It's a pleasure to see you again, Mr. Holmes

Rating: 8/10 (3 January 2013)

No one expected much from 2009's 'Sherlock Holmes'; Guy Ritchie doing Holmes with Robert Downey Jr.? Many predicted it to be a huge failure, but wait, it turned out to be surprisingly good; a rather likable action-packed mystery romp bolstered by sparkling chemistry between its two leads. It garnered a generally positive critical reception and enjoyed box-office success, thus making a sequel inevitable.
'A Game of Shadows' follows Holmes and Watson (Jude Law) as they encounter the sinister Professor James Moriarty (Jared Harris) and are forced to partake in a mysterious game of cat-and-mouse to outwit the cunning villain.
This film's predecessor largely worked because of its well-matched leads; its story was relatively simple and nothing special, however the note-perfect casting of the detective duo managed to elevate the movie to heights it may not have reached otherwise. Downey Jr. continues on the path he strode on the first film, bringing a certain degree of swagger to Conan Doyle's iconic creation, inducing him with a few drops of the action hero charm and irresistible charisma he so perfectly honed as Tony Stark. While Jude Law, essentially the straight man, acts as a great foil to his partner and also gets a number of moments to shine, one in the film's third act is surprisingly touching. It's the dynamic between them though that makes this movie what is; they are the new Butch and Sundance, as far as I'm concerned, bouncing off of each other brilliantly and giving the film its beating heart and soul.
When Daniel Day Lewis was originally cast as the iconic villain Moriarty, I found myself in a state of glee; however, he eventually passed on the offer to portray the title character in Steven Spielberg's much-delayed 'Lincoln'. Jared Harris was cast instead and after being rather good in 'Mad Men' he continues to impress, proving a formidable antagonist to our heroes, exuding a presence of unmistakable menace. He shares a number of great scenes with Downey Jr., most notably their first meeting and a third-act game of wits. The reliable Stephen Fry lightens the mood as Holmes' brother Mycroft, while the fantastic Noomi Rapace is unfortunately wasted in a rather bland role.
This being a Guy Ritchie movie means action; so yes, the slo-mo of the first film returns, but thankfully doesn't manage to outstay its welcome (just about). There are fisticuffs, explosions, shootouts and big collapsing buildings. Holmes' near-superhuman fight-strategising skills also reappear throughout. Fortunately, all the action sequences don't manage to get in the way of a rather engaging story, with a script more intelligent and complex than that of its predecessor, with the writers wisely devoting some of the standout moments to encounters between Moriarty and Holmes. The film also moves at the pace of a freight train, continuously galloping forward, never leaving the viewer bored or unengaged, as the plot zips from London to Paris to Germany to Switzerland in Bond-like motion, making a nice contrast to the London- only setting of the original.
To put it simply: this film is bigger, bolder, funnier and better than the first, with even more bromance between Law and Downey Jr. and much more memorable villain. Building upon the strengths of the first movie, this is easily Guy Ritchie's best film yet, with snappy one-liners, exciting action, humour and moments of genuine emotion. Let's just hope that third time really is the charm.