Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

When Guy Ritchie’s witty, enjoyable adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic detective stories busted into the blocks back in 2009, a follow-up movie was inevitable. Cynics would argue that every movie sequel in history bar some were a failure and should not of seen the big screen. After Richie’s first adaptation of crime stories, expectations would be great for him to create another great film.

Robert Downey Jr’s portrayal of Sherlock Holmes as a childish, slightly dangerous mischief maker, lets just say if he walked into any investigation, you would more expect him to be some random straggler of the street than one of the lead investigators. At the films opening, Holmes is distraught that his straight arrow sidekick Dr Watson (Jude Law) is marrying his sweetheart Mary (Kelly Reilly) and leaving the detection business for good.

However, on Watson’s stag party, the pair of them discover a plot of war upon Europe that may be the work of professor Moriarty (Jared Harris). Holmes and Watson embark on a screwball chase across the continent to prevent his true nemeses from completing the task. The movie follows a more action packed experience than Canon Doyle’s creation more than following the actual detective work that takes place.

Much of the appeal to the films comes with the cast and the exceptional combination of Downy Jr and Law. Cinema has seen its fair share of Romance and bromance over the years but this is the first that includes both. The duo’s knockabout playground chemistry has improved since the first film. Holmes and Watson are like a pair of 11 year olds, thick as thieves and bickering constantly. Stephen Fry adds more fun to the film as Holmes’s drily buffoonish brother, a British diplomat who enjoys to call his younger sibling “Shirley” throughout the film.   

Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams) who makes a guest appearance in the beginning of the feature, was sidelined by Simza (Noomi Repace’s) a gypsy fortuneteller, wo joins them on their escapade to stop Moriarty.

The ensuing fight, along with most of the others in the film, is muddled, but is carried by some witty ideas, many of which involve Holmes’s borderline Super-Human ability to mentally go back and forth in time. The use of which in the film create a twist not yet seen in the first film, the usual Holmes seeing the actions of his opponent before he makes them by besting a soldier by putting a booby trapped lipstick into the ammo belt of the soldier half an hour before is exceptional.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows was a very sharp film, consistently enjoyable from the opening to the closing credits. The film draws you in with its action packed scenes and more comedic moments than expected. This film is undoubtedly an improvement from the first film and is a great film.