This was an okay movie. But I had two questions:

When Irene is trying to figure out how to disable the cyanide machine, we see wires all over the thing. Why doesn't she just cut those wires?

And once she takes the cyanide canisters off, why does she run away with them? What did she intend to do with them? Why didn't she just smash them by dropping them, releasing all the pellets? Not being in gaseous form or anything, they wouldn't have harmed her if they didn't come in contact with her skin. Or how about dumping the canisters into the river once she got outside? They were sealed, and even if they weren't, the river probably would've diluted them before any portion of them got into the drinking supply, wouldn't it?

This film was released in Deceber 2009 and should be renamed. Luigi made several good points about the film.

I thought the movie was quite entertaining, but as Ccabe said should be re-named because Holmes is not an action hero! It was more like Caleb Carr's book The Alienist than Holmes. Is it outside Hollywood's grasp to create suspense anymore? Their movies seem to rely much too heavily on choreography and effects anymore. Personally I think Jude and Robert's character's should be switched.

Luigi: And once she takes the cyanide canisters off, why does she run away with them?
She runs to lead Holmes away from the device so Moriarty(?) could get that other component he wanted.

One thing in the movie that reminded me of the great detective was Sherlock's legendary observation skills. I thought they were spot on! When Holmes and Watson were searching the "ginger dwarf's" place and the three henchmen come in, why didn't Watson just shoot that huge guy right away, or at least pull out his gun? Following the fight in the dry dock the boat being worked on sank, even though the hull looked done and the screws (propellers) were already on. Why didn't they just burn Blackheart's body after his first hanging? Between disease and being a practicioner in 'black magic' I would think that is their first choice.

AWhite: Holmes is not an action hero!
Luigi Novi: I think you should read this.

AWhite: She runs to lead Holmes away from the device so Moriarty(?) could get that other component he wanted.
Luigi Novi: Oh yeah. Thanks.

And thanks for pointing out the year thing.

Just to clarify, I meant the the date of the movie should be changed; and I did not intend to comment on wheither or not it in the action movie catagory. But I think is should be under action movie.

1. The trailers make it looks like one. (I haven't seen it yet, but the trailer are a fairly reliable indicator of how the film is being marketed.)

2. The link above (from peterdavid.net) makes it sound like an action movie.

3. The stories the film is baised on had quite a bit of action. (Various Murders and other crimes, Holmes vs. Morarity at Rechenbach Falls)

Thank you for posting that link Luigi! I actually knew Holmes was quite adept in swordmanship and boxing, forgot the singlestick, and remembered when he bent that poker back, but most of the time he does not emply those physical specialities in the stories. I suppose I should've said Holmes isn't known for being an action hero instead I also got the antogonist's name wrong, it's Blackwood not Blackheart. There is no doubt that this is an action movie, I just would've prefered more suspense. Still a fun movie though

Any time, buddy.

Very fun movie.

Not necessarily a nit, but I did wonder how Lord Blackwood became a peer, being a bastard and all (and his natural father being only a knight). Of course, he could have been adopted, or his mother might have been married to a lord, or he might have been elevated himself.

So, if I'm understanding this correctly, the sixth victim (from the opening gambit) was a red herring, there only so Blackwood could be caught, die, and come back. But since the other victims were chosen to cultivate his image with the secret society, shouldn't her (planned) death have also fit? Or, more precisely, Blackwood should have arranged to be caught just after killing the fifth victim.

Of course, he's very lucky that the good guys are so selective in their use of guns. The police coming to save the sixth victim were armed to the teeth and a reasonable shot with a rifle could have nailed him from where Holmes and Watson looked down on the ceremony.

NNAN, but in the opening sequence, as the police rushed in carriages to the sixth victim someone loaded/closed a double-barreled shotgun. The cartridges in it looked like current red plastic cartridges, which were probably not to be found in Victorian London. What did contemporary fowling piece cartridges look like?

Tgarrison: What did contemporary fowling piece cartridges look like?
I'll have to look it up to be sure but I believe older shotgun shells were some sort of paper, treated/coated with something to prevent fire or water damage, perhaps wax. Near the end, the cheif of police, or whomever that was also aligned with Blackwood, used a smaller shotgun-style gun, but that one used brass cartriges so it was probalby entirely different.