Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows (2011)

More bloody and intense than the first!!

In the year 1891, a madman genius Professor Moriarty concocts a deadly plan to start a World War. Sherlock Holmes must now convince his partner in crime Dr Watson to join him in one last adventure which may change everyone's lives forever......



Phew!! What an adventure. What an absolute mindbending adventure. I realized it may be an improvement on the first movie, but who thought it would turn out to be such a mind blasting experience. The first one lacked intensity and had less action and blood to show for all the viciousness.  But not this. This raises the stake and makes us more and more breathless with multiple unnerving chase sequences throughout Brighton and France. Action, fight sequences, bomb blasts and much more as you get on the ride of your lives with two characters you can never tire of. Holmes and Watson. Its intense. And yes this time the villain does makes you feel the chill. Though he is not as capable analyst he is a boxing champion. So you know what you gonna get. But be ready to be surprised here and there. Its just AMAZING. Go have a watch.......


Guy Ritchie is back with a bang. Those who enjoyed the first one will be blown by his latest offering. Some beautiful use of the camera and nice shots with more and more ECU shots of all the inanimate objects around. And some stylized action sequences that can make some Bond movies feel insecure. Its pretty damn awesome. As in the first, the recreation of 1891 England is complete. The houses, carriages, the industrialization and the new weapons. And the government's conflict prone attitude. It captures the political scene of that era and gives us some great lesson in History. Plus the writing by Michele and the actor Kieran Mulroney(Paperman) is just wonderfully paced. Some things do happen in the middle which may feel like just for laughs but its essential in a fast paced intense action movie like this to have buffers. And not till the end does it take the foot of the pedestal as we almost die of exhaustion as our heroes criss cross from one country to another fighting and saving their ass just in nick of time. What an absolute delight Ritchie. You rock!!

He sure does scare you!!

When I talked about the first part, I mentioned great acting. And when it comes to the sequel its even better. More meat for Watson(Jude Law) to chew on. And less for Irene(Rachel Mcadams). Infact she gets bumped off in the 1st five minutes. She deserved that I suppose. And the introduction of a new character who's French former revolutionary now gypsy Simza(Noomi Rapace). She acts damn well. And as someone who hasn't watched more of her I suppose they tell the truth about her acting talent. She kicks ass and looks good. And also introduced is the more politically inclined and the darling of the British Bureaucracy, deduction master brother of Holmes, Mycroft(Stephen Fry). He has not much to do but his one sequence where he's walking nude infront of Mrs Mary Watson(Kelly Reilly)is just hilarious. But he gets something to do in the end and its not such a bad Mycroft afterall. And now we come to the two gentlemen who matter the most. Holmes(Robert Downey Jr) and his adversary Professor Moriarty(Jared Harris). Robert's Holmes is a fighter. With the mind as well as the body. More transformed for the modern audiences. He is brilliant. No question. It comes down to finding a perfect adversary. And it is found in Moriarty. He is cool as a cucumber playing chess and cracking jokes and singing stuff. Then suddenly this sneer which can frighten. He is just the right adversary for our lovable disguise master Holmes whose intuitiveness increases in this movie by leaps and bounds almost bordering on the ridiculous. Moriarty also is a Cambridge boxing champion so we know Holmes is not gonna have it easy. But what he goes through in this is just absolutely destructive. Sir Arthur's Holmes would never have survrived this fantastically bleak adventure. Kudos for making the villain more worthy of Holmes and giving us Sherlock fans great faces for our fav characters. Bravo everyone!!

Well done Guy Ritchie and team!!

     
The stylized camerawork and the beautiful lighting as in the first part makes this more beautiful to look at. With great production values and amzing set design we are looking on of the most authentic period suspense thriller to come out since some time. With peppy music ad some classic German which sets yout mood right for the umpteen chase sequences and action scenes. Editing is nice and gives us some fine slow mo shots that look incredible. Although it wasn't required at all the places where they used it i feel. So everything blends beautifully in this action thriller adventure. Great work!!


HighTension Verdict: The first movie was breathless but the villainy wasnt the best part about it. And greater the bad man more the fun watching Holmes fight it out. This has one hell of a madman plus more action and blood. It takes Holmes where not many would think he could go. He was all mental but this new age Holmes is ready for all the physicality. And it bodes well. Have a watch asap. Not many better action suspense thrillers out there..... 


HighTension Meter: 9/10.


BEST Quote:

Moriarty: You see...hidden within the unconscious is an insatiable desire for conflict. So you're not fighting me...so much as you are the human condition. All I want is to own the bullets and the bandages. War, on an industrial scale, is inevitable. They'll do it themselves, within a few years. All I have to do...is wait.