While it might not have been what Arthur Conan Doyle had in mind when he first put pen to page, 2009s Sherlock Holmes was a rip-snorting action picture that was hugely popular with audiences and critics alike. Two years later and to the surprise of no one, Hollywood has decided it’s time for a sequel, reuniting director Guy Ritchie (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels) with stars Robert Downey [...]

The most interesting element of many science fiction films is the future projection of the human race. These films paint a picture of our moral philosophy and how it could change from the introduction of new technologies. Although many of these projections are extreme, they provide an insight and comparison to current moral thought. They also show the end result of many possible ‘slippery slopes’ discussed today. Following in the footsteps of films like Blade Runner, The Final Cut, I Robot and Minority Report comes Repo Men. No, this isn’t a sequel to Emilio Estevez’ colourful movie of the 80′s – but it is grotesque.

Robert Downey Jr is a very busy man. He has a lot to uphold amongst his Hollywood comeback, first donning the Iron Man suit and now almost certainly entering a second franchise with one of fiction’s most beloved characters. It’s funny then that the character of Sherlock Holmes hasn’t been a favourite in cinema; the bumbling detective now has one of the most known falsely quoted lines in history. Sadly but rightly so, said line fails to actually be mentioned – but the 1800’s London setting gives Guy Ritchie the perfect opportunity to do what Guy Ritchie does best – show the gritty side of town with a bit of humour thrown in. More than a bit – this is his most family-friendly film to date. After all, it is a ‘blockbuster’.