First of all, as of this writing, Amazon still states that this item is a three disc set, but this is not the case. The DVD and digital copy are included on the same disc, while a second disc contains the Blu-Ray version. This isn't an issue, of course, just a small clarification. Speaking of which, I've seen a significant number of complaints regarding the inclusion of the DVD/digital copy in the Blu-Ray version, with many complaining that they want neither and it's needlessly driving the cost up.
A simple comparison of this item against other Blu-Rays on Amazon proves this title costs no more than any other new release, and the DVD/digital copy is actually a very nice bonus for those who buy the film early. I, for instance, plan to loan out the DVD to friends who don't own Blu-Ray players. The digital copy is nice, I suppose, but I've never been bored enough to want to watch a film on my iPod or laptop. Besides which, like all digital copies, it expires a year from now. I'm actually glad it's included on the same disc as the DVD, because all other digital copies included on a separate disc I've ended up tossing out.
Upon loading the Blu-Ray into the player three trailers will run. This is, of course, typical practice. The irritating part is that the disc will not allow the user to access the menu from the trailers, and the user is forced to manually fast-forward through each trailer. A minor complaint, to be sure, but irritating nonetheless. The film runs 02:08:24 and the Blu-Ray includes ten bonus features (the DVD doesn't contain a single special feature). The included audio tracks and subtitles are in English, French, and Spanish. The first eight features are all collected in the "Focus Points" section and consist of eight 3-5 minute featurettes exploring a specific facet of the film (there is a "Play All" function included). Most of the titles are rather self-explanatory, but here's a complete rundown of the featurettes:
1) "Drawbridges & Doilies: Designing a Late Victorian London" (5:00) - This feature highlights how the production designers suffused life into their vision of Victorian London with an acute attention to detail.
2) "Not a Deerstalker Cap in Sight" (4:15) - This feature explains how the filmmakers decided to take the Holmes character back to his roots in the original Arthur Conan Doyle tales and compare the Downey interpretation against past cinematic versions of Holmes.
3) "Ba-ritsu: A Tutorial" (3:58) - This feature explores how the filmmakers blended various real-life martial arts into the fictional version featured in the film, along with explaining how Holmes was a former fighter well-versed in martial arts in the original Doyle stories.
4) "Elementary English: Perfecting Sherlock's Accent" (4:04) - This feature explores how American Downey refined his English accent for the film. Director Guy Ritchie observes that he preferred an American because it gives the Holmes character an "international" flavor.
5) "The One That Got Away" (3:44) - This feature delves a bit into the psyche of Holmes, particularly his stance on love and his relationships with women.
6) "Powers of Observation & Deduction" (4:01) - This features Lionel Wigram (writer & producer of "Sherlock Holmes") explaining why he was attracted to the project, along with what makes Holmes such an enduringly fascinating character.
7) "The Sherlockians" (3:03) - The feature explores the diehard, borderline obsessive Holmes fans who organize annual meetings to discuss Doyle's life and works.
8) "Future Past" (3:08) - This feature highlights how, with the aid of both sets and modern technology, the filmmakers were able to recreate the glory and grime of Victorian London.
The ninth feature is included in the "Behind the Movie" section and is called "Sherlock Holmes Reinvented" (14:06) - This is a more involving feature which functions as an extension of the other featurettes. The filmmakers discuss why they felt attracted to the project and how they desired to stay true to the source material, as opposed to the cinematic versions of the past.
The most celebrated special feature here, prominently featured in the television ads, is the "Maximum Movie Mode". This is a sort of interactive film commentary with director Ritchie (running slightly longer than the film itself) that includes picture-in-picture still images, behind the scenes videos, cast and crew interviews, technical details of the film, and of course Ritchie's commentary. It's this sort of feature that truly makes a Blu-Ray special, aside from the enhanced high-definition image, of course. A typical film commentary simply has the director talking over the film, which can be informative but distracting. The "Maximum Movie Mode" is a much more entertaining commentary that even includes the option for user interactivity.
The content of the film itself is highly subjective, particularly with a character as famed and revered as Sherlock Holmes, and I don't feel particularly compelled to add my thoughts. As a Blu-Ray release, however, this title is every bit as impressive as it should be. I particularly appreciate how the special features didn't just shed light on the filmmaking process, but spent ample time discussing Doyle's stories, the various interpretations of the Holmes character, and the lasting legacy of it all. I'm proud to include this film in my collection. Five easy stars. Sherlock Holmes
Whether or not this accurately portrays the Sherlock Holmes from the famous stories is unimportant, at least for me. I wanted to see a good, entertaining film, and that is exactly what I experienced. It is by no means a classic masterpiece, but it was certainly a fun ride. The plot is a tad on the choppy side, but it doesn't deter from whole experience.
The film works beautifully first and foremost because of the wonderful chemistry between Holmes and Watson. It felt pure and believable and watching them argue and bicker for almost the entire film was refreshing and amusing. Jude Law's Watson is the voice of reason and under all the sarcasm and berating, truly cares for his long-time friend. In my opinion, a perfectly cast role. Though I also loved Robert Downey Jr as Holmes, I felt that he muttered alot in the film and was at times hard to understand. But his physical presence saved the role and you can tell he put 100% into this part.
The scenery was gloomy and strangely beautiful, as were the period details, costumes, etc. Guy Ritchie did a fantastic job in reimagining the era and creating a sense of mystery tinged with a clever, comedic flair.
Sherlock Holmes contains enough action, mystery and comedy to keep just about anybody from being bored and would do well with multiple viewings. - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - Jude Law - Mystery - Robert Downey Jr'
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