My immediate reaction after watching Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows was one of relief. Yes, I was thankfully relieved that this movie was a lot better than the 2009 original!
The film's plot centers around a string of bombings that have escalated and thus increased tension between France and Germany. Hot on the case is world famous investigator Sherlock Holmes, who sees a hidden hand pulling the strings behind the international crime. At the same time Holmes' partner in crime-solving, Dr. John Watson, is preparing to marry his fiancée. But his honeymoon plans are put on hold as he begins to search for the culprit responsible.
There is much to rave about with this film. The action is top notch, the acting spot on, and the direction helps to bring it all together. Ritchie's visual innovation of slowing down the action to illustrate Holmes' powers of perception clearly adds a level of entertainment to the movie. But at the end of the day it is a team effort as everyone brought their skills to the table to craft a film full of action, intregue and witty humor.
The film truly excelled during its quieter moments. It is then that we get to witness the interactions between Holmes and Moriarty, two brilliant foes with a grudging admiration for one another. Moriarty, played by Jared Harris, manages to make his portrayal suave, scholarly, and menacing. The clever combination creates a character that is truly unique, ultimately proving to be the perfect villain to world renowned hero Sherlock Holmes.
Overall this film is simply better then the first. I will say that it does run a tad long, but at the end of the day the action sequences win out as Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law prove that there is no better crime fighting combination that Holmes and Watson - period!
