Phonearl
Good start, but then it gets ruined
Odelecol
Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.
Phillida
Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.
D Walt
I've kept this on my quasi-monthly list to watch. The intrigue between Moriarity and Holmes, through deceit, chess, or chemistry.
Tribute to Basil Rathbone...this works wonderfully in this day and age.
jacobstevens-29877
I was a huge fan of Robert Downey Jr.'s performance in the first Sherlock Holmes, and while I was excited to see him again as Sherlock on screen, I was afraid I would be let down by yet another sequel. However, that was not the case at all! Sherlock in a Game of Shadows by far blew away my expectations and surpassed the first movie in my eyes. Sherlock is wittier than ever, while at the same time more stealthy, serious, and plays an amazing protagonist to the Antagonist Professor James Moriarty. Whether it be an action packed scene, funny dialogue, or just plain enjoyment, I was thoroughly enjoyed and hooked in from start to finish.
Python Hyena
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011): Dir: Guy Ritchie / Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Noomi Rapace, Jared Harris, Rachel McAdams: Entertaining sequel to the 2009 hit. It addresses trickery and intellect as Sherlock Holmes always has every move mapped out before they commit. His partner, Dr. Watson is getting married but Holmes interferes in that when attempts are made on their lives. Director Guy Ritchie is backed with intense action and a plot that travels Germany and Switzerland. The opening effectively cuts a previous tie and it opens to a payoff that is often clever including a brilliant conclusion that contains the trademark humour. Robert Downey Jr as Holmes is clever with amusing disguises and an extreme sense of wit. Jude Law as Watson must put his honeymoon reluctantly and suddenly on hold while he bails Holmes out of certain death. Jared Harris as Professor Moriarty is the film's villain using bombs like they are toys to be wound at will and set loose. He is every bit as clever as Holmes as they nearly match up but Holmes will ultimately have the last laugh in an amusing final scene. The only weak role is Noomi Rapace as a gypsy whose brother is missing and Moriarty is linked to it. While her role thankfully avoids being a romantic prop, it is still lifeless nonetheless. Rachel McAdams is featured in the effective opening where she is poisoned, which is actually a shame since she brings much to the table. While the first film breathed new life into the classic character, this film is pure entertainment that is a game of shadows where the audience is delightfully tricked. Score: 8 ½ / 10
CinemaClown
Despite making the right move of heading into the darker territory, the follow-up chapter to Sherlock Holmes fails to capitalise on the excellent platform provided by its predecessor and is a highly disappointing sequel that presents a downgrade in each storytelling element, tries too hard to be funny, and is also marred by its poor rendition of Holmes' arch-enemy.Following the events of the first film, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows continues the adventures of Detective Holmes & his companion, Dr. Watson, as they travel across Europe in a race to prevent their fiercest adversary, Professor Moriarty, from executing his sinister plot of starting a global war, only to find that their enemy is always one step ahead.Directed by Guy Ritchie, A Game of Shadows features more style & visual flair than its already impressive predecessor but fails to add anything of substance to its story or characters. Art direction is incredibly alluring, Camera-work adds a few more tricks up its sleeve but the use of slow-motion shots borders on excessive, Editing is terrible while Hans Zimmer's score is very much a rehash of the original.Coming to the performances, Robert Downey Jr. & Jude Law reprise their respective roles of Sherlock Holmes & Dr. Watson and while their chemistry works, their performance was much better in the last picture. The new additions include Jared Harris, Noomi Rapace & Stephen Fry and all of them disappoint for Harris' Moriarty isn't intimidating at all, Rapace just wanders around while Fry is annoying at times.On an overall scale, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows is inferior on all levels for this sequel completely fails to build on the solid foundation of its predecessor, is tedious to sit through, offers nothing captivating enough to keep the interest alive, and despite the modest expectations, fails to recreate the magic of the original. Putting more emphasis on action than its plot or characters, A Game of Shadows is an inferior, insipid & uninspiring movie that ends up making a mockery of two of Arthur Conan Doyle's greatest creations.
