Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
Guy Ritchie's much anticipated sequel to Sherlock Holmes (2009), with Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law reprising their roles.
The smartest man in the room, Sherlock (Downey Jnr.), meets his match with criminal mastermind - the evil, depraved Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris, Mad Men). When Inspector Lestrade (Eddie Marsan) construes the death of the Crown Prince of Austria as suicide, Sherlock points to murder and a piece of a larger and much more portentous puzzle, designed by Moriarty. Holmes and Watson (Law) are on the case, tracking the Professor's web of death and destruction which involves bombings in Strasbourg and Vienna.
The film also brings in Noomi Rapace (from the excellent Millennium trilogy) in her first English-speaking role, and Stephen Fry, playing Sherlock's older, peculiar brother, Mycroft.
- Director:
- Guy Ritchie ('Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels', 'Snatch', 'Sherlock Holmes')
- Writer:
- Kieran MulroneyMichele Mulroney
- Cast:
- Robert Downey JrRachel McAdamsNoomi RapaceJude LawStephen FryJared HarrisEddie Marsan
Reviews & comments
Variety
pressWhile director Guy Ritchie's excesses and modern concessions -- among them a lot of explosions -- remain intact, the parts of this second "Sherlock Holmes" are considerably more rewarding.
Total Film
pressFaster, funnier and even more bromantic than the original, this far from stately Holmes delivers piping hot entertainment at a furious lick.
The New York Times
pressThere is a plot, but no real intrigue, mystery or suspense, and no inkling of anything at stake beyond a childish and belligerent idea of fun.
The Guardian
pressA Game of Shadows assures us that escapism is good, that mischief must be celebrated. Holmes and Watson are happy and their escapades play out with such grace and brio that the fun is infectious.
Roger Ebert
pressSet aside your memories of the Conan Doyle stories, save them to savor on a night this winter and enjoy this movie as a high-caliber entertainment.
Los Angeles Times
pressA few shades brighter than its predecessor, and the action bits certainly closer to the full-throttle "Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels" mode director Guy Ritchie didn't quite capture the first time.
Hollywood Reporter
pressAfter quite a few tedious detours and distractions, when the film finally gets down to the business of a climax at a gathering of elite European diplomats in a precariously perched Swiss mountain castle, it becomes not half-bad.
Empire Magazine
pressA sequel confident in what it's about - bigger, better, funnier, without stretching the joke.
In short, it's (of course) not as good as the BBC series, and not even as good as the first one in this franchise - the style seems a bit stale, the jokes lacked punch, Noomi Rapace was totally wasted with minimal lines or screentime, and the plot meandered a bit too much. While I can totally understand how this could be great entertainment for the masses,...
This movie is just one crisis after crisis after crisis.There was a story in there somewhere,but not much.It is mainly made up of fluff and nonsense.The script was written and delivered with rapid fire effect.The special effects were good but of no real importance.After seeing the first Holmes this one let me down a lot. It is well made with good acting by...
The quote is not from the current film but from "The 7 Percent Solution" way back around 1974/5. Watson cheering Holmes on whilst swordfighting atop a fast moving train. It came to me while watching the train sequence in "Game of Shadows" and prompted me to wonder; which of the two films was the better? I have to say, the earlier was...
This is more about Holmes and Watson than anything else. London is dirty and old. The chase scene in the forest is amazing. Holmes is genius in disguise and taking drugs. It's a real laugh. I give it 4 beers out of 3
I have no idea how this film could have possibly received a single bad review, because honestly? This was a brilliant film to the very last second. Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law kept a tight hold of their magic chemistry from the 2009 film, and the cinematography was just SUPERB. The woods scene... perfection. The plotline was, in truth, less complicated...
Went and saw this movie yesterday. Had hopes of a great movie and I would have to say they were well meet. This is definitely one of the best sequels of the year.If you are after a movie with a lot of action but funny at the same time then this is a must for you.
I'm a HUGE Robert Downey Jr fan so have been waiting for the sequel to SH for a long time. I loved it right from the start. RDJ and Jude Law are as fabulous in their roles as ever and the film is action packed and exciting. Go see it!
The second Sherlock Holmes was a very enjoyable adventure ride with lots of suspense and unexpected twists and turns. I thought that Robert Downey Junior & Jude Law were awesome in their roles as was the actor playing the evil Moriarty. I haven't read the Sherlock Holmes books, and I understand that the films are a long way from the book. However, if...
