Should have been the third movie

Rating: 6/10 (29 June 2012)

Apparently, unlike most of you, my wife and I found "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" to be dreary and uninvolving. Rachel McAdams ("Irene Adler") provides nothing more than a cameo; and Noomi Rapace (Madame Simza), who impressed so much in the "Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" trilogy, is simply too remote and cool to provide much chemistry. The cliché gypsy fortune teller has flair; Rapace barely registers beyond her action sequences. Note to Naomi: Watch "Golden Earings" with Marlene Dietrich to see how it is done. Speaking of action sequences, there are WAY too many in "...A Game of Shadows". Action sequences require a tension build and there simply isn't any. Perhaps, worst, Jared Harris essays a bland Professor Moriarty. Then there is the story; little mystery, lots of noise and a climax that should really frustrate fans of "Sherlock Holmes". It is more appropriate to a third, fourth or even fifth movie.
Memorable performances by Robert Downey, Jr., Jude Law and Stephen Fry ("Mycroft Holmes") plus top-not production values are all that saves this movie from being a total "dog." I give "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" a weak "6".