Action packed, Intelligent and Entertaining

Rating: 8/10 (29 December 2011)

Professor Moriaty: Are you sure you want to play this game? Sherlock Holmes: I'm afraid you'd lose.
In addition to him being the template for countless detective fiction writers, Sherlock Holmes evokes sweet childhood memories, stirring the colonial spirit in us- of restrained Victorian surroundings, intellectual jaunts by an eccentric yet bohemian detective aided by his faithful friend and chronographer. When in 2009, Guy Ritchie turned the very concept of Sherlock as we knew and as written by Conan Doyle on its head to come up with his version of a grubby, brawling Sherlock in an action packed, edgy thriller, a lot of the purists turned their eyebrows, and rightly so, because we all missed the cerebral Holmes.
Circa 2011- Sherlock Holmes- Game of Shadows, even though picking off right from where it left in the previous movie, makes a brave attempt to bring back to the new fold, the faithful by creating a feature that has something to appeal to both- the action seekers, and the intellectually oriented. Sherlock is on the track of Professor Moriarty, the one who he believes is responsible for creating a chaos in Europe, and who, he later learns, wants to unleash a world war from which only he can benefit. The first half of the movie is a modern day action movie played in period costumes. The film opens with Watson getting all set to marry, despite Holmes' best assurances that he doesn't need anyone in his life other than Holmes himself. The movie hurtles through at bullet train speed, with some old characters being unceremoniously disposed off, and a slew of criminal activities portrayed across Europe which Holmes, though being at the right place at the right time, yet, is unable to prevent the machinations of an evil genius.
The second half is where things slow down, and yet become more interesting, involving Holmes powers of deduction, memory, and intelligence- things that for a change would not make Doyle turn in his grave. Tension rises to a crescendo in a high stakes chess game between our hero and villain with a world changing assassination attempt going on in the background, and it is beautifully visualized that there is only one end to it. Its a battle in itself, this game, and kudos to Guy Ritchie for making the chess game and the associated mind games the focus, in spite of the wide-ranging ramifications of the assassination.
Speaking of villains, Jared Harris as Moriarty is stupendous. Here is someone who is carries his cover as an Oxford professor sumptuously, yet can look fearsome even while grinning, in addition to be smart enough to match wits with Holmes, and in most cases outwit him. There is repressed hatred in the friendly badinage between Moriarty and Holmes. Which brings us to our heroes- clearly this is as much as Downey's movie as Law's for Watson's role has been considerably enhanced in this one- he is a hero himself, the time spend with Holmes has been put to good use by him.
And it continues to be a dream comeback for Downey- he completely rules in the movie, only he can be so unfazed in the face of danger, and yet a buffoon to the core- his impersonation of a wall and chair is fabulous, as his extended turn in drag. The only time he misses his target is with his fake British accent. Downey and Law's chemistry was one of the few positives in the first movie, and in this one its gone up by several notches. Their banter is witty, smile inducing, and very very British- setting it apart from the usual Hollywood fare. Stephen Fry as Mycroft Holmes probably gets the best lines, and has loads of fun as someone who is as good as Holmes, and yet every bit as quirky.
Guy Ritchie brings his familiar brand of manic energy and tongue in cheek humor into the movie. With an all European setting, the cinematography is awesome. The visual effects are very good, without being overbearing, and the musical score by Hans Zimmerman is as usual, a class apart. However, the extended use of slow motion deduction and action sequences do drag things after a while, though its the end forest bombarding sequence that has the most extraordinarily effective exposition of this technique.
To sum up, this is a modern day action thriller set in 1891- as a result it has plenty in it to make the new fans happy, and enough wit, intellect and charm to retain the loyalists. Hence not only for fans who liked the first, but also for those who have a thing for Doyle. Powerpacked performances from the all star cast and high levels of technical competence makes this a solid, all round entertainer. A new years gift it is then- 10/10 for Robert Downey fans, 8/10 for others ;)