. I don't love it but I appreciate it.
Has Robin Hood perhaps been truncated like K.O.H. I wonder, and is there still hope for it in a longer form.
I wasn't really bothered about going to see this (R.H.) but was swayed by the Mayo/Kermode interview with Russell Crowe. Without putting the usual PR spin on the film, he managed to 'hook' me into wanting to see it. Unfortunately, all the negative press has put me back in the 'wait for the directors cut blu-ray' frame of mind. Pity.
Also, of concern (based on Scott's recent form) is his return to Alien, with his intention to explain away the 'Space Jockey' in the original. My feeling is to leave well alone. Explaining will rob any sense of mystery left in the series.
Look what happened when someone thought it a good idea to explain away a certain masked villain in another space fantasy series. Nothing good came of it.
Fingers crossed Scott has a fresh unexpected angle on it.
I avoided the theatrical of K.O.H (and have never seen it) but appreciate the expanded Directors Cut. I don't love it but I appreciate it.
Has Robin Hood perhaps been truncated like K.O.H. I wonder, and is there still hope for it in a longer form.
I wasn't really bothered about going to see this (R.H.) but was swayed by the Mayo/Kermode interview with Russell Crowe. Without putting the usual PR spin on the film, he managed to 'hook' me into wanting to see it. Unfortunately, all the negative press has put me back in the 'wait for the directors cut blu-ray' frame of mind. Pity.
Also, of concern (based on Scott's recent form) is his return to Alien, with his intention to explain away the 'Space Jockey' in the original. My feeling is to leave well alone. Explaining will rob any sense of mystery left in the series.
Look what happened when someone thought it a good idea to explain away a certain masked villain in another space fantasy series. Nothing good came of it.
Fingers crossed Scott has a fresh unexpected angle on it.
Thanx man. Now I really get the picture.
Worse, but both are woefully inaccurate bore-fests.
Really that bad huh Mr Gould. Still, I wonder if there are no redeeming point such as historical accuray or good action or good performance. I'm sorry, but I still think that since it's Scott's movie, it can't be that bad. In addition, I really enjoy Kingdom of Heaven, how's this movie compared to that.
I hated Robin Hood, as did my Mrs and everyone else I know who's seen it. I honestly think Clash of the Titans was more enjoyable, and I really didn't like that either.
"Sherlock Holmes isn’t a masterpiece, but it’s an entertaining romp and about a thousand times more entertaining than Ridley Scott’s ghastly take on Robin Hood."
Is Robin Hood really that terrible? Damn, and I was planning to see it this week. Ok, somebody please tell me that Scott's Robin is better than Titans coz if that's so, I think it still watchable.
Is Robin Hood really that terrible? Damn, and I was planning to see it this week. Ok, somebody please tell me that Scott's Robin is better than Titans coz if that's so, I think it still watchable.
I enjoyed this movie. Bring on the next Sherlock Holmes film.
Is the DVD and the Digital Copy on the same disc?
I enjoyed it, it's sitting next to me right now, mean to watch it some time this week again.
too much of the CG looks s**te in the trailers I've seen. it's on my Lovefilm list tho so I suppose I'll get it before Christmas. Probably


Suitable only for persons of 12 years and over
Disc Details
Release Date:
17th May 2010
Discs:
2
Disc Type:
Blu-ray Disc
RCE:
No
Video:
1080p
Aspect:
1.78:1
Anamorphic:
No
Colour:
Yes
Audio:
DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 English,
Subtitles:
Maximum Movie Mode, Focus Points, Featurette
Extras:
Maximum Movie Mode, Focus Points, Sherlock Holmes: Reinvented
Easter Egg:
No
Feature Details
Director:
Guy Ritchie
Cast:
Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Mark Strong, Eddie Marsan
Genre:
Action and Mystery
Length:
129 minutes
Ratings
Amazon.com
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