Sherlock Holmes: Warner Home Video DVD

Sherlock Holmes: Warner Home Video DVD
Review by JAM

For fans of action-filled, intellectual movies, Sherlock Holmes fits the bill. Robert Downey and Jude Law form a new version of the classic team of Holmes and Watson with an eccentric twist. Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong) is a diabolical genius with seeming ties to the supernatural and powers beyond that of mortal men. As he rises from the dead to terrorize London once more, Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) and Dr. John Watson (Jude Law) must once again team together to save their reputations, their lives, and their country from one of the most difficult cases and villains they have ever faced. With the help of a lost and wayward former love of Holmes’, Miss Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams) who hinders as much as helps, Holmes and Watson stand triumphant at the end, though the future presents its own challenges as a well-known adversary waits in the shadows.

Action and special effects abound as the supernatural crosses the genius level intellect of Holmes, sending him on a crash course into near madness. Add in the distance created between him and his best (and possibly only) friend Watson and Holmes seems to face his greatest challenge alone, falling into madness. Both Watson and Irene Adler join him to pull him from his madness and show the “supernatural” to not be as scary and mystical as it seems.

Thoughts on Sherlock Holmes

I have to be honest. I’m not the biggest Robert Downey Jr. fan. Yeah, he was great as Iron Man, but he was playing as close to an autobiographical character as possible it seemed. And the only Jude Law movies I remember seeing was AI where he was a stiff robot and Enemy at the Gates in which I was focused on Rachel Weiss. But I truly enjoyed Sherlock Holmes, and maybe (just maybe) I have to give those two a chance in other movies. Robert Downey Jr. controlled the character of Holmes, never overacting and never letting the character control him and Jude Law gave a strong rendition of Watson that stole the show some. Seeing him on a nearly even playing field in his interactions with Holmes was refreshing. And Rachel McAdams was SOOOO underused and her character leant an interesting twist to the entire plot, being both a help and hindrance to Holmes. I have heard that a sequel has already been planned, and I only hope that Irene Adler makes her presence known once again, hopefully on the side of the angels against the evil machinations of Professor Moriarty.

A few friends of mine have complained about the “purity” of Sherlock Holmes not being respected in this movie. To that I have to say, enjoy the movie for what it was. Holmes was still the smartest man in the room, even if he seemed a bit crazed. Watson was still the loyal doctor, even if he seemed the strong one in the partnership. Irene Adler was the woman who captured Holmes’ heart, even if a criminal past was highlighted. It was made to be a fun and intellectual action movie and it succeeds in being a fun and intellectual action movie.

Sherlock Holmes from Warner Home Video is a powerfully kinetic return to a character that known and loved by all. This action packed DVD comes Highly Recommended from JAMMovieReviews and HollywoodTeenZine.

Extras

Alright, I truly wish I had the Blu-Ray to review, because look at the extras included in the press release that follows. As much as I am drooling over the extras I did not have to review, I must admit that the feature included on the Standard DVD version is pretty awesome. The quote that this is not your grandfather’s Sherlock Holmes is right, but it seems like the decisions and changes they made were actually for good reasons, and in my opinion worked to make the film enjoyable. It is interesting that they feel that it is closer to the source material than many of the previous movies, especially since people’s complaints have focused on the changes from the previous movies. It is interesting to hear the thoughts of the director, producers, actors and more on the design of this character, and I think it enhances the movie experience.

Oh yeah, and the preview for Clash of the Titans looks AMAZING!!!!! The Clint Eastwood Collection is also previewed for 35 years and films of one of our greatest actors ever. It may have come out in February, but go ahead, make your day! And the Blu-Ray release of The Lord of the Rings trilogy just makes Sherlock Holmes almost worth buying for just the trailers.

Bonus features are listed in the press release that follows:

The Official Press Release from Warner Home Video

WITNESS THE REIMAGINING OF THE CLASSIC STORY AS
SHERLOCK HOLMES
ARRIVES ONTO BLU-RAY COMBO PACK AND DVD
MARCH 30th FROM
WARNER HOME VIDEO

Robert Downey, Jr. stars as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's legendary detective

