The bromance continues...

Rating: 9/10 (5 January 2012)

A Game of Shadows proves to be a sequel that almost matches the original film. It starts off quite literally with a bang. Don't expect Irene Adler to stick around for long. While I'm sure some will be pleased with her apparent departure from the film, I for one enjoyed Rachel McAdams in the role/her more substantial screen time in the last film, and felt she was given short shrift this time around. Her exit is written in such a way that, should the writers decide to bring her back in the future, it's not entirely out of the realm of possibility (although it is unlikely).
Robert Downey Jr. continues to own the role of Sherlock Holmes, making it his own. His unique interpretation of the classic character has it all - brains, fighting skills (though the gloomily-lit fight scenes could have been a bit better lit/easier to follow) and, most importantly, heart. He's not without heart (even if it might seem like he is at times). That isn't to say he can't be frustratingly inconsiderate. The way he treats Watson, Waton's new wife Mary and even Watson's dog makes you wonder how Watson puts up with such an insufferable presence as Holmes. But at the core, these films are all about Holmes and Watson and how they care about each other, no matter what is said and done between the two. I was glad, however, to see Watson sock Holmes in the jaw a few times, going off at him (and rightly so) for tossing Mary off a speeding train into the water below...even if he was doing it for her own 'safety'. Sometimes Holmes just needs a good punching/throttling.
Jude Law further proves the perfect on screen partner for Downey. His Watson is far from the useless bumbling sidekick in previous incarnations, and is more than able to handle himself. He's also picked up a thing or two from Holmes, using his own keen powers of observation at certain points. They fight together, bicker and share many a homo-erotic moment (though these moments tend to be somewhat more in-your-face than they were in the previous film). This time around we're treated to Holmes cross-dressing (looking like The Joker at one point), among his many other disguises, Holmes and Watson share an intimate moment on the floor of a train and they even dance together...though it's not all just played for laughs. More often than not, these moments serve a *purpose*. The chemistry between the two actors is clearly evident. They make for a great duo.
Joining them on their journey this time is a gypsy named Madam Simza Heron (played by the awesome Noomi Rapace - the one and only TRUE Lisbeth Salander from the Millennium trilogy of films. Accept no substitutes!). She proves an interesting new addition, who's quite good in a fight and helps the boys out. Sadly, she's a little underutilized, disappearing at different points. I wish there'd been more of her, as Noomi rocks in the role and brings a breath of fresh air to proceedings. Among other things, she's pretty handy with knives, looks good in a hat, tends to eat and drink a lot, and she even dances with Watson (quite a memorable, if sadly all too brief scene. Why, Guy Ritchie, why?! I KNOW there was more to that scene than what was shown! Noomi said as much in an interview).
Proving that a memorable/effective villain need not be a poor man's version of The Master from Doctor Who, and doesn't require a silly voice (yes, I'm looking at you, TV's Sherlock), Mad Men's Jared Harris gives a nicely creepy performance as Holmes's arch-enemy, Professor Moriarty (he's certainly a better villain than Blackwood was in the previous movie). The two play a twisted game of cat and mouse throughout the film, matched in every way, which comes to a head with one hell of a chess match above a waterfall.
Stephen Fry provides some humour as Sherlock's brother, Mycroft. Esepcially in a scene with Watson's poor wife, Mary (the excellent Kelly Reilly - in, thankfully, a more substantial role than last time. She even gets a couple of moments of awesomeness, and is not merely the damsel in distress). You have to feel for her character, she and Watson never get a moment's peace/time to just be *happy* - what with Holmes butting in all the time and ruining things. I also feel for Gladstone, the dog, who still remains the guinea pig for Holmes's experiments.
The movie has a good dose of humour, plenty of action (of particular note is an explosive chase through the woods, making one of the more impressive uses of slow-mo I've seen of late, as things splinter everywhere), a bit of torture, a couple of moments involving Holmes in camouflage, Holmes doing his voice-over thing (where we see his next moves he's plotting slowed down/explained, then see them put into effect. Even Moriarty gets in on the voice-over action), and many a powers of deduction on display. And I'm still loving the use of Hans Zimmer's theme music for the Sherlock Holmes movies, not to mention the drawings of cast members that play over the end credits.
While I still like the first film a bit more and would rank it as the superior of the two, this one is a pretty decent follow-up. Here's hoping for an equally good, if not better third film - as the ending leaves things open for one in the most sly way possible.