"Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" Movie Review

SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS

Genre: Action, Adventure, Mystery, Thriller

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Noomi Rapace, Jared Harris, Stephen Fry, Rachel McAdams, Kelly Reilly

Rating: PG-13 (U.S.) PG (Canada)

Warnings: Intense Sequences of Violence and Action, and Some Drug Material

Length: 129 Minutes

Studio(s): Warner Bros., Village Roadshow, Silver Pictures

Points of Interest: Inspired by novel series, "Sherlock Holmes"



WHAT I LOVED:

- The storyline is brilliant, and the character writing for Holmes and Moriarty's conflict is outstanding!

- In terms of action, scale and surprises, the sequel once again exceeds expectations, actually ending up superior to the original movie in several respects!

- Stephen Fry is a scene-stealer as the brilliant and hysterical older brother to Sherlock, Mycroft Holmes.

- Jared Harris is pitch-perfect as Holmes archnemesis, Professor Moriarty, capturing all of the outward class layered around the sinister motives stemming from a core of murderous rage and sociopathy.


WHAT I DIDN'T SO MUCH...:

- Rachel McAdams' Irene Adler is pushed to a mere cameo, and new female lead, Madame Simza feels like a waste of Noomi Rapace's talents, since she isn't given much to do.

- Moriarty's actions and theft of the radio device at the end of the first film are all completely forgotten in the sequel, which is a surprisingly sloppy error in the canon on the part of the writers.


AND HERE'S THE FULL REVIEW:

Even after a continued high of excitement since I exited my home city's new IMAX theatre after enjoying the superb fourth Mission: Impossible movie, I was still even more excited to reunite with my family for another holiday movie excursion, this time, to see the sequel to a movie we all immensely enjoyed in 2009, Guy Ritchie's original new take on Sherlock Holmes. If you haven't been following my movie critiques since 2009, allow me to reiterate my opinion of that movie. I've never read a single Sherlock Holmes story in my life, only having a passing familiarity with the character from the acclaim of his mysteries originally written by the late Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but that was perfect, because it allowed me to take the first new SH movie on its own merits, and it was AWESOME! It was really different from the elements of the characters and stories from the original Doyle writings that I did research on, having a focus on stylish action over intrigue and mystery, but it was easily the biggest surprise hit of the 2009 holiday season, producing a novel, fun and really exciting action blockbuster that definitely deserved sequels, and wasn't shy about setting up for them. Now, almost two years to the date, the second SH movie has finally come to the big screen, fully titled, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, marking the last movie that I hadn't yet seen on my list of my most anticipated movies of 2011 from last January (it placed #5 if you don't recall). Most of my immediate family came along to see the film, and upon exiting, we all had varying opinions of it. Some of us thought it fell short of the original, and some of us thought that it exceeded the quality of the original. While my father, my brother and my brother's girlfriend fell into the former camp, my mother and I fell into the latter. Yes, against all expectation, I thought that SH2 turned out to be the rare kind of movie sequel that actually surpasses the original, but that being said, I think your opinion on this second movie will depend on what you're prioritizing with it. It's true that the increased scale means a storyline that feels less tight and focused, and more intricate and potentially difficult to follow. If you can keep up with the storyline, you'll easily appreciate how incredibly written it is, but if you have trouble following fast-paced plot and dialogue that doesn't constantly interrupt the proceedings to explain itself (a fault of many American-made movies nowadays, in my opinion, interrupting the momentum to appease a lazy, quick-fix audience that isn't willing to put thought into anything), you may find the sequel's storyline to be a bit disjointed and frustrating. The action is definitely improved in terms of intensity and choreography, though the novelty of Guy Ritchie's stirring new action stylings in these films has now worn off, so while the action is definitely manic, destructive and unpredictable, it probably won't wow you in the same way that the original's action sequences did, which may disappoint those expecting the same sense of discovery in the sequel, which follows the stylistic template of the original very closely. Where SH2 shines best however, in a way that most any viewer can appreciate, is the incredible conflict between Holmes and his archnemesis, Professor James Moriarty, which serves as the film's backbone, and, as the title suggests, bears what is almost a twisted, shadowy game of wits between the two, a cat-and-mouse mystery with Europe hanging in the balance, as it were. So, one must approach SH2 with a certain sense of priorities. As with any inspired sequel, direction must be taken, and sacrifices must sometimes be made in the name of the best product possible. So, while SH2 may not feel as taut and novel as the original, I still feel that it's a rare superior sequel, since the scale is larger, the mystery is much more intricate and surprising, the style is given more flexibility in the more ambitious action scenes, and best of all, the villain is a much deadlier and more unpredictable threat, one that truly feels like he could very well best the legendary intellect of even Holmes himself, creating a greater atmosphere of suspense. If you're willing to accept that director, Guy Ritchie isn't fixing what's not broken (a wise decision, in my opinion), and sacrificing some of the original's focused direction for a successful gamble on a larger, more awe-inspiring film, then you should likely agree that Holmes and Watson's second 21st Century Hollywood mystery is even more riveting and impressive than the first!

