Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

In 2009, Sherlock Holmes was released and was a pleasant surprise to everyone who saw it. A stylish and exciting adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's novels. While not as intricate or in depth as the novels are it was still a very fun movie to watch.

Well, now in 2011, Guy Ritchie has done it again. To be honest, I wasn't expecting this sequel to be as good as the first, but I was wrong. It was just as good if not better. Full of humor and heart, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, proves to be a stand out film of the holiday season.

Sherlock and Watson must team up again in this sequel to takedown their toughest adversary yet: Professor Moriarty. Beginning with a cameo from Rachel McAdams and a reminder of what made the first Sherlock so enjoyable. Some of my favorite parts of these movies are when we go into Sherlock's mind and get a feel for how he works things out, in fights he explains everything that is going to happen while we see it in slow motion. Always a pleasure to watch.

Robert Downey Jr. has come a long way since his last arrest in 2001. He rose from his plights and has become one of the best actors of the last five years. His role as Sherlock Holmes is no different. He really does justice to all that is the hero Sherlock Holmes. Playing the role with just the right amount of humor and intelligence as he did in the first one. And Jude Law is great reprising Dr. Watson who is, in this film, a smarter sidekick than Sherlock is used to. Noomi Rapace made her Hollywood debut and she brought the power and aloofness of Lisbeth Salander into the world of Sherlock Holmes. We will be seeing a lot more from her in Hollywood in the future.

The plot, much like the novels, provides you with all the details to solve the mysteries, but put them in such plain sight or just breeze over them that you think nothing of them when you first see them. Only when we see the same details through the crafty eyes of Holmes and Watson does it all makes sense.

Sticking with a similar formula from the first film, Game of Shadows edges past its' predecessor and keeps true to the Sherlock Holmes I believe was originally intended by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Don't miss this one in the theater!

8/10