The Game is Afoot – Again

Rating: 8/10 (2 June 2016)

A series of bombings across Europe are threatening to start a war between France and Germany; Sherlock Holmes is convinced that the man behind it is Professor James Moriarty. The authorities don't agree though; Moriarty is a respected academic and counts Prime Ministers amongst his friends. Holmes is of course right but proving it will be difficult and Moriarty is aware that he is being investigated. He decides to make things personal, first killing Holme's friend Irene Adler then targeting the newly married Watson and his wife Mary. Holmes manages to save the latter two but their plans for a honeymoon must be put on hold as Holmes and Watson head to France. Here they find themselves working alongside Gypsy fortune-teller Madam Simza Heron as they race to uncover exactly what Moriarty is up to; all leading to the famous meeting at the Reichenbach Falls.
After and enjoyable opening film this sequel manages to keep the enjoyment going. The story is fun and there is plenty of action from start to finish. Much of this action is fairly stylised; notably in a sequence where people are fleeing through woodland while under artillery fire where trees shatter in ultra-slow motion; I found this highly effective although I can see how some viewers won't be so impressed. There is also a particularly exciting fight on a train. As well as good action there are also plenty of laughs throughout the film. Most of the jokes are fairly obvious but some are more subtle; I loved the musical joke of having the theme from the film 'Two Mules for Sister Sara' play as Holmes rode a donkey behind his horse riding companions. The cast do a solid job; Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law continue to impress as Holmes and Watson and newcomers Noomi Rapace and Stephen Fry are fun as Madam Heron and Holmes brother Mycroft. Jared Harris makes a fine Moriarty; threatening without tipping over to be a pantomime villain. Overall I'd say this was a fun film and heartily recommend it to anybody who enjoyed the first film however if you didn't like this first film I suspect you'd be equally disappointed with this as it is similar in style.