Characters: (10/10) - While the sequel is stuffed full of fun, interesting characters, several of which are carried over from the first movie, the two characters at their most enthralling and enjoyable are Holmes and Moriarty, both given a flawless and multi-layered rivalry worthy of the scale of these two characters. As far as I'm concerned, if you're going to incorporate a character's archenemy into a movie, you'd better really nail that incredible character scale, lest you ruin the momentum and acclaim of the entire franchise. Archenemies are archenemies for a reason, and Moriarty is Holmes' greatest and most dangerous enemy for several reasons that are all beautifully captured in the sequel. Of course, the true danger and sociopathic genius behind Moriarty is not revealed up front, but in pieces, and before I get into that, let's dicuss the other pivotal characters that comprise the film, shall we? Watson is back as Holmes' partner in crime-solving, Dr. John Watson, and despite being now happily married to his new wife, Mary, he hasn't lost a beat since the first movie. Still apathetically dismissing Holmes' eccentricity and still wielding a surprising amount of combat aptitude, Watson is yet again as enjoyable a secondary character as ever, feeling like a true partner to Holmes and not just an inconsequential sidekick. Seeing these two meet again and pick up exactly where they left off, bickering and sarcastically dismissing the mannerisms of the other man when they're not showing surprising moments of respect and admiration for one another, just like an old married couple. These two had some of the best cinematic chemistry among any mainstream movie characters of 2009, and in 2011, they're still a hoot to watch together on the big screen, having lost none of their appealing chemistry with one another. Holmes' new wife is given slightly more screentime in the sequel as well, even though she spends most of the movie not on her intended honeymoon (the timespan of which quickly becomes Watson yet again being forcibly teamed up with Holmes to stop Moriarty), but instead in the care of Holmes' rich, equally intelligent, and yet hilariously lazy older brother, Mycroft Holmes. Mycroft is easily the best addition out of the sequel's new characters, since his coasting on his intelligence and comfortable lifestyle never stops being a frequent source of hilarity when it's placed in contrast to the horrible hardship that Mycroft's brother and his loyal companion are experiencing on their quest to bring down their greatest foe. There's even a hilariously gratuitous nude scene that really hammers home just how little Mycroft does for himself when his geriatric butler isn't at his service, and I encourage you to look forward to it. Even if he basically amounts to a sidelined comic relief character, Mycroft is brilliantly implemented, especially with Stephen Fry's exceptional performance making him all the more entertaining (more on that in the next paragraph). This nicely compensates for some of the disappointing character downscaling in the sequel, even if it's necessary to prevent the movie from becoming too scattered. Characters like Irene Adler and Inspector Lestrade return from the first movie, but they're barely given more than cameos, having no real bearing on the plot, and that's a shame. Even the new female lead, Madame Simza, a fortune teller targeted by Moriarty's crew of criminals, feels like she isn't given a whole lot to work with. She's handy with a knife, and a charismatic gypsy who has a way with words, but she's constantly overshadowed by the movie's other characters, especially in the action scenes, and that's a real bummer. Thankfully, the characters still lose no points with me, simply because none of the character writing quibbles matter when you stack them up against how flawlessly the Holmes/Moriarty conflict is executed. The foundation of the entire movie is the grand scale of a grand game of wits played by two of the most devilishly brilliant minds in 19th Century Europe, one working for each side of the law. The true scale of Moriarty's plans runs very deep, and has a rather surprising and prophetic vision behind it, but of course, the grand mystery wouldn't be very much fun if I went and spoiled it for you, so I simply encourage you to look forward to it, much like Mycroft's naked rear end (I'll leave whichever leaves a greater lasting impression for its sheer horror up to you). Anyhow, what's most interesting about Holmes and Moriarty is that despite them being the greatest of enemies, they are set up and developed with these truly brilliant scenes that demonstrate an amazing mental clashing and oddly palpable respect for the achievements of their main rival, simply through the expertly-written character dialogue that permeates this entire movie. Even if Europe hangs in the balance, it seems that these two legitimately, albeit subconsciously enjoy squaring off against one another. One of the best scenes in the entire movie is when Holmes and Moriarty finally meet in the flesh for the first time, exchanging pleasantries, congratulations and shared admiration, but at the same time, you can always see that they're subconsciously sparring and almost indicating an odd self-awareness of each other's role. It vaguely reminds me of the highly intricate between Batman and The Joker, archenemies who almost seem to concede that they need each other to be given meaning. Moriarty even mimics Heath Ledger's Joker at one point during this introductory scene, speaking about the result of two complementary forces colliding, confessing that Moriarty's respect for Holmes' intellect is the only reason that he's still alive. In truth though, it goes much deeper than that. Just like The Joker, it almost seems that Moriarty gains no real satisfaction from his ambitions unless he can simultaneously outwit his greatest challenger, a sentiment that Sherlock undeniably shares. His obsession with stopping Moriarty doesn't seem to stem from a simple desire for justice to be served, but moreso to prove once and for all that he truly is the greatest mind in Europe. The true game beneath SH2's surprisingly extensive storyline amounts to this simple, yet endlessly deep conflict for intellectual supremacy between Holmes and Moriarty, and it is excellently done. Even if you can pick at the other characters and who might have needed more screentime, it's all for the greater good when you see that the fundamental conflict of the movie is done so perfectly. Not since The Dark Knight has the scale between two legendary enemies been captured so effectively in all of its depth and open-ended interpretation!

