Last Saturday, I got a chance to watch Sherlock Holmes at the cinemas!

By golly, I waited for this for a month, given that it was shown elsewhere last 2009, but only got to watch it this 2010! Jeez, what a loser. One part being that from the third week of December 2009 until the second week of January 2010, only local [ie Filipino] movies were being shown from a film festival. Ugh.

Anyway, the plotline is quite simple [and here's me without giving any spoilers]: Holmes was called in to a case wherein he was chasing after Lord Blackwood, stopping a crime involving magic & human sacrifice. He catches Blackwood, he was tried and hanged. But wait! Blackwood rose from the dead! And Holmes was called again to capture Blackwood and find out how he did his death-defying act.

Simple enough, eh?

I wouldn't give away any other parts of the movie because I came in the cinema with absolutely nothing! No spoilers, nothing, and I guess that's what made me enjoy and appreciate the movie more. Although the movie is not based on any of A. Conan Doyle's novel, the story gave it enough justice, staying loyal to the methods of Holmes on how he apprehended the perpetrator, and the steps the perps went through as they were doing their deeds as was described in the novels and short stories. Holmes mastery of disguise was also clearly shown in the movie. Look closer at some of the characters and you'll realize that it's Holmes, playing another part!

Robert Downey Jr as Holmes was awesome. Hands down. No wonder he was nominated [or won?] several awards from his portrayal of Holmes. Jude Law was also great as Watson! I loved their bromance and banter on the screen! Absolutely entertaining!

Loooooved the costumes and setting as well! Costumes were typical of the 19th century. Setting-wise, several London landmarks that we now know and love today were featured! St. Paul's Cathedral, Big Ben & the Houses of Parliament, and Tower Bridge. I loved that they showed the Tower Bridge when it was still under construction at the time. It was the perfect backdrop! One thing that caught my eye as well: Eros at Piccadilly Circus!! It's an amazing contrast to the Piccadilly of now, where there's neon signs in one area! Wheeee!! Okay. I am biased. I loooooove London hence plus points for the movie to be set there! =) The Thames also has a major part in the movie! Watch out for that!

One complaint though: in the movie, Holmes has a tendency to talk very, very quickly! It's quite hard to catch on what he's saying, as his words may sometimes be fuddled with Downey's fake British accent. Then again, that's my only complaint!

The ending is open-ended in such a way that there might be a sequel in the works! Wheeeee!!!! I hope there will be one! I'll keep on googling it! 

I'll give this movie a 4.5/5!! Very worth your money!! Go watch it!

The Young Victoria is a British movie that chronicles the early life of Victoria as she ascended to the throne of England. It shows how she was very protected as a child, not being able to interact with any other children, would need to hold someone's hand as she was walking down the stairs, and had to share a bedroom with her mother. The movie also chronicles how Victoria and Albert had met, and how their love story had blossomed.

This movie was such a blast for me to watch! I love all things England, so was thrilled when I saw that it was showing on a limited engagement at the local cinemas. For starters, I don't really know much about Albert & Victoria, much less gone to most of the famous landmarks that were left in their honor in London, so I came to watch this movie with an open book, willing to learn and understand more about them. Now, that's a disadvantage to me because I don't know which parts are historically correct and which parts were just exaggerated for the cinematography.

The setting, costumes, and actors were very brilliant. The Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace scenes were believable, as were the period costumes at the time. The actors also showed the youth of both Prince Albert and Queen Victoria, as I tihnk most of us only know them as part of history now, and don't give them much thought. Emily Blunt as Queen Victoria? Absolutely AMAZING! Rupert Friend as Prince Albert? HOT! And very, very, very believable! Their chemistry on screen was sizzling! And in some scenes, they managed to make me cry. And bawl. Like a baby. Yes. It's that good.

My biggest surprise in the movie was that Queen Victoria proved to be quite a looker when she was younger! I googled her paintings when she was younger and she wasn't the grieving, rotund widow that is usually portrayed of her. And Prince Albert! Oh my gosh. He was a stunner!! Look through Wikipedia and you'll see how he was when he was younger!

Go and watch this movie, if its showing in your area! I think its in limited engagement only but it's definitely a must-see