Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011)

Theatrical Poster
Source: Wikipedia
Sherlock Holmes is back to face his old foe Professor Moriaty.

Dr. Watson (Jude Law) is getting married but Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) recognises various crimes around the city as the work of his old foe Professor Moriaty (Jared Harris).

Holmes latches onto a clue - an undelivered letter for a gypsy woman (Noomi Rapace) from her brother who is working for Moriaty - and she agrees to join forces with the pair before the peace summit in Switzerland.

Really, there was only one thing missing from the first Sherlock Holmes film; Holmes' nemesis Professor Moriaty. So when the announcement of a sequel to feature Moriaty, I for one was certainly excited.

Unfortunately, it would have taken a man like Holmes to unpick the initial higgledy-piggledy of strange characters that were thrown from the shadows and, coupled with the characterisation of Holmes at the beginning, it made for a very confusing start.

Happily the introduction of naked Steven Fry didn't detract too much from the story but his portrayal of Mycroft Holmes actually helped to shunt the story into action and the initial scenes gradually started to make more sense.

More pleasing though was Noomi Rapace. After watching her truly awe-inspiring performance in Steig Larsson's Millennium Trilogy, it was good to see her away from her iron-ring, tattooed mask to show that not only is she a multi-talented actress but also a good-looking one!

With Downey Jr. and Law taking centre stage again, the film shows the more ridiculous side of detective work and the comedy will undoubtedly upset hardcore Sir Arthur Conan Doyle fans but, despite not being quite as fresh as the original, the film is a whole heap of fun.

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