Acting: (10/10) - Once again, each actor is clearly having an outstanding amount of fun in their portrayals, and Robert Downey Jr. is even more manically entertaining and borderline psychotic as the increasingly more unstable Sherlock Holmes. Even his diet has really gone South in this sequel, and it's great to see him even more off his rocker than before! Jude Law yet again complements Holmes' eccentricity as the rational, "straight man" companion, keeping the duo grounded before they descend too far into cartoonish mayhem via their fast-paced, thoroughly weird interactions with one another. As with the original, the sequel isn't shy about drawing out plenty of goofy humour between the banter of Holmes and Watson, and they're yet again a delightful pair of protaganists to have pushing our movie forward, even if the spotlight has shifted to Holmes over Watson this time around, to emphasize the development of his conflict with Moriarty. Rachel McAdams returns only briefly to the role of Irene Adler, but Kelly Reilly is given even more hysterical sequences to light up since, like her husband, she's often the straight woman in a series of hilarious mishaps, made even worse when she's forced into the care of Sherlock's hysterical layabout brother. Speaking of Mycroft, Stephen Fry is a highlight in the role, stealing every scene he's in. As amusing as Sherlock can be, it's truly impossible not to giggle and laugh out loud when you really see Mycroft in action, especially when it's heavily implied that he's even smarter than his younger brother, though amusingly coasts on his intelligence, doing the bare minimum and loving it. It's a stroke of genius to put a lazy character like Mycroft into the mix as comic relief when you have the stakes upped more than ever for our struggling heroes. He could be a valuable asset in the battle against Moriarty, but, no, he'd rather walk around his country home in the nude while Europe teeters on the brink of destruction. That's Mycroft! The other main addition to the good guys' camp is Madame Simza, the new female lead to essentially replace Irene Adler, though like the first movie, the female lead is unfortunately the weak link. It's not Noomi Rapace's fault, since she takes what little she has to work with and injects the character with a respectable sense of clever, action-packed fun, but the writing barely gives her anything to do. She's a character that, like Adler, feels like more of a plot device than a fully fleshed-out character. The movie attempts to inject some depth into Sim by making her brother a key instrument in Moriarty's grand plan, but it still gives the knife-wielding fortune teller an aftertaste of feeling rather flat. Bummer. Of course, once again, that doesn't really matter much when you're going to be spending so much time in awe of the Holmes/Moriarty conflict, which brings me to Jared Harris in the role of Moriarty. Harris' Moriarty portrayal could very well be one of the best villain portrayals of 2011, which is saying quite a bit, as there were many impressive bad guys on the big screen this year, from Tom Hiddleston's Loki in Thor, to Michael Fassbender's young Magneto in X-Men: First Class, and obviously Ralph Fiennes' climactic return to the Voldemort role in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, among many others. Still, Moriarty may just have them beat. The immense scale of the character is captured beautifully, and Harris expertly carries out an undeniable outward respectability in Moriarty's character, cleverly lacing it with just the right degree of unflinching criminal content and a grand, Machiavellian sense of nihilism. In many ways, Moriarty's mind is as twisted and endlessly brilliant as that of Holmes, and audiences will have a delightful time trying to untangle it, particularly when it finally clashes with the mind of Europe's greatest detective. The rivalry between these two is captured perfectly, as they square off in a deadly, subconscious game of wits where every citizen, every location, every object is a playing piece, and no less than all of Europe is the prize for victory. Professor Moriarty is one of the most beloved villains in literary history, so if Harris' portrayal failed, this entire movie would have failed. Thankfully, that's not the case. Harris easily rises to become likely the best actor in the entire film, delivering a flawless Moriarty portrayal that captures every layer and nuance of this complex villain, doing justice to the grand scale of Holmes' greatest foe. Thanks to the expert talents of Downey Jr. and Harris, along with the excellent supporting cast, every performance in SH2 sings, but the bulk of the appeal lies in the devious mental sparring between its hero and villain for sure!

