Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

A day before watching this film I stumbled upon Sherlock Holmes (2009) playing on T.V. and a day before that accidently I discovered the series cal... read more

A day before watching this film I stumbled upon Sherlock Holmes (2009) playing on T.V. and a day before that accidently I discovered the series called Sherlock. Sherlock the series is on my must watch list for 2012. The similarity between the series and Guy Ritchies version is in their interpretation of the characters. With this one he is playing to the gallery. In a year that saw many south Indian remakes in Hindi this could easily pass off as one more in the list.

Whats it about? The opening scene reminded of the countless no of Hindi films in which the hero is introduced through an action sequence. Here too the film starts with an action sequences setting up the stage for what to expect in the next two hours. Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Junior) along with Dr. Watson (Jude Law) has to save the world from the evil genius Dr. Morriaty (Jared Harris). This time he has Simza Sim Sim (TGWTDT Noomi Rapace) for company.

Does it work? Yes.

Why? Like most of the masala Hindi films this also has to be enjoyed as a show. It cant get filmier than Dr. Watson trying to resurrect Sherlock total Hindi film style. I almost heard Amitabh from anand utho,baatein karo mujhse. In my head I was imagining what if Sherlock is made in Hindi in which Rajesh Khanna plays Sherlock and Amitabh plays Watson (the after effects of watching too many remakes this year). This film fails in engaging you in the mystery solving element but rather makes you wait for the next big action set piece. It has what I think the best last shot in a film this year. In Hindi films we had one in ZNMD. There is also the continuation of the bromance almost hinting towards a dostana angle. Guy Ritchie brings in a fresh set of writers and they go all out in multiplying the stuff that worked in the 1st Sherlock Holmes. This is a good example to show that even masala requires good writing. Robert Downey Jr is part Stark part Sparrow and in one of the get ups resembles the Joker but he is one big reason that makes this film works. Noomi is pheeki compared to her performance in TGWTD.

Final few words: A perfect spectacle to end the year.


Rating: *** (Good)

Ticket Meter: Run to the theatre NOW!!!
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Sherlock Holmes: A game of Shadows is a thoroughly enjoyable movie. Every moment is filled with fast action or sharp dialogues or discoveries that ... read more

Sherlock Holmes: A game of Shadows is a thoroughly enjoyable movie. Every moment is filled with fast action or sharp dialogues or discoveries that leave you wide eyed with wonder.

The story is not a sequel to the earlier movie but a stand alone one. Sherlock and Watson try to outwit the evil Prof. Moriarty who is hell bent on starting a world war so that he can profit from it by supplying arms to all the warring parties. They are helped in their adventure by Sherlocks eccentric brother Mycroft and a gypsy woman called Sy whose brother Renee is caught in Moriartys web. The story seems a bit disjointedin the beginning but gets well knit pretty quickly.

There are two things that strike you the most about this movie. One, that Sherlock is not the straight faced,very propah Englsihman but rather a maverick prone to experimenting with crazy disguises and strange poisons and potions. This Sherlock has an edgy though still essentially British sense of humour and borders on, as Watson puts it, manic as his superbrain takes in all sorts of stimuli and processes them to get to the truth. The other thing that stands out is Watsons character. He is not a bumbling slightly dumb sidekick as we know him, but a sharp ex military man whom Sherlock treats like an equal partner. You see a wonderful warm affectionate relationship between the two which makes you feel emotionally at one with the characters.

Robert Downey JR has a ball as Sherlock. You can see the relish with which he wears his disguises, beats people up, gets beaten up and wisecracks his way through tough situations. It is a pleasure to see an actor immerse himself with so much pleasure into his role. Jude Law as Dr. Watson provides a wry counterfoil to this colourful character very well. The chemistry between the two actors is perfect. Jared Harris gives Moriarty the right evil sophistication. And of course Stephen Fry lives it u as Mycroft Holmes, scandalizing Watsons wife by hanging around naked in his house.

