Another bombastic adventure captured at 1000 frames a second...

Rating: 8/10 (30 December 2011)

I was a huge fan of the first and went in with high hopes for the second. I was not disappointed. As a fan I might add. The big sets are still here, the frenetic chases through the streets, Holmes trade mark pre-fight slow mo sequences and a forest chase that is sure to delight the action hungry audiences.
Personally, I absolutely love the new take on Sherlock, dismissing the more traditional Sherlock was for some, a huge disappointment. In fact, I'm more than well aware of the more die hard Sherlock fans who were not happy to see a masculine Holmes barreling his way through dozens of thugs, swinging his fists and kicking his way through doors.
Some may also be disappointed by the fact the "mystery" didn't really tickle the intellect. I would agree as well. That I do think the detective side of Sherlock didn't really shine. Sure, Sherlocks brilliance was shown every so often, but not in the novel way we would like to see in a brilliant detective. The mental battle between Moriarty and Holmes was great, but could've been better. Maybe given some space to breath in between all the machine guns and explosions.
The same cast is there, and the witty banter between Holmes and Watson will often bring a laugh or two. The dialogue still as entertaining as the first. The female plays a more slightly up front role in the film, but it is still a film for the fellas. Needless to say though, Noomi Rapace's role does not disappoint but nor is it stellar. Moriarty is played by Jared Harris who died a fine job in depicting a timeless villain.
Really, all you really want to know if it's worth seeing right? Yes. Yes it is. It's an action film. A fun film. Don't go in for paradigm shifts or mind boggling puzzles, but enjoy the visual roller coaster Guy Ritchie has created for us. There are some wonderful camera shots and angles he employs that are sure to delight. Some of the older or more "stiff upper lipped" movie goers may be a little disorientated by them however. The phantom shots are great, Guy has a bit of a love for these sequences and they are shot well, giving a wonderful new pace to the action.
What you get one you shell out the money for your ticket is a wild romp in the park with Sherlock. Brilliant action sequences and well played characters. Sherlocks brilliance is somewhat overshadowed by the action, but the film still stands as a fun, fast paced movie which should delight many viewers at almost any age.