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Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Rating: 3/5

Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Jude Law, Noomi Rapace, Stephen Fry and Jared Harris.

Director: Guy Ritchie

Year: 2011

Back in 2009 my better half and I decided to go and see Sherlock Holmes on yet another one of our “let’s drop in and see what this film has to offer” visits to the cinema. The film releases at the time were rather poor so Sherlock Holmes was the best option available to us. I can honestly say that I did not expect the film to be THAT good! Fast forward two years and I am eagerly awaiting the release of A Game of Shadows and visit the cinema to witness more action and adventure from Holmes and Watson. I am not in the least bit surprised that Guy Ritchie made a second film as it seems there are endless possibilities with these two characters. 

A Game of Shadows doesn’t exactly pick up where the last film left off and instead Sherlock Holmes  (Robert Downey Jr) finds himself disgruntled as long term partner Dr Watson (Jude Law) is about to marry his love Mary (Kelly Reilly) which causes Holmes to find himself at a loss. He decides to occupy his time by investigating his archenemy Professor Moriaty (Jared Harris), who has been masterminding terrorist bombings across Europe. As an act of vengeance towards Holmes, Moriaty decides to make the Watson’s his central target in his latest plot. Holmes and Watson again join forces and on the way meet gypsy Madam Simza (Noomi Rapace) and together the three friends travel on a mission to find her missing brother Renee, who may hold the secret to defeating Moriaty once and for all. 

As the film progresses we build up to a final battle scene between Holmes and Moriaty in which they both mentally plan their battle and Holmes soon realises that he will be defeated no matter what. The two enemies are then knocked into a waterfall before it is revealed near the end of the film that Holmes has indeed survived and it is left open for the possibility of another sequel. 

I thought that this film was very clever and that the action sequences were absolute perfection. I was really impressed by a lot of the imagery and camera techniques that are used, for example the final battle scene where some of the sequences are filmed in slow motion so you can see every punch made. Another scene which sticks in my mind is where Holmes, Watson, Sim and the others are running through a forest and the camera again is filming the action in slow motion and then speeding it up. I thought that this was very clever and added a lot to the film. Robert Downey Jr is sensational in his performance as Holmes and his English accent is quite impressive. I also enjoyed the chemistry between the two actors and a lot of the dialogue is really clever and funny. My only complaint about the film is that it is far too long and could use shortening in some scenes which seemed irrelevant to me. 

It is a fantastic film and one which the whole family will enjoy. If another sequel is indeed made then I would definitely give it a watch. 

Good points: The acting from Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law, I think they really do make a good team and have terrific chemistry. The final battle scene and the small part of Dr Watson’s brother played by the brilliant Stephen Fry. 

Bad points: The film is just a tad too long and could use shortening at some points.