Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

If you liked anything about the first Guy Ritchie directed Sherlock Holmes movie then catch the first steaming thing you can find and see the sequel. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows is by far a better movie in every way. Where the first Holmes movie was the set up pitch, the appetizer, the second is without a doubt the main course. The chemistry between Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law where in the first Holmes movie was cute, here it flows on a far deeper level. These guys should do more movies together and hopefully there will be a third Holmes film.

Now Robert and Jude had some great company in this movie much like the first one. The usual cast of characters are back like Rachel McAdams playing Irene Adler, Kelly Reilly who finally becomes the wife of Watson, Eddie Marsan as Inspector Lestrade, and Geraldine James who plays the befuddled maid of Holmes. The new additions to the cast this time around raise the bar. Noomi Rapace fresh off her turn as Lisbeth Salander stars as Madam Simza Heron, Stephen Fry as Mycroft Holmes, Sherlock's older brother, Paul Anderson as the lethal Colonel Sebastian Moran, and Jared Harris who plays the diabolical Professor James Moriarty.

Now I liked Mark Strong's Lord Blackwell in the first film but he has NOTHING on Jared Harris' Moriarty. Both men were hell bent on world domination but where Blackwell wanted to trick his way into that with Black magic, Moriarty takes a more head on approach by trying to start the first world war. And where Blackwell was no real match for Holmes, Moriarty is more of a worthy opponent. If you've seen the first movie you know how skilled Holmes is as a fighter, Moriarty is equally as skilled in the art of pugilism and gives Holmes a serious run for his money here. Moriarty has France and Germany on the brink of war and only Holmes and Watson can foil his plan for it takes someone as crazy as Holmes to defeat someone as crazy as Moriarty.

Visually the movie is stunning and I am sure there will be some awards handed out, especially for the chase through the woods segment. That was not only fun to watch, it was intense as well. There are the usual Guy Ritchie flourishes here and there if you know his movies. Every director has their trademarks and Ritchie is no different though he refrains from over doing it. I must also mention that there is a hilarious donkey ride that set to the music from the Clint Eastwood western classic Two Mules for Sister Sara. Guy said regarding the first Sherlock Holmes movie that it was his most accessible movie to date, well this then is his second and also his best.

Armed with a great story to work with, a great cast to direct, a budget that I am sure far exceeded the first one, and Hans Zimmer outdoing his old score by leaps and bounds Guy delivers a movie, a sequel that far outshines it's predecessor. One I would see it again in a heartbeat. Maybe I'll see you online and if not, I'm sure I'll see you at the theater.