Stunts: (10/10) - Ritchie's action choreography may be similar to his original SH movie, but that doesn't make it any less appealing, even if some of the novelty is lost. Seeing Holmes mentally envision how he would take down a target before an action scene unfolds still comes up once or twice, though with surprise twists that make them more than a gimmicky diminishing return from the original film. The stunts and action has vastly increased in scale and power in SH2, with some highlights that the trailers teased including a fiercely explosive battle on board a speeding train, a slow motion sequence involving a barrage of cannon fire devastating a forest that our heroes are trying to escape in, and naturally, a tense climactic final duel between Holmes and Moriarty that serves the ultimate test for both their brains and brawn. I won't spoil how this scene unfolds, but I will tell you that even beyond this superb final battle, the climax of SH2 in general is outstanding. I can't talk about it without spoiling the story, but trust me, this movie ends on a note twice as riveting and intense as that of the first movie! I also don't want to spoil the numerous brilliant action scenes throughout SH2, so just look forward to the excellent stuntwork that is yet again on display!

Special Effects/Animation: N/A

Set Pieces: (10/10) - Ritchie's steampunk-styled take on 19th Century England is back, and this time applied to other locations as Holmes and Watson pursue Moriarty around Europe. You'll see the same style applied to places in France and Switzerland, among other locations. The cinematography seems to range between bright colours and dark, gritty palettes, sometimes seemingly at random, but that doesn't mean that SH2 still doesn't look quite impressive. The set pieces in the action scenes are real highlights especially, many of which I, and the trailers already mentioned, but the rest, I'll leave for you to discover.

