There are some characters that, when we're properly introduced to them, we can't help but fall in love with, or at least, be in awe of.

From Christoph Waltz as Hans Landa in Inglourious Basterds to Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean, these are the characters that catch our attention with their quirkiness, wit and overall temperament, even if they aren't people we might have liked in real life. Or, even still, we like to hate on-screen.

To this list of characters, Robert Downey Jr. as the impeccably intuitive Sherlock Holmes is added, immediately.

In this Guy Richie adaptation of the famous Arthur Conan Doyle character, Holmes (Downey Jr.) and Watson (Jude Law) capture the sinister Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong) as he is performing a ritual sacrifice of a young girl.

Blackwood is captured and sentenced to death, but before his execution by hanging he calls Holmes to tell him that he will rise from the grave in three days.

Which he does.

What follows is Holmes applying his skill and experience to outsmart what to others seemed like witchcraft.

The setting seems true to the time, even going as far as hinting to the significant events of the rest of the Atlantic world within that period. Beyond the creation of Britain during industrialization is the creation of the Sherlock Holmes universe created by the novels.

Besides Holmes and Watson, are some of the other memorable characters who fans of the books know well, Holmes' landlady Mrs. Hudson (Geraldine James), his love interest, Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams) and his mysterious arch-nemesis Professor Moriarty all appear as, giving Holmes fans the feelings of a complete universe according to Conan Doyle's novels.

The recreation of these well-known characters would mean nothing if it wasn't credible to the way we knew them though. Interestingly, the neat and well-mannered Sherlock Holmes that is usually portrayed in movie adaptations are done away with here, in favor of a wittier, anti-social, eccentric and no-nonsense Holmes, who only cares about putting his brain to work and solving the puzzle. Similarly, the comical Watson that has been popular from the 1930's movie adaptations is also replaced with a serious portrayal by Jude Law.

The vision of this film is not as glamorous and beautiful as other adaptations. Instead, it is much more action-packed, quick and furious than casual viewers of our calculating detective might expect.

The supporting acting in this movie is very strong. Jude Law shows a completely different side of Watson in his portrayal; one that can maybe no longer put up with his employer Holmes.

However, Law convincingly depicts a deep bond of friendship with Holmes. Rachel McAdams also wows us as Irene, the only woman who has ever outsmarted Holmes, and the only person Holmes has ever loved.

Though a much more emotional portrayal might have worked wonders, McAdams' subtle displays of affection for Holmes reads well to those watching, and leave us wondering how far their interactions will go.

And, of course, Robert Downey Jr. as Holmes does nothing else than amaze. A well-developed character with each and every quirk, he has that same arrogance and wit that attracts us to Hugh Laurie's Dr. House on TV, a character actually created as homage to Holmes.

When he stares into space, we can almost see the gears turning in Holmes' head, and his disregard of most other people is so consistent that it cannot be forgotten. Never before have we seen such an eccentric, wild and bohemian Holmes on the big screen. And it's something that we like to see.

But even through that, a powerful deductive mind remains, and to some extent is even enhanced to attract a crowd that before would've just left this movie alone. In some places, we see a man whose great mind loves being put to hard use. In others, we see a man so smart he can almost see the future.

What is also admirable is the elaborate puzzle to be solved. Instead of the usual heightened criminal activity we have come to expect, we see a supernatural plot unravel, and one which Holmes at some point doubts he can solve.

But when he does, the solution is surprising because it all comes to us at the end.

It is definitely a movie to get people thinking, and breathes new life into the character of Sherlock Holmes. With Holmes' arch-nemesis hinted but not seen in this film, a sequel seems likely, brining with it another opportunity to see Holmes in action.

Sherlock Holmes

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Mark Strong.

Running Time: 134 minutes (2hrs, 14mins)

5/5 stars

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