Sunday, January 08, 2012

Movie review - Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

It's 1891 and Europe is a hotbed of political turmoil. Anarchist bombings are being carried out, France and Germany are at each other's throats, while Britain is caught between the two and to avert war. Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) is certain that Prof. Moriarty (Jared Harris) is connected to all this and a series of mysterious deaths but Dr. John Watson (Jude Law) is unconcerned. His wedding is rapidly approaching and nothing can stop him from looking forward to enjoying it...until Holmes uses Watson's Bachelor night as a way to get in contact with the gypsy Sim (Noomi Rapace) in the hunt for her anarchist brother, and way to prove Moriarty's complicity in political troubles of the world...


This movie is somewhat convoluted, filled with action and stunts, and a lot of silly disguises. In short, I thoroughly enjoyed it! It built on things that we saw in the first movie - Holmes' manic eccentricity, his ability to see how battles pan out before they happen (although this time we see them not always going to plan), and the bromance with Watson, which for all his annoyance at Holmes, we see goes both ways. The chemistry between Law and Downey Jr. is as strong as ever. The use of Moriarty in this film was also a strength - trying to figure out how Holmes would foil his evil plans. In fact, I would say the casting of Harris as the evil professor was great - he looks so ordinary but was pure evil genius! 


Unfortunately, I did end up thinking during one of the many gunfights *gee, this is getting a bit long* which isn't a good sign. Also, when we all know there are a gazillion French actresses in France and Hollywood, why cast a Swedish actress (Rapace) as a French gypsy with a dodgy accent? Actually dodgy accents are peppered all over this movie - the curse of now being able to understand French and German! Also, I did start to feel a little as though Moriarty's evil tendrils were a little too widely spread. I'm pretty sure even professors in the late 19th century were not that well paid that they could form secret evil conglomerates, and his ability to get away with all the evil deeds without being traced, except for Holmes, a little too far out. But hey, if I want realism in films, I'll go watch a documentary. 


Anyway, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows was solidly entertaining. And SPOILER ALERT!!! - for those who watch it, keep an eye out for the chair in the final scene.  
7.5/10

1 comment:

Unknown said...

ROBERT DOWNEY JUNIOR IS AS HOT AS EVER WHAT A CUTIE!!!!

I also enjoyed this movie thoroughly and feel you wrote a very good review on it.