Sherlock Holmes (PG-13, 2009)

I loved this movie! Robert Downey Jr. is just amazing!

Why I said it was good for kids 12 and up is because a lot of it could go over their heads. We almost took my mature 10 year old brother to the movie and I am glad we didn't, because he wouldn't get much of it. This movie had amazing stunts, Laughs, (That's very fortunate since most movie that are this action packed are just serious all the time. The plot was about a man rising form the dead, that might frighten younger kids, but in the end Sherlock proves it was all a fluke. I went to Emagine to see it, and I was the only kid there. Everyone else was moctly in their 20's. I would recommend this to anyone 12 and up. This movie was very well done, and even if you aren't a mystery fanatic, you would love it!

First off, I have to say that I loved this movie. However, it is very violent and dark (e.g. dead bodys hanging from nooses, in coffins, and one naked in the bathtub, though nothing sensitive is shown), and one scene is highly sexual (again nothing explicit shown), showing a woman getting dressed in her hotel room with Holmes present (we only see her naked back, but it's implied that Holmes sees more), then drugging him. When he comes to, he is completely naked, except for a pillow covering his privates, and he is chained to the bed. A maid comes in, and seeing Holmes, gasps and drops the stuff she was carrying. Holmes tells her that "The key to my release, is beneath this pillow", and she, making a shocked face, runs out. That is all the sexuality that you will see however. Very violent fistfights abound also. In two of them, Holmes looks at his opponent, and thinks of a way to hit him that will completely disable him (you hear him thinking out his plan, so kids can memorize his technique, and it shows him acting out his plan in wince-inducing slow motion), then he does it in real time. The language isn't much worse than what you would hear on most T.V. shows, so no worrys there. I do not normally worry about drinking in movies, but in this case, I make an exception, as not only is there casual drinking, but after one particularly violent fistfight, Holmes gets extremely drunk on something apparently meant for eye surgery. Despite all this however, it is an excellent movie, depicting London at the time of the movie perfectly. Also, the script and acting are great though I will not reveal too much of the story. Also, overly religious people might be disturbed by the use of black magic by the villian. I am Christian, but this didn't really bother me. The movie also has a very good chance of causing kids to develop an interest in science and deduction as well.

I love the movie but it does have some withcraft stuff in it and definitely NOT recommended for people under 11.

I hated it!! Really people!! if you want Sherlock Holmes go read the books or watch the 1984 version with Jeremy Brett and Edward Hardwicke!!! in this Sherlock Holmes it completely disfigures the gentleman image of Sherlock Holmes! in the book he is always properly dressed and never had anything to do with this lame idea of a Sherlock Holmes movie!

Great movie, appropriate for 11/12 and up. Suggested MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sequences of violence and action, and a brief scene of mild suggestive content.

I took my whole family to see this over New Year's and everyone (10-46) loved it. It did have some violence, but nothing different from tv. As far as the dead bodies are concerned, if your child watches 'Bones' or 'CSI', this is no different. I feel this version is closer to the books, which is great. It really stressed the relationship between Holmes and Watson. There is great chemistry between Jude Law and Robert Downey, Jr. This movie has the same romping fun as the 'Pirate's' movies. The actors seem to be having quite a bit of fun. There is a lead in for a sequel.

I went to see it before letting my 16 and 13 year olds watch it. It was definitely violent, but nothing worse than some of the things I've seen in movies like Pirates of the Carribbean. It was a very well-directed movie with lots of action and character development that made it enjoyable to watch. I will feel perfectly fine letting my kids watch it.

The movie's themes are fairly dark, dealing with crime and the supernatural in a fairly Gothic style. I agree with the comments that a lot of the film will go over the younger viewer's head (as it did for my 12 year old son), but in an era where kids as young as 10 and 11 have read the increasingly dark Harry Potter series, if you feel that your child can handle darker themes and imagery (a corpse with maggots on its' face, frogs being boiled and dissected) then this movie is likely to be okay for kids 12 and older.