Costumes: (8/10) - The costume work is about the same quality as it was in the original, which is to say, above average, though sometimes lacking a certain memorable charm. Holmes is still ditching the deerstalker, in favour of his various eccentric disguises, which apparently now includes cross-dressing. Yep, if you always wanted to see Robert Downey Jr. in drag, now is your chance! Moriarty's more dignified villainy never breaks that air of respectability he harbours in the intellectual community, one that seems to shield him from suspicion even when he's the most dangerous criminal mind in Europe, but it's still pretty amusing to see what kind of funny disguises Holmes can come up with when the situation calls for it. I also liked the gypsy getups of Madame Simza for what it's worth, though the vibrant wardrobe of Adler has taken a hit in terms of appeal the second time around unfortunately, making worse the fact that she isn't in the movie for very long.

Story: (9/10) - SH2's plot is much larger and more intricately-woven than the storyline of the first movie. On the one hand, this does justice to the large-scale rivalry between Holmes and Moriarty. On the other however, it makes the plot more difficult to follow for those not prepared for the sequel's large scope. This is one of those movies that you'll be lost in if you leave to go to the bathroom, or doze off for a moment, so you really need to be paying attention throughout the whole thing, piecing together some of the story elements yourself, since SH2 won't spoonfeed them to you, and where would the fun in that be anyway? Well, in any case, the movie picks up a short while after the conclusion of the original. The original movie would have you believe that SH2 is a continuation picking up immediately afterward, but this is not the case. In fact, the conclusion of the original film, where Moriarty kills a police officer and steals Lord Blackwood's radio device, seems to be entirely forgotten in the sequel. Considering how excellent the rest of the story is, this is kind of a sloppy canonical error, but I guess that's a minor nitpick. Anyway, Holmes has become obsessed with tracking the movements of his old flame, Irene Adler's mysterious employer, Professor James Moriarty. Holmes deduces that Moriarty is the common element behind a series of bombings that has left tensions at an all-time high between France and Germany. After he foils another bombing attempt, Holmes is invited to meet Moriarty, who threatens the newly-married Watson and his wife's safety, should Holmes' investigation into Moriarty's affairs continue. Sensing a double-cross, Holmes intercepts the honeymooning couple, and Watson ends up whisked into yet another case where Europe itself hangs in the balance. Teaming up with a gypsy fortune teller and her village, Holmes and Watson must race against the clock to unravel Moriarty's grand plan before the entire civilized world pays the price! That's about the gist of the story without spoilers. As I warned you, it's large, detailed and demands your undivided attention. If you can keep up with the plot and understand all of the finer nuances of the writing though, you'll agree that SH2 is a thoroughly brilliant sequel that completely outshines the original in terms of its size and ambition!

Length/Editing: (10/10) - Ritchie's expert direction once again propels SH2 to the ranks of some of the year's finest action blockbusters. The movie's runtime is just over two hours, but it will whiz by quickly thanks to the movie's excellently manic pace, and fast, but not disorienting editing. Even if it's a lengthier movie than most, as with many high-end action blockbusters, you don't want to miss any of it for a bathroom break, or you're going to be hopelessly lost trying to untangle the massive plot. You have been warned! Thankfully, SH2's bigger runtime is justified thanks to its effective sense of gradually building stakes and momentum, not to mention just how much fun the whole affair is!

Genre Appeal: (9/10) - If you love highly enjoyable action movies, SH2 is guaranteed to please, though the equally excellent Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol does present some very tough competition in the December movie calendar. I strongly recommend making time to see both movies over the holidays (or even in January if you must), though I will say that MI4's liberally cartoonish, contrived proceedings which are played intentionally for cartoonish popcorn movie satisfaction, are complemented by SH2 having the same sense of fun, but in a package that demands more thought and attention from the audience. Unlike MI4, SH2 demands that you NOT turn your brain off, lest you be unable to keep up with its fast, ever-escalating mystery. The huge storyline that leaps from location to location, and scenario to scenario, challenging the audience to keep up, is in stark contrast to the easily-digestible popcorn presentation of MI4, which is itself a globetrotting sequel, albeit in the opposite hemisphere and in a package easier to take in, plus in the modern era instead of the 19th Century for what that's worth. MI4 is an easier action blockbuster to watch, but I think that SH2 is a more rewarding action blockbuster to watch, since its plot feels more satisfying to wrap your head around if you're willing to try and keep pace with it. Again, both are excellent films, but both are for different states of mind, so keep that in mind when choosing which to see when!

