Solve A Case Like Sherlock Holmes

When the posters of Sherlock Holmes, the 2009 movie with Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law were created it had the tag line “Holmes for the Holiday.” The movie is inspired by the work of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle with the screenplay being together written by Michael Robert Johnson, Anthony Peckham and Simon Kinberg .

The movie is based in 1891 in the city of London, where Sherlock Holmes, played by Robert Downey, Jr. and Dr. John Watson, played by Jude Law race to prevent Lord Blackwood, played by Mark Strong from performing a ritual murder of a girl. Lord Blackwood was involved in murder of five other innocent people in similar fashion. The duo was just able to stop the murder on time and the evil lord is apprehended.

Three months later when Blackwood is sentenced to capital punishment he requests to see Holmes when he warns the detective about the three more impending deaths in the city which would cause great changes to the world. Holmes doesn’t pay much heed to what Blackwood said and he is hanged and is consequently pronounced dead by Dr. Watson.

Irene Adler, portrayed by Rachel McAdams, a professional thief and a former adversary to Holmes visits him at his residence, 221B Baker Street. She requests his assistance in finding a missing man named Reordan. Holmes inquisitiveness compels him to follow her as she leaves his place. He discreetly follows her as she meets her secret employee who is hidden in the shadows of a carriage. According to this concealed man, Reordan is the key to Blackwood’s plans about which he cautioned Holmes.

To every one’s surprise three days later Blackwood’s tomb is destroyed and Reordan is found dead inside Blackwood’s coffin. A groundskeeper of the burial ground claims to have seen Blackwood walking away, from his tomb. A series of clues helps them lead to the place where Reordan stayed and it’s there they find out his attempt to merge magic with science.

Holmes is also taken to the Temple of the Four Orders, an occult-dabbling secret society. The leaders, Sir Thomas, played by James Fox and Home Secretary Lord Coward, played by Hans Matheson, ask Holmes to stop Blackwood who coincidentally was a former member of their Order. Later Sir Thomas and another senior member of the group are killed under mysterious conditions.

It is proclaimed that Blackwood murdered them by the supernatural powers he got. It is said he plans to push for power as he plans to retake the United States which is weakened by civil war. Lord Coward, who all this time has been in league with Blackwood, issues an arrest warrant for Holmes. As soon as Holmes learns about the warrant he goes into hiding. He utilizes the time to study Blackwood’s rituals which leads him to the conclusion that the next target would be the British Parliament.

Holmes tricks Lord Coward into revealing that the plan is to wipe out the House of Lords and then rejoins Adler and Watson. The three sneak into the sewers beneath Parliament and there they discover a machine which is based on Reordan’s experiments particularly designed to release a cyanide derivative into the Parliament chambers. As they fight off Blackwood’s men and remove the cyanide containers from the machine, Adler grabs the cylinders and races away and is pursued by Holmes. As Blackwood and Coward realise their plan has failed, they try and run away. Though Coward is captured, Blackwood manages to escape.

As Holmes confronts Adler on top of the incomplete Tower Bridge he is interrupted by Blackwood. Holmes tricks him into becoming entangled in the ropes and chains, hanging over the Thames while Holmes recounts the technical trickery behind all of Blackwood’s supposed magic. A loose beam falls off the rafter supports, causing Blackwood to fall and unintentionally hang himself.

Later Adler explains that her former employer, the hooded man, is Professor Moriarty who is as intelligent as Holmes but far more devious. Later, the police report to Holmes and Watson that a dead officer was found near Blackwood’s device. The confrontation with Adler and Blackwood was used as a diversion by Professor Moriarty while he takes away a key component from the machine. This prompts Holmes to accept the new case whilst refusing an offer to name his own fee. This clearly gives a scope of a sequel which is now under production.

Know more about the Sherlock Holmes movie plot & characters, Watch the official Sherlock Holmes movie to find out more about Sherlock Holmes -The Movie.