There are movies based on books that follow them to the letter, and then there are movies based on books that are more inspired by them, while taking a slightly different (if still somewhat creative) path of their own. It’s safe to say that Warner Bros.’ Sherlock Holmes films fit the latter rather than the former, as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s slow mystery-solving style is given a small backseat shove to slo-mo style action and the repetoire between the film series’ two leading men. For their second go-around, the actors, along with returning director Guy Ritchie, follow suit once more, though fans of the film will still like what’s offered here. Just don’t expect anything that takes the, as Holmes might put it, “elementary” route. This one stacks up as high as the first. The film picks up shortly after the events concluding the first one, with Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) tracking down a notorious villain known as Professor James Moriarty (Jared Harris), a man who’s not only as brilliant as Holmes himself, but also far more devious, and capable of a plot many couldn’t dream up. Shortly after a quick re-introduction to Holmes’ on-again, off-again love interest Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams, who disappears too quickly), we find Holmes neck deep in theories, which perplexes his partner, Dr. John Watson (Jude Law), and on the eve of his wedding to the soon-to-be-Mrs. Watson, no less.
After an introduction at a “stag party” and a bumping-into by Holmes’ even more eccentric brother Mycroft Holmes (Stephen Fry), Sherlock begins picking up on the trail of Moriarty, thanks to the help of a psychic known as Madam Simza (Noomi Rapace, fresh from original The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo trilogy). After a failed assassination attempt, the real game begins, as he and Moriarty meet face-to-face and the plot, as complicated as it is, unfolds. And what looks like a simple game of chess is, in fact, much, much deeper, like “the start of a World War” deeper. No, the plot doesn’t always make sense, and there are times you’ll be scratching your head at Holmes’ over-the-top deductions and how the hell he got there to begin with. But, that said, the main parties keep things interesting. Guy Ritchie, who directed the first film with just the right amount of flair, does the same here, setting the stage for some excellent action sequences. A gun battle on a train borderlines between amusing and exciting, thanks to Holmes’ overpreparedness and the introduction of a gatling gun that tears through the walls. A later sequence involving a foot chase through a forest is even more astounding, thanks to some appropriate (if not overkill) use of slow motion and some stunning visual effects, mainly with the introduction of a super-sized cannon.
The film does drag a little bit here and there, as we wait for the eventual full-on battle between Moriarty and Holmes and where the plot eventually wraps up, and the ending left a little bit of confusion, though it does firmly set the stage for the third movie in the series, whenever it stumbles around. But it’s always a pleasure to look at, thanks to Ritchie’s design team. They’ve nailed the look of the 1890’s very well, while adding a few wink-in-the-eye contemporary touches, such as the early introduction of a steam-powered automobile and, of course, some shades to made Holmes look even more erratic. And those slo-mo effects are cool, there’s no denying that. But there are times the movie relies on them a little too much. But more for the effect, I guess. If there is a really strong suit to this film, it’s in the performances, just as it was in the first. Robert Downey Jr. once again coolly (well, in some cases) plays Holmes, adding a bit of accent while flinging about accusations, theories and, in some cases, full-on insults, mainly pointed at Watson’s wife. (Playfully, mind you – though he does throw her off a moving train at one point in the film.) His ability to do practically anything he can get away with makes his Holmes fun to watch, even if it does shatter the old-school image of the detective that Arthur Conan Doyle set up.
Meanwhile, Law pretty much plays the straight man, though he’s a jolly good foil to Holmes’ antics, particularly during a card game early in the film, and then later on during the shootouts. He proves to be pretty smart himself, even if he tires, in some parts, of his partner’s actions. He plays the part just fine. The other side characters are great, too. Rapace is surprisingly fitting as a psychic; with a little bit of her spark of her own that differs from what McAdams did for the first picture. Fry offers plenty of humorous moments, whether he’s badgering the ages-old butler or walking around in the buff, much to the confusion of Mrs. Watson. But the real shocker here is Jared Harris as Moriarty. We were disappointed at first that the previously interested Daniel Day Lewis didn’t get the part, but Harris does magnificent with it, delivering the right amount of calm and malice to make him a truly vicious villain, without going over the top in a maniacal sense. And the fact he’s as smart as Holmes – maybe even smarter – makes him the more dangerous. While hardly what you’d call a perfect sequel (nor a shining example of Arthur Conan Doyle in motion), Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows is a fun night at the movies, packed with good performances (mainly from Downey and Harris), thrilling stunts and mostly prompt direction by Ritchie. If you’re looking for an entertaining flick to spend your money on, consider this case closed.
