The highly anticipated film Sherlock Holmes is another adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle’s detective novels from the late 1800s to early 1900s.

SHERLOCK GETS JACKED. Robert Downey Jr. plays a very different Holmes than the one described in Doyle’s literature.

In the opening scene, Holmes (Downey) and sidekick Dr. John Watson (Law) find Lord Blackwood (Strong) sacrificing a young lady in a religious ritual with the use of black magic. Blackwood’s punishment is execution. Holmes and Watson are viewed as heroes until Blackwood is resurrected and goes missing.

The search for Blackwood sends both Holmes and Watson on a wild manhunt that can only be solved by Holmes’ wit and detective skills. The story gets more interesting with the addition of Holmes’ former love interest Irene Adler (McAdams).

The plot concept is intriguing but the overall execution poor. At times the viewer could may sight of the plot due to the over-the-top fighting scenes. The two-hour film has far too many intense combat sequences that seem irrelevant to the film — it seems they were included purely to witness Downey taking on men twice his size.

The film is mainly developed around Holmes’ attention to details, which is not completely explained until the end of the film when Blackwood is hung. Director Ritchie does a phenomenal job at showcasing Holmes’ classic use of deductive reasoning to solve the many mysteries of the film. At times Holmes’ attention to detail seems confusing and irrelevant but everything is revealed and makes sense at the end of the film.

The star-studded cast of talented actors is what really makes the film enjoyable. Downey Jr., Law and McAdams embrace their roles from their attire to accents that define the essence of the late 1800s. The same could be said about the phenomenal set that depicts all the authenticity of Victorian England.

The development of Watson and Holmes’ friendship is paramount to understanding their love-hate relationship, and Downey and Law have impressive chemistry. At one moment, Watson will be punching Holmes’ in the face, and the next he’ll be saving his partner’s life.

The unstoppable duo of Watson and Holmes’ is showcased perfectly, however, the relationship between Holmes’ and Irene Adler could have been better developed and McAdams had a smaller part than expected.

Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes puts a twist on Doyle’s classic detective novels leaving the audience riveted. The farfetched fight scenes and complex chain of events take away somewhat from the film, but it is an overall enjoyable experience.