Don't get me wrong, Sherlock Holmes is one of my favorite characters, I absolutely love the Victorian era setting and it would be unfair to say, that the actors (especially Mr. Rathbone) didn't pull a good job.
However, at least by today's standards the story is just too simple and predictable. At the moment Holmes knew that Moriarty has a connection to the Brandon case and after the striking coincidence of the jewel delivery and the garden party being at the same time, Moriarty's distraction plan should slap Mr. Holmes in his face, however, the detective mastermind fails to see the obvious. Also Moriarty's plan to steal the jewels is beyond dumb: All a criminal mastermind can come up with, is to shave and pose as police officer, with the vague hope that all the people around him don't recognize his prominent face and voice?
Furthermore the screenplay takes all liberties it wants, without paying attention, if something actually makes sense.
Why does Moriarty hire somebody to actually kill Ms. Brandon? He has nothing to gain, but in fact loses, after the caught killer talks about Moriarty's involvement.
Is it really standard procedure of tower guards, to move out with 10 man (and leaving no one behind) when a carriage has a minor accident in front of the tower, so that anybody can sneak past them?
Holmes in his entertainer outfit and the shaved Moriaty are easily recognizable for the viewer, both are very prominent figures, but no character who seems them in 3D and color recognizes them.
Why does Holmes choose to pose as an entertainer? It's a big risk to blow your cover when you have to sing in front of so many people and it's not a cover you can sneak around unobserved with?
Why doesn't Mr. Holmes tell the Tower Guards what's going on instead of sneaking past them?
Why do we have to witness a needless gunfight, when this is definitely out of character for Holmes and Moriaty?
Why do Mr. and Ms. Brandon behave so stupidly when they are under an imminent threat of getting killed? I'm mean, come, running in the woods at night is really a bad idea, when basically all you have to do is just to stay in other people's company.
I could go on for hours.
Things like this really spoiled the movie for me and just mustn't happen in a detective film, where a good story and plausibility are of great importance. Because it's always a pleasure to watch Mr. Rathbone as Sherlock and because dialogs and settings are fine, I'll still give this a weak 6. However, if you're looking for a sound detective movie (and not for a 19th century Sherlock Holmes film), you better look someplace else.
However, at least by today's standards the story is just too simple and predictable. At the moment Holmes knew that Moriarty has a connection to the Brandon case and after the striking coincidence of the jewel delivery and the garden party being at the same time, Moriarty's distraction plan should slap Mr. Holmes in his face, however, the detective mastermind fails to see the obvious. Also Moriarty's plan to steal the jewels is beyond dumb: All a criminal mastermind can come up with, is to shave and pose as police officer, with the vague hope that all the people around him don't recognize his prominent face and voice?
Furthermore the screenplay takes all liberties it wants, without paying attention, if something actually makes sense.
Why does Moriarty hire somebody to actually kill Ms. Brandon? He has nothing to gain, but in fact loses, after the caught killer talks about Moriarty's involvement.
Is it really standard procedure of tower guards, to move out with 10 man (and leaving no one behind) when a carriage has a minor accident in front of the tower, so that anybody can sneak past them?
Holmes in his entertainer outfit and the shaved Moriaty are easily recognizable for the viewer, both are very prominent figures, but no character who seems them in 3D and color recognizes them.
Why does Holmes choose to pose as an entertainer? It's a big risk to blow your cover when you have to sing in front of so many people and it's not a cover you can sneak around unobserved with?
Why doesn't Mr. Holmes tell the Tower Guards what's going on instead of sneaking past them?
Why do we have to witness a needless gunfight, when this is definitely out of character for Holmes and Moriaty?
Why do Mr. and Ms. Brandon behave so stupidly when they are under an imminent threat of getting killed? I'm mean, come, running in the woods at night is really a bad idea, when basically all you have to do is just to stay in other people's company.
I could go on for hours.
Things like this really spoiled the movie for me and just mustn't happen in a detective film, where a good story and plausibility are of great importance. Because it's always a pleasure to watch Mr. Rathbone as Sherlock and because dialogs and settings are fine, I'll still give this a weak 6. However, if you're looking for a sound detective movie (and not for a 19th century Sherlock Holmes film), you better look someplace else.