This movie is a total must see. It has you hooked tight up to the last second of the last scene and then at the end you have to stand up and clap. Just go.
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Guy Ritchie displays great attention to detail and texture. Thumbs up!! actually multiple Thumbs up. Even with my acute observational skills I coul... read more

Guy Ritchie displays great attention to detail and texture. Thumbs up!! actually multiple Thumbs up. Even with my acute observational skills I could not deduce something Holmes did tactfully. This one is a high budget extravaganza compared to the previous one. The pre-climax and the climax scenes would leave you wanting for more. The movie is a great philosophic adventure and definitely one of the best of 2011. Robert Downey Jr. and Guy Ritchie, take a bow.

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Sherlock Holmes reigns supreme... It's intriguing, engaging, refreshing and a class apart!!

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One of the literary worlds most famous detective returns for yet another cinematic adventure on the big screen. Continuing from where we left off l... read more

One of the literary worlds most famous detective returns for yet another cinematic adventure on the big screen. Continuing from where we left off last time around, Holmes & Watson have been on the trail of the infamous Professor Moriarty when the movie kicks off. James Moriarty turns out to be quite the match for Holmes, intellectually and physically, resulting in case that makes all other Holmes cases seem small and insignificant in scale if not in ambition. The action pans across Europe as a newly wed Watson & grieving Holmes attempt to bring down Moriarty before he can kick off a world war and an arms race. Joining the duo for the ride this time is the original dragon tattooed girl, Noomi Rapace who plays a gypsy woman intrinsically linked to Moriartys nefarious plans. So will Holmes & Watson be able to stop the professor or will Europe be plunged into a war? If history & Alan Moore are anything to go by then both the events have already occurred.

Though in name a Sherlock Holmes adventure, the plot borrows liberally from Alan Moores The League of Extraordinary Gentleman and barely earns the Holmes tagline. I considered the first movie drifted from the set precedent of the Holmes mythos, but this one makes Holmes some sort of Victorian James Bond, albeit this one shakes & stirs formaldehyde in his martinis. His powers of deduction are pretty much intact and the way Robert Downey Jr. seems to have fun playing the part, its almost impossible not to enjoy the movie on some level. I find the lack of any intellectual capacity appalling and the constant need to juxtapose an elaborate action sequence replete with slow-mo sequences highly repetitive and showy. Either Guy Ritchie seems to have gotten carried away with the praise heaped on him for the first part or this just lazy writing. Everywhere the plot is secondary to the pyrotechniques and that for didnt make this a Sherlock Holmes movie at all. I like seeing a gloriously well orchestrated blaze of destruction as much as the next guy, the context of the movie is of utmost importance and without that you only have an impressive CGI show reel.

On the other hand, the banter between Holmes & Watson is delightful and pretty witty in parts though it can get a bit juvenile at times. Law & Downey Jr. complement each other perfectly leaving almost everyone else as just props in the background; the exception to this being Stephen Fry as Sherlocks gay sibling, Mycroft Holmes, who displays outstanding comic timing. Noomi Rapace shows that she looks pretty without tattoos and piercings and most importantly that she can speak English well enough to secure bigger and meatier roles elsewhere. Jared Harris is solid if not spectacular; though a week down the line, Ill barely remember him in this role. Rachel McAdams appears in cameo and to speak anything more about her role would be to reveal certain spoilers.

With less of a plot & character development and more bang for its buck than the first outing, this Sherlock film is disappointment. You still have Robert Downey Jr. & Jude Law in top form and that alone makes the movie enjoyable. Dont go in expecting much and youll have you share of harmless fun.
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You got to watch it to believe it.. 2009 to 2011 the Actin just got betterAlthough it was tempting to see some Romance wither off in the start befo... read more

You got to watch it to believe it.. 2009 to 2011 the Actin just got better
Although it was tempting to see some Romance wither off in the start before it blossomed, there is enough Action and Drama to keep everone on its toes...till the very end.
For die hard Detective fans the plot thickens as it enters the climax and leaves you wanting for more in the end..pulsating sequences with Holmes at his memorable best also provides some melodramma and comic relief with his dear friend Watson and his newly Wed wife, who I must say had a notable appearence view less