Sherlock Holmes was a huge hit in 2009, but can the sequel live up to the expectations? The answer is yes and no. A Game of Shadows stars Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law as Holmes and Watson. Watson is getting married to Mary and Holmes is about to lose his investigative partner. Meanwhile, Holmes is monitoring the acts of criminal mastermind Professor James Moriarty (Jared Harris). Holmes meets Simza (Noomi Rapace) a gypsy whose brother has something to do with Moriarty. Watson gets involved and the trio go off in search of Simza's brother and trying to stop Moriarty from starting a World War.
A Game of Shadows certainly delivers the action, but is light on everything else. Mycroft (Stephen Fry) is Holmes' brother, who I thought would bring some more witty humor into the film does nothing but fill screen time. The plot involving Rapace's character never worked and is the main reason the film is not as good as it should be. Moriarty is a worthy villain but director Guy Ritchie never really makes his motives clear. The plot is straightforward but I didn't understand what Moriarty was trying to do until three-quarters of the way through the film.
Now to the good parts. The action is spectacular, even if it's unrealistic for 19th century Britain. Action fans will enjoy it but true fans of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's source material will probably slit their wrists. Personally, I enjoyed it. The chemistry between Downey and Law is apparent and leaves you with some pretty funny moments.
If someone asks me how A Game of Shadows was, I'll say it was good but it's the perfect example of a trailer being better than the movie itself. The ending to the film is one of the best I've seen though. Holmes is a fun, enjoyable movie, but it's not as good as it should be. The film also comes with a trailer for The Dark Knight Rises. Let me tell you, that film looks amazing and epic. It is going to be excellent.
THE FINAL GRADE: C (5.9/10)
A Game of Shadows certainly delivers the action, but is light on everything else. Mycroft (Stephen Fry) is Holmes' brother, who I thought would bring some more witty humor into the film does nothing but fill screen time. The plot involving Rapace's character never worked and is the main reason the film is not as good as it should be. Moriarty is a worthy villain but director Guy Ritchie never really makes his motives clear. The plot is straightforward but I didn't understand what Moriarty was trying to do until three-quarters of the way through the film.
Now to the good parts. The action is spectacular, even if it's unrealistic for 19th century Britain. Action fans will enjoy it but true fans of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's source material will probably slit their wrists. Personally, I enjoyed it. The chemistry between Downey and Law is apparent and leaves you with some pretty funny moments.
If someone asks me how A Game of Shadows was, I'll say it was good but it's the perfect example of a trailer being better than the movie itself. The ending to the film is one of the best I've seen though. Holmes is a fun, enjoyable movie, but it's not as good as it should be. The film also comes with a trailer for The Dark Knight Rises. Let me tell you, that film looks amazing and epic. It is going to be excellent.
THE FINAL GRADE: C (5.9/10)
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