Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

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Reader rating:: Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
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Genre: Action/Adventure
Running time: 129 min
Director: Guy Ritchie
Screen writer: Michele Mulroney, Kieran Mulroney
Actors: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Jared Harris, Noomi Rapace
OFLC rating: M
Year: 2012
Language: English
DVD Release: 10 May 2012
DVD Extras: Documentaries, featurettes
DVD Rating: M

9 reviews so far

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

I'm giving it 4 stars as I have yet to see it but I will undoubtedly enjoy it as much as I did the first one. I'm a Holmes purist, I've read every story, I know them inside out; I can tell you exactly how Watson describes Holmes in a Study in Scarlet without consulting the book.
That being said, I do enjoy a good re-imagining of their dynamic and the way Holmes behaves. There was always a level of ambiguity in the original stories, and Guy Ritchie just plays with it a little more. Robert Downey Jr. is a wonderful Holmes, because the beauty of the Holmes stories is that they allow for reinterpretation of Holmes himself. In the stories, Holmes does box; as was common for men of the era, and Watson is a gambler. Ritchie actually addresses this, where others have not.
Then there is the RDJ & Jude Law dynamic as Holmes and Watson. I *like* their Holmes and Watson, their banter, the way Watson is less of a sidekick in this (and in almost every single adaptation, he is a sidekick, whereas in the stories he is Holmes' equal), and the chemistry, a good Holmes and Watson must have fantastic chemistry.
More importantly, this particular adaptation is fun. So many Sherlock Holmes films/TV series are dark, and grave; and they almost detract from the actual relationships of the characters and cases.

Commenter: Kitty
Location: Sydney
Date and time: December 30, 2011, 8:48AM

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This was one of the freshest, funniest, most entertaining movies of the year. I went into it not knowing quite what to expect -- I've been a Holmes fan since I can remember. And I LOVED this film. It's a rollicking, slam-bang, witty, compelling update of the Holmes canon -- surprisingly closer to Doyle's original concept of the characters than most earlier takes have been. Doyle was writing popular entertainments. His Sherlock is not a sedentary dude who sits around puffing his pipe, working out Great Deductions. The original Sherlock IS a man of action -- he is a boxer, and in "The Final Problem," where he fights Moriarty to the death, we learn he knows a martial art called "baritsu." So RDJ's take on Sherlock is spot-on canonical -- manic, genius-brilliant, bare-knuckle fighter, martial-arts expert, violinist and imbiber of intoxicating substances. RDJ's Holmes is also dashingly handsome, as is, for once, Dr. Watson. Which makes sense -- Watson as portrayed by Doyle was a veteran recently returned from the British war in Afghanistan. So Watson would be fairly young -- not an old duffer as portrayed by so many earlier actors. Here's where this film is also better than its predecessor (which I've now seen, needless to say): in Jared Harris' Moriarty, it has a villain truly worthy of Holmes. Ritchie's extreme slo-mo sequences are a tad too long, but all undeniably beautiful. The effect of his "Holmes-o-vision" (where Holmes -- and we -- "see" what will happen just before it takes place) is especially effective in the final confrontation between Holmes & Moriarty as they engage in one of the great cinematic chess matches of all time.

Commenter: Ganieda
Location
Date and time: January 06, 2012, 12:14PM

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Not much plot, incoherent story, but so much fun! The sparky chemistry between Jude Law and Robert Downey Jr gave a great sense of spontaneity to many scenes, and there are some scenes I'll remember for a long time - especially that donkey... Cool soundtrack. Perfect, non-highbrow, light entertainment for the holidays.

Commenter: Mumtwothree
Location: Holiday land
Date and time: January 06, 2012, 12:59PM

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

I saw this film last night and thoroughly enjoyed it. It had all the originality of the first that breathed new life into a series that was lost in the 30's. The twists and turns in the film combined with the action, humour and thinky bits was brilliantly done!. Bravo! bring on more of this type of film please!
I don't know what film you saw Schembri but it wasn't the same one as me. Maybe foreign films with French sub titles which explain the meaning of the underlying metaphor are more you style?

Commenter: MickH
Location: here, now
Date and time: January 08, 2012, 5:49PM

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

oh and I forgot to mention, the film got a small round of applause at the end. That's something I don't see (or hear) very often.
I think you've lost touch Schembri and therefore will have no relevance in any film watching decisions I make in the future.

Commenter: MickH
Location: here, now
Date and time: January 08, 2012, 5:56PM

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Not as great as the first instalment but very entertaining again. More humorous and less dark than the first.
Some of the dialogue was trite and delivered too rapidly but I disagree about unclear narrative _ I had no issue following the narrative at all
Overall I think it was well worth the price of admission

Commenter: SpryCorpse
Location: Bayswater
Date and time: January 09, 2012, 9:57PM

Rating: 1 out of 5 stars

I gave this 1 star because the system doesn't allow less. My real rating is MINUS a mega-trillion or two.. I walked out after 40 minutes so I might just possibly be doing it a disservice. But what a pathetic opening 40 minutes - distinguished primarily by ludicrous, phoney, cartoon-like fight scenes. Maybe this was meant to be a comedy? If it was I missed the joke. All style and no substance. And a lousy style at that.

Commenter: Chris
Location: Green Point
Date and time: January 13, 2012, 6:06PM

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

A lovely, silly, roller-coaster bit of steampunk full of entertaining mayhem and reasonably likeable characters. Even the women are a lot more than merely ornamental, thank heavens. Stephen Fry is supportively charming as Mycroft and Noomi Rapace is an elegant gypsy. I particularly liked Holmes\' disguised as a floral panel armchair.

Commenter: Rangdalion
Location: Marrickville
Date and time: January 19, 2012, 11:38AM

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

High on atmosphere, packed with rather improbable action, the only notable aspect is the characterisation of Watson as a worthy sidekick, rather than the more common uncomprehending buffoon. If you like what Russell Hoban called Thud, Crunch, and Tom-on-the-bottom stuff this is for you. Otherwise save your money.

Commenter: Just Another Penguin
Location: Croydon Vic
Date and time: January 22, 2012, 6:06PM

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