Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows

The world's greatest literary detective has been revived with a film and TV series. The film franchise continues with this sequel.

A few years ago I found a box set of all the Sherlock Holmes novels really cheap at a book shop. They are really excellent stories and have come in handy as inspiration for the detective film script that I have been writing. Guy Ritchie has brought back the character with some modern sensibility but kept the setting in the original period. I think he has managed to marry the period film with some very cool film making techniques to make it feel more modern but not be set in modern times. The first film was a very thrilling, action packed adventure. Guy has managed to keep the fun with the sequel. He has also chosen to being into the series Sherlock's major nemesis, Moriarty. Much like the first film, this one has a very strong political thread. This time it is international with the effects reaching to Europe. This makes the story more grand and thus a great deal of fun. Moriarty is certainly a great villain for Sherlock to play off. They are very equally matched and therefore Holmes must resort to drastic measures to out do him. Guy is certainly great at action scenes too. While the slow motion way he shoots them can get a tad monotonous it does make them seem very dynamic. I also liked the way the ending mirrored the ending of the novel's story that features Moriarty.

It seems Robert Downey Jnr can do anything. While this version of Sherlock Holmes comes across a little bit like an English Tony Stark. In previous incarnations Sherlock was more prim and proper but here he is far more relaxed and gritty. Robert is perfect at playing the larican and intelligent sides in equal measure. As Watson Jude Law is a perfect counter balance. He is the prim and proper side that Holmes needs. Jude is excellent in this role and I think has great chemistry with Robert. Noomi Rapace hit the cinema screens with great impact in 'The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo'. Here she makes her Hollywood film debut. While I would have liked her to have a bigger role in the story, I think she does an excellent job. Jared Harris is certainly not the big name you would have expected to take on a role like this, but I think he is an excellent choice. He has the deadpan and subtlety in his performance to make him seem like a very formidable foe without actually doing very much. Of coarse he has a henchmen to do most of his dirty work. I think Stephen Fry was a brilliant choice as Holmes' brother Mycroft. He's the more prim version of Sherlock and Stephen bring his hilariously dry wit to the role.

A great deal of fun as Sherlock tackles his greatest foe. An excellent action film with a clever and witty plot and script.