Also available ON DEMAND on March 30

Join the wild search for the ultimate clue when Sherlock Holmes arrives on Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD March 30th from Warner Home Video. In this gritty, never before seen look at the London underworld, Robert Downey Jr. takes us beyond the legendary reputation of the brilliant sleuth and puts his spin on the quick-witted, bare-knuckled detective, Sherlock Holmes.
Sherlock Holmes, with the aid of his trusted ally Dr. John Watson, is unequaled in his pursuit of criminals. He employs his own quirky and unique (albeit at times unconventional), methods to get to the heart of a case, traveling where no one else would think to go to find what others cannot see...
But now a storm is gathering, a threat unlike anything that Holmes has ever confronted. After a string of ritualistic murders, Holmes and Watson arrive just in time to save the latest victim and uncover the killer: Lord Blackwood. As he approaches his scheduled hanging, Blackwood warns Holmes that death has no power over him, and when that prediction comes true, London and Scotland Yard are left confounded. But to Holmes, the game is afoot. Racing to stop Blackwood's deadly plot, Holmes and Watson plunge into a world of the dark arts and new technologies, where logic is sometimes the best crime-fighting weapon.
From Director Guy Ritchie (Snatch, RocknRolla), Sherlock Holmes stars Academy Award™ nominee Robert Downey, Jr. (Iron Man series, Chaplin, Tropic Thunder), Academy Award™ nominee Jude Law (The Talented Mr. Ripley, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus), Rachel McAdams (Wedding Crashers, The Notebook) and Mark Strong (Body of Lies, RocknRolla, Syriana).
The Sherlock Holmes Blu-ray disc features the immersive Maximum Movie Mode, which includes walk-ons by director Guy Ritchie, eight focus points, 60 minutes of Picture-in-Picture commentary and BD-Live connectivity. Additional exciting BD-Live content will be announced in the coming weeks. On March 30th, Sherlock Holmes will also be available ON DEMAND through Digital Cable, Satellite TV, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 game consoles and it can be downloaded for rental or purchase on iTunes and Amazon Video On Demand.

SYNOPSIS
Sherlock Holmes has made his reputation finding the truth at the heart of the most complex mysteries. With the aid of Dr. John Watson, his trusted ally, the renowned "consulting detective" is unequaled in his pursuit of criminals of every stripe, whether relying on his singular powers of observation, his remarkable deductive skills, or the blunt force of his fists.
But now a storm is gathering over London, a threat unlike anything that Holmes has ever confronted...and just the challenge he's looking for.
After a string of brutal, ritualistic murders, Holmes and Watson arrive just in time to save the latest victim and uncover the killer: the unrepentant Lord Blackwood. As he approaches his scheduled hanging, Blackwood--who has terrorized inmates and jailers alike with his seeming connection to dark and powerful forces--warns Holmes that death has no power over him and, in fact, his execution plays right into Blackwood's plans.
And when, by all indications, Blackwood makes good on his promise, his apparent resurrection panics London and confounds Scotland Yard. But to Holmes, the game is afoot.
Racing to stop Blackwood's deadly plot, Holmes and Watson plunge into a world of the dark arts and startling new technologies, where logic is sometimes the best crime-fighting weapon...but where a good right hook will often do the job.
DVD ELEMENTS

Standard Edition:
o "Sherlock Holmes: Reinvented" (TRT 16:17) - Together, Guy Ritchie and Robert Downey Jr. have reinvented Sherlock Holmes. See how these two reinterpret the master sleuth and how Downey prepares for the role and why his Thespian approach takes this classic character to levels never depicted before.

Blu-ray Disc:
o "Sherlock Holmes: Reinvented" (TRT 16:17) - Together, Guy Ritchie and Robert Downey Jr. have reinvented Sherlock Holmes. See how these two reinterpret the master sleuth and how Downey prepares for the role and why his Thespian approach takes this classic character to levels never depicted before.
o Maximum Movie Mode (TRT Feature Length)
 Director Walk-Ons
 8 Focus Points
 60 mins of PIP
 Still Galleries
 Storyboard Comparisons
 Timeline
o SD Feature Film
o Digital Copy on Disc (WMV and iTunes files)
o BD-Live: Sherlock Holmes Soundtrack piece
-- more –
BASICS

PRODUCT SRP
Single disc Amaray (WS) $ 28.98
Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray Disc + DVD + Digital Copy) $ 35.99

Standard Street Date: March 30, 2010
DVD Languages: English, Latin Spanish, Canadian French
DVD Subtitles: ESDH, Latin Spanish, Canadian French
Blu-ray Languages: English, Latin Spanish, Canadian French, Brazilian Portuguese
Blu-ray Subtitles: ESDH, Latin Spanish, Canadian French, Brazilian Portuguese
Running Time: 128 minutes
Rating: PG-13 (for intense sequences of violence and action, some startling images and a scene of suggestive material.)
DLBY/SURR DLBY/DGTL [CC]


Sherlock Holmes from Warner Home Video DVD and Blu-Ray rises onto shelves on March 30, 2010. Sleuth around and find the action you have been looking for in Sherlock Holmes.

Remember check out this review and more from JAM at www.hollywoodteenzine.com for teens and tweens, and at www.jammoviereviews.blogspot.com for movies of all genres and ages.