'Sherlock Holmes' Review

Robert Downey Jr as Sherlock Holmes. Watch the preview: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/sherlock-holmes/35683/main

I've never read any of the original stories about Sherlock Holmes so I'm not able to compare this movie to them. I've seen plenty of TV & movies versions with other actors including two on Broadway. This new movie is a hit and was enjoyable. What seems different about this one is having Dr. Watson given more screen time than in previous outings. Jude Law's portrayal makes him more of an equal to Robert Downey Jr's Holmes. They trade quips and insults at a fast pace amid lots of daring do's. Both are younger than other actors in these roles, perhaps an attempt by the filmmakers to attract a younger audience. They may not be my idea of correct casting but everyone has their own favorites for these roles. Downey & Law are amusing with their love-hate banter so pay close attention to their dialogue.
>>There's plenty of fights and last minute rescues that keep the plot moving, maybe a little too much. This film is a change of pace for Guy Ritchie (Madonna's ex-husband), known for his British gangster films. Good costumes and settings are a treat for the eyes. Rachel McAdams seems miscast as a Brit but does well enough as Holmes's ambivalent love interest and Mark Strong who played a memorable villain in Stardust is good here too. Watch the way his cold eyes stare with contempt.
>>My wife who has read every Holmes story has this to say: "You can tell your blog readers (with the proper "Spoiler Alert" warnings) that I said that elements of the plot bore an uncanny resemblance to the plot of a House episode: a physician whose brilliant but arrogant and drug-dependent friend moves in with him and attempts to break up his love relationship. The good doctor attempts to remove the friend from his premises, but comes to realize that the friend's phenomenal powers of deduction actually make him a force for good in society."

Two Un-XMAS CDs

Here's two CDs for people like me who are bored with traditional holiday music. Enya's And Winter Came... is a must for her fans who love her breathy, lilting overdubs that can't be reproduced live. You'll never see her in concert because she does all the vocals & most of the instruments in the studio and would sound lousy without her sound engineers' technology. There's two non-original songs like a haunting 'O Come, O Come, Emmanuel' and a Gaelic version of 'Silent Night' done as you would expect in her recognizable style.
>>>Enya has a new greatest hits CD which includes a DVD collection of her videos and two 'making of' docs of two songs. I've never seen her videos so watching them was a treat although they're a bit repetitious. She portrayed herself as this gowned heroine of her own fairy tale fantasies cavorting through pastel forests & meadows surrounded by adoring animals. The Winter cover above gives you an idea what to expect from the videos. Here's a video from her Winter CD and, as a change of pace, filmed in a urban setting: http://enya.com/videos.php?vid=tawr
>>>Sting's new CD, If On A Winter's Night, is selling well enough to make it a small hit. In interviews he says he didn't want to record a traditional XMAS album because he thought that would be an act of artistic bankruptcy/having no new ideas. I'm sure his fellow entertainers who produced holiday music must be overjoyed to hear this dig. I bought the deluxe edition that includes an extra song and a 'making of' DVD. Here's a description from the cover: "Inspired by Sting's favorite season, If On A Winter's Night... takes traditional music from the British Isles as its starting point and evolves into a compelling and personal journey with music spanning over five centuries (including two of Sting's own songs). An evocative collection of lullabies, carols, and songs.'' He's backed by good acoustic musicians in tune with his concept although some reviewers have noted his vocal ability isn't up to the demands of some songs. That's for you to judge but give him credit for attempting something different. I'm planning to purchase the DVD of a concert filmed inside a church. A shorter version was recently shown on PBS.
>>>Here's a video of one song and a test of his singing: http://www.amazon.com/Sting/e/B000APVN7O/ref=s9_dpt_sa_videos
>>>Both CDs will please listeners who are tired of hearing 'White Christmas' for the zillionth time. OK OK I too love Bing Crosby's version and watch Holiday Inn every time it's shown. Bah Humbug and have a happy holiday!
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'2012' Review

Amanda Peet encourages John Cusack to catch an outbound flight in 2012, directed by Roland Emmerich, the Irwin Allen of today... only with bigger budgets. Watch the preview: http://www.moviefone.com/movie/2012/30165/main

I have to say I enjoyed this blockbuster. Lots of money was spent on this production and it's a worldwide hit with audiences and not so much with the critics. 2012 follows the formula of disaster films and you do get your money's worth for two and a half hours of spectacular destruction in surround sound. So take that, Gerald Peary!
>>No big stars here because most of the cost went into the special effects. No great acting here too but it's not needed as the competent B-List actors are stereotypes and if you've seen enough disaster movies you can easily guess who's not going to be around for the end credits.
>>Spoiler Alert: How one character quickly reunites with her former husband when her current one is killed is a ridiculous plot absurdity but this is what you expect in these movies. So turn off your brain and let it get buried under the specatular earthquakes and tsunamis. which are well spaced to keep the story moving along.