Similar to the original

Rating: Null/10 (2 May 2014)

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows resembles the 2009 Sherlock Holmes in many ways. It has the exact same sense of humour, the actors haven't lost their touch in the slightest in the two passing years, the action scenes are very similar, as is the music and the pacing. And this is a good thing, it really is. If you liked the first film, then this won't disappoint at all and you may even like a bit more if its story is more to your liking.
Yet personally I cannot help but feel that novelty played a large part in why I liked the 2009 so much. It was a version of Sherlock Holmes I hadn't seen before. But now with a sequel I don't have that. I've already seen much of what it has to offer before, and the new it has is not enough to pull me back in completely. It's also worth mentioning that don't really like Jared Horris as Professor Moriarty. His acting here is very workmanlike. It gets the job done, but I would have preferred to see more spirit from him, even little hints of brilliance and menacing intellect.
Still, it's by no means a bad film. Downey Jr. and Law are still absolutely brilliant in their roles, the rest of the returning actors do a good job, technically it's just as professional as the previous one, the story is one of the classic Holmes stories told well and as a whole it'll keep you entertained. I wasn't as thrilled by it as I was with the original, but if you're looking for more like that one, this is an excellent film.