This was a enjoyable Sequel it was such fun and a fantastic cast like the first movie Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law have such good chemistry you can see it on screen and they are so funny. Their was also Stephen Fry playing Holmes Brother which was really good to see because i haven't seen him in the past years in anything. Just so much fun cant wait to see...
Okay - the first film was fun in a Lock Stock and Two Camp Charaters kinda way. I love Downey Jnr in anything because... well, he's Robert f@#$&* Downey Jnr dude! But let's face it, like IRON MAN 2, this Sherlock sequel was just a tired re-tread of the first. So, if you enjoyed the first, you'll love this. A fast, fun and frantic revisioning of Holmes...
Variety
pressWhile director Guy Ritchie's excesses and modern concessions -- among them a lot of explosions -- remain intact, the parts of this second "Sherlock Holmes" are considerably more rewarding.
Total Film
pressFaster, funnier and even more bromantic than the original, this far from stately Holmes delivers piping hot entertainment at a furious lick.
The New York Times
pressThere is a plot, but no real intrigue, mystery or suspense, and no inkling of anything at stake beyond a childish and belligerent idea of fun.
The Guardian
pressA Game of Shadows assures us that escapism is good, that mischief must be celebrated. Holmes and Watson are happy and their escapades play out with such grace and brio that the fun is infectious.
Roger Ebert
pressSet aside your memories of the Conan Doyle stories, save them to savor on a night this winter and enjoy this movie as a high-caliber entertainment.
Los Angeles Times
pressA few shades brighter than its predecessor, and the action bits certainly closer to the full-throttle "Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels" mode director Guy Ritchie didn't quite capture the first time.
Hollywood Reporter
pressAfter quite a few tedious detours and distractions, when the film finally gets down to the business of a climax at a gathering of elite European diplomats in a precariously perched Swiss mountain castle, it becomes not half-bad.
Empire Magazine
pressA sequel confident in what it's about - bigger, better, funnier, without stretching the joke.
In short, it's (of course) not as good as the BBC series, and not even as good as the first one in this franchise - the style seems a bit stale, the jokes lacked punch, Noomi Rapace was totally wasted with minimal lines or screentime, and the plot meandered a bit too much. While I can totally understand how this could be great entertainment for the...
This movie is just one crisis after crisis after crisis.There was a story in there somewhere,but not much.It is mainly made up of fluff and nonsense.The script was written and delivered with rapid fire effect.The special effects were good but of no real importance.After seeing the first Holmes this one let me down a lot. It is well made with good acting...
The quote is not from the current film but from "The 7 Percent Solution" way back around 1974/5. Watson cheering Holmes on whilst swordfighting atop a fast moving train. It came to me while watching the train sequence in "Game of Shadows" and prompted me to wonder; which of the two films was the better? I have to say, the earlier was...
This is more about Holmes and Watson than anything else. London is dirty and old. The chase scene in the forest is amazing. Holmes is genius in disguise and taking drugs. It's a real laugh. I give it 4 beers out of 3
I have no idea how this film could have possibly received a single bad review, because honestly? This was a brilliant film to the very last second. Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law kept a tight hold of their magic chemistry from the 2009 film, and the cinematography was just SUPERB. The woods scene... perfection. The plotline was, in truth, less complicated...
Went and saw this movie yesterday. Had hopes of a great movie and I would have to say they were well meet. This is definitely one of the best sequels of the year.If you are after a movie with a lot of action but funny at the same time then this is a must for you.
I'm a HUGE Robert Downey Jr fan so have been waiting for the sequel to SH for a long time. I loved it right from the start. RDJ and Jude Law are as fabulous in their roles as ever and the film is action packed and exciting. Go see it!
The second Sherlock Holmes was a very enjoyable adventure ride with lots of suspense and unexpected twists and turns. I thought that Robert Downey Junior & Jude Law were awesome in their roles as was the actor playing the evil Moriarty. I haven't read the Sherlock Holmes books, and I understand that the films are a long way from the book. However,...
This was a enjoyable Sequel it was such fun and a fantastic cast like the first movie Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law have such good chemistry you can see it on screen and they are so funny. Their was also Stephen Fry playing Holmes Brother which was really good to see because i haven't seen him in the past years in anything. Just so much fun cant wait to...
Okay - the first film was fun in a Lock Stock and Two Camp Charaters kinda way. I love Downey Jnr in anything because... well, he's Robert f@#$&* Downey Jnr dude! But let's face it, like IRON MAN 2, this Sherlock sequel was just a tired re-tread of the first. So, if you enjoyed the first, you'll love this. A fast, fun and frantic revisioning of Holmes...
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