Re-watch Value: (10/10) - If you really love these SH movies, you'll definitely want to add this sequel to your Blu-Ray collection when it's made available there, and enjoying it subsequent times in the theatre is not a tall order either! You'll catch plot elements that you missed during repeat viewings, and come just a little closer to understanding the whole grand design of Holmes and Moriarty's conflict every time you relive this great movie. It's a movie that rewards subsequent views by sticking little touches here and there that you probably won't notice the first time around, so yes, this is a sequel sure to have plenty of long-term value!

Conclusion- You need to enter SH2 with a certain amount of brain activity if you want to keep up with its large-scale plotline, but if you're willing to invest the mindpower into tangling the various threads of this movie's expertly-written storyline, you'll find that SH2 is yet another highly thrilling and entertaining action blockbuster for your consideration this holiday season. Again, MI4 is tough competition, but SH2 complements it nicely by requiring more brainpower to invest in, but also providing a movie that's a joy to continually relive, uncovering just a bit more about everything that went into a sequel this massive and detailed. SH2 is just as impressive as MI4, but for different reasons, and that's great, because you get two equally credible action blockbusters that offer two very different experiences to keep tantalizing you back to the movies over the course of the holiday season. What a treat! Whether or not you consider this sequel or the original the superior film is a matter of your personal tastes, but me? I thought it was better than the first one. I thought it was larger, more engaging and has the virtually flawless portrayal of Holmes' greatest nemesis to consider. Even if you feel that the original is better though, it's still difficult to deny the impressive amount of depth and spectacle that's gone into the second movie, making its mystery and action highly entertaining throughout. I'm not sure where the series would go in a third movie, but should one happen (it's rumoured to have already entered the scriptwriting stage), I'm anticipating what else the cast and crew behind these great movies can do with another original Holmes mystery. Like the original, SH2's vision is very different from the original works by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, so, as I said in my review of the first movie, if you're a Holmes purist, you're probably still going to feel that Ritchie's direction doesn't sit quite right with you, especially now that the BBC is screening that very impressive new TV series, Sherlock, unlike in 2009, which is more friendly to the fans of Doyle's original works. If you're willing to get past the obligation to pay attention constantly, and once again accept that Doyle's characters have been upgraded (though fundamentally, still faithful) for the moviegoers of the 21st Century, SH2 is yet another extraordinarily impressive December movie to help close out 2011 on a superb note. Even if you might have a hard time absorbing the entire plot on the first go-around, the movie rewards subsequent viewings with all of its extensive attention to detail and subtle touches, and the excellent handling of the Holmes/Moriarty conflict, not to mention the stellar performances by both actors involved, is worth paying to see alone. What makes SH2 such a winning sequel is that it has such a bold, confident vision, and then does whatever it takes to make that vision come to life, without sacrificing the charm and entertainment value that went into making the first movie such a success. Some may prefer the more tightly-focused original, but even if that's true, you can't argue that the sequel is still a mighty impressive follow-up!



FINAL SCORE: 96% "AWESOME!"

FINAL VERDICT: "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows casts a wider web of conspiracy, action and scale than the original, determined to do justice to the infinite depth of the Holmes/Moriarty conflict. Some unprepared for the dense plot may find the second mystery more difficult to follow, and the novelty of Guy Ritchie's direction has expectedly worn off now, but many, myself included, will still feel that this is a rare superior sequel due to how effectively it pulls off its considerable increasing in scope, especially considering how flawlessly Jared Harris brings Holmes' greatest nemesis to the big screen!"