Oh no! Paul, I was all ready to miss this one and now you wrote a decent review for it! Damn you and your usually dead-on reviewing. I've found that in most things if you liked it, I should give it a chance, so at some point I'm going to have to give this one a whirl. Thanks!

Guy Ritchie is a dreadful, dreadful director and I found the first film to be quite mediocre but he surprised me with his characterisation. I think Downey Jr & especially Jude Law are spot on as Holmes and Watson and I don't see how Holmes as a manic, druggy genius at detection and hand-to-hand combat is a fresh take on the Holmes of Conan Doyle's books.

It's definitely a fresh take if you consider Basil Rathbone or Jeremy Brett as the definitive Holmes but their portrayals were much different to the Holmes I've read and re-read.

And don't get me started on the BBC version with Holmes as an earnest sociopath.

Of the new variations of Holmes the only character that has been worth watching is the new Moriaty on the new BBC series. Andrew Scott ROCKS that role. This American version and the remainder of the new BBC version suck.

I enjoyed the first one for what it was, a fun enjoyable film that I enjoyed with my daughter, and it sounds like were going to enjoy this one even more. ah, the joys of being the father of a 19 year old! Thanks for the review and I look forward to seeing this when I return to the States.