The boys are back and the game is afoot. The first film ended on the promise of Professor Moriarty as the next big case for Sherlock to foil and follow on it does as both Holmes and Watson are thrown back into chaos as the game begins. While Watson has plans for settling down with his new wife, Holmes confrontation with a new nemesis, alliance with a mysterious fortune teller and complicated relations with his brother Mycroft send events spiraling and forcing both men into Moriarty's game. The stakes are raised and it soon becomes apparent that Moriarty means business, not only threatening lives but threatening to break the barriers of countries as well with a war that would span the whole world. All is to play for as Holmes faces his most deadly match and possible equal, Holmes must put emotion aside and pull out all his tricks in order to best Moriarty before he can bring chaos and destruction to the world.
They've been here before but Robert Downey Jr(Holmes) and Jude Law(Watson) still shine on screen with charisma as the two leading heroes and still bring home the character dynamics of the flawed and impossibly logical detective alongside the straight faced military doctor. The film clearly builds around the fundamental chaotic friendship of the two men much like the first installment which is no bad thing as it worked well yet while both still portray that uproarious energy the film often drowns out the characteristics with action and explosions. Noomi Rapace(Madame Simza Heron) takes over the leading lady role from Rachael McAdams (Irene Alder) after only a small presence at the beginning, letting the enigmatic fortune telling gypsy give the boys that womanly guidance they may or may not lack. Rapace does a fantastic job when actually given a chance, much the same for Jared Harris(Moriarty) the cunning professor and Holmes arch-enemy means to take the world by force, though Harris much like his screen counter part takes to the role in the shadows which if your playing Moriarty is no bad thing as he's meant to be behind the scenes in this role, manipulating Holmes until the final move. The last pivotal role comes from the bizarre and outrageously brilliant Stephen Fry(Mycroft) while added for what appears to be only hilarity and a few snippets of story purpose he takes to the role with splendor.
Holmes vs Moriarty, the great game! At times the sheer brilliance of the two master minds first confrontation and subsequent moves really push aside the blockbuster nature of it's previously believed standard and make you feel that this paticular game is going to be full of brilliance and master like skills of deduction. Although a good step back into pace and being ready for another romp through Victorian-Europe, the film trips in the middle exchanging the use of an amazing cast and their talent instead for large set pieces, explosions and mind blowing action. While the action is mind blowing, it's not the kind of mind blowing that Sherlock should be busy deducing and it's a strange occurrence, as the beginning throws you back into the world of the characters and setting of the first film, its sequel throws you off the horse and miles from where the film should be going at the mid point exchanging all the intelligence for over the top action. However lackluster the in between is, the game it self has a brilliant check mate and with a stellar cast it still manages to claw it's way back from tragedy and deliver a battle of wits as a Sherlock flick should. though in some ways superior, It's not quite the follow up it could have been while still a perfect portrayal of the characters and a fairly (though light) well crafted tale, the adventures of Holmes and Watson are more about the kicks and thrills this time round and while not besting the first film it's still an entertaining and worthwhile watch.
7 / 10
FIN.
They've been here before but Robert Downey Jr(Holmes) and Jude Law(Watson) still shine on screen with charisma as the two leading heroes and still bring home the character dynamics of the flawed and impossibly logical detective alongside the straight faced military doctor. The film clearly builds around the fundamental chaotic friendship of the two men much like the first installment which is no bad thing as it worked well yet while both still portray that uproarious energy the film often drowns out the characteristics with action and explosions. Noomi Rapace(Madame Simza Heron) takes over the leading lady role from Rachael McAdams (Irene Alder) after only a small presence at the beginning, letting the enigmatic fortune telling gypsy give the boys that womanly guidance they may or may not lack. Rapace does a fantastic job when actually given a chance, much the same for Jared Harris(Moriarty) the cunning professor and Holmes arch-enemy means to take the world by force, though Harris much like his screen counter part takes to the role in the shadows which if your playing Moriarty is no bad thing as he's meant to be behind the scenes in this role, manipulating Holmes until the final move. The last pivotal role comes from the bizarre and outrageously brilliant Stephen Fry(Mycroft) while added for what appears to be only hilarity and a few snippets of story purpose he takes to the role with splendor.
Holmes vs Moriarty, the great game! At times the sheer brilliance of the two master minds first confrontation and subsequent moves really push aside the blockbuster nature of it's previously believed standard and make you feel that this paticular game is going to be full of brilliance and master like skills of deduction. Although a good step back into pace and being ready for another romp through Victorian-Europe, the film trips in the middle exchanging the use of an amazing cast and their talent instead for large set pieces, explosions and mind blowing action. While the action is mind blowing, it's not the kind of mind blowing that Sherlock should be busy deducing and it's a strange occurrence, as the beginning throws you back into the world of the characters and setting of the first film, its sequel throws you off the horse and miles from where the film should be going at the mid point exchanging all the intelligence for over the top action. However lackluster the in between is, the game it self has a brilliant check mate and with a stellar cast it still manages to claw it's way back from tragedy and deliver a battle of wits as a Sherlock flick should. though in some ways superior, It's not quite the follow up it could have been while still a perfect portrayal of the characters and a fairly (though light) well crafted tale, the adventures of Holmes and Watson are more about the kicks and thrills this time round and while not besting the first film it's still an entertaining and worthwhile watch.
7 / 10
FIN.
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