Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Those who found little to like in 2009's relaunch of Sherlock Holmes will probably feel the same way about its sequel. Returning director, Guy Ritchie, still prefers big explosions, action set pieces, and fist fights over deductive reasoning, although that is present here. Those who did enjoy the earlier film, however, are sure to have a lot of fun here. A Game of Shadows features a much tighter (if not somewhat overly convoluted) plot, and more of what made the original a blockbuster. This would primarily be the winning chemistry between Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law in the lead roles of Holmes and Watson, which is wisely given as much attention here as the big budget action sequences and effects.

A brief word of warning - Don't even think about walking into the sequel if you have never seen the original, or haven't seen it in a while. The movie dives immediately into its plot, with Holmes (Downey Jr) still dreading the upcoming marriage of his partner-in-fighting-crime Dr. Watson (Law), and his mind still occupied with the criminal, Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams), who these days seem to be taking orders from the mysterious "Napoleon of Crime", Professor James Moriarity (Jarred Harris). Holmes suspects that the esteemed Professor is planning something by buying and taking over various companies and manufacturers, and the trail of death that seems to follow in his wake would seem to point in this direction. Unfortunately, Holmes has been unable to find any hard evidence to directly link Moriarity to the murders and bombings that have been happening lately.

As Watson prepares for his upcoming wedding, Holmes pursues the case, always making sure that his partner is involved in some shape or fashion. For example, at Watson's party the night before the wedding, Holmes has a run-in with a with a gypsy fortune teller named Simza (Noomi Rapace from the Swedish Girl with the Dragon Tattoo films). She works into the plot, as her brother and her were once involved with an anarchist group. With the series of bombings that have been going on, bringing Europe closer to war, Holmes suspects that Moriarity is somehow responsible for it all. His hunch is correct, and before long, Watson's peaceful honeymoon train ride is interrupted by gunfire from evil henchmen aiming to kill him, due to Holmes' interference with Moriarity's plans. This forces the two friends to go back into business together to uncover the evil scheme, with Simza's help, while Watson's long-suffering wife, Mary (Kelly Reilly) most likely wonders what she has gotten herself into. (Although, she does get to play a small part in Holmes' plan.)

Surprisingly, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, does not go for the bigger and louder approach that most sequels to action films do. While the sequences included are appropriately grandiose and well done (such highlights include a massive gunfight on a train, and a chase and fight sequence during Watson's bachelor party), the movie wisely does not oversell them or make them come so frequently that we grow weary. It knows that the chemistry and banter between Downey and Law was one of the more successful elements of the original movie, and husband and wife screenwriting team, Michelle and Kieran Mulroney, are wise to play upon it. They also add a new and far more menacing form of chemistry, in the form of the quiet but obviously bitter rivalry between Holmes and Moriarity. When they face each other, they duel mainly with words and mental challenges, rather than weapons. Character actor Jarred Harris makes a wonderful intellectual villain, who hates getting his hands dirty in any way possible, and passes himself off as a member of high society, despite his twisted actions.

Another welcome addition to the cast is Stephen Fry as Holmes' brother, Mycroft - a man with a talent for observation just as precise as his brother, and a passion for walking around his home in his birthday suit, even if he has company over. Fry provides some of the bigger laughs in the film, and I am hoping to see him used more in future sequels. As for the new female lead, Noomi Rapace, she does manage to prove that she can hold her own in an English language role, even if the movie unfortunately gives her little to do, outside of a fight scene or two. What struck me while I was watching the film is how Ritchie is able to draw upon the strengths of the original, without making it seem like a rehash, while also knowing just what to add and how much to add. It's quite a well-balanced movie, and quite a beautiful one to look at, thanks to some impressive settings and art direction, as well as Ritchie's skillful use of slow motion during certain action sequences.

There will be many, I'm sure, who will moan the fact that Holmes prefers to use his fists over his brain for most of the film. There are some wonderful moments involving Holmes' power of deduction and reasoning (the most memorable revolving around a very intense chess game he shares with Moriarity), but for the most part, this movie plays out kind of like a big budget comic book adaptation of the Holmes universe. I have come to accept this, and enjoy it for what it is. Purists will have to look elsewhere for their fix, I guess. For what the movie is (sheer big budget entertainment), I think it works, and works quite well. The dialogue quips are funny, the cast is having fun, and the movie is big and silly, without being dumb. The original movie set the tone, and this sequel fine tunes it. Not quite to perfection, mind you, but I'm certain there are more sequels on the way that will try.

I can't say whether I enjoyed A Game of Shadows more over the original. A bit of the originality is gone, but that's to be expected in a sequel. I think I would judge the two movies as being equal to one another. The first one was a bit more fun, but this one's a bit tighter, so I think it balances out. I guess what it all boils down to is whatever your thoughts were on 2009's Sherlock Holmes, are likely to be your thoughts on the new one.

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