Honestly, I liked the Downey/Law films. I know that they are totally different from Sherlock and therefore I'm not going to compare them. I like RDJ very much, he has played a number of extraordinary and brilliant roles (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Chaplin, Less than zero, The singing detective, Fur, etc.). Of course they are pure entertainment, popcorn cinema as we call it in German, but to me that is no sin. They depict a later stage in the friendship of Holmes and Watson and there are some very good, quiet scenes that show how deeply Holmes feels for Watson and how afraid he is of loving him to his future wife. Of course it can be argues that it is not in the canon but this I think applies to other adaptations as well.
I must admit that I have a problem with the Jeremy Brett series. My brother-in-law gave me a DVD set and I was totally disappointed that Watson was such an old man. I guess I've been totally spoilt be Martin and Jude law, but for me it simply didn't work. The special chemistry, the constant sparkle that is between them was missing. But I promise I'll have another go. Maybe I'm simply attracted to the more "modern", audacious adaptations.
That said I wish to add that of course I LOVE Sherlock and that it is a wonderful challenge to the mind … yes, and the heart and the eyes and so on … Why else would I be here?? 

Thank you, I shall have at look at those as well. In my DVD set there is only Edward Hardwicke.

Yeah I really enjoyed Game Of Shadows although it is more like a James Bond movie or seeing as it's RDJ, Iron Man, lol...lots of action and not much intelligent deduction BUT still enjoyable and there were definitely still canon moments...I mean obviously it's kind of based on the Final Problem...and I like the way they swapped the Reichenbach Falls for a hotel balcony, neat.

I must admit, I love the outfits although they are quite unlike the Holmes in the canon. And there are some scenes I really like because they are quiet and intense: when Holmes delivers a dishevelled Watson on his wedding day and nudges him silently to go to his bride; his conversation with Moriarty when he learns that Irene has been killed and Watson and his wife are in danger; at the restaurant when Holmes says: Right, so you'll get married tomorrow, settle down with Mary and I'll... die alone. They mostly play it for comedy but I think the chemistry between them is very nice.

I'm not quite sure if he realised at once what the breathing device in the parcel meant. But it remains to see what he's going to do when he meets Holmes in person. However, I think there is a fundamental difference to the situation as a whole because he is a newly married man whereas Martin/John is "so alone" without Holmes.
And you're right, RDJ plays Holmes more physical and less intellectual. I think the approaches are totally different and you can choose which one you prefer. As I wrote, I like both, but "our" Sherlock gives much more food for thought and has a deeper personality. Nevertheless, I like RSJ very much and he has done brilliant things in many films.

So do I  . But then I really have a soft spot for RDJ.