Sherlock Holmes - A Game of Shadows

2012 - Dir: Guy Ritchie - 2 hours 9 minutes
Shown at The FeckenOdeon on 26th May, 2012

This is a rare case of the sequel being better than the original. Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law seem to have settled into their characters and director Guy Ritchie has gained the confidence to have real fun with the genre. It has to be said that if you came with the idea that this was going to be a calm exercise in forensic deduction you’re in for an explosive surprise. This is a Victorian Holmes made for the 21st century and it employs every trick in the digital film maker’s arsenal. It all happens at breakneck speed so it’s no small miracle of acting that the characters emerge recognisable but not entirely unscathed.  The plot is so devastatingly twisted and complex that it doesn't bear too much deconstruction, but the action sequences linked by the twisted knots are bigger, faster, louder and more elaborate than anything Indiana Jones got involved in. There's not an awful lot of detecting going on - not that's any use to us, anyway; close-ups of Robert Downey Jr's eyes, inter cut with details he's looking at tell us he's working on something, but because he's always so far ahead of everyone else, it's usually quite a while before we catch up, making it more a case of sitting back to enjoy the ride than trying to work out where it's going - but the ride is undeniably great fun!… oh, and perhaps we ought to warn you.. There’s rather more of Stephen Fry on show than might be thought desirable… you may wish to avert your eyes… not a sight for the squeamish!

• This film is primarily based on the short story "The Final Problem" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (and to a lesser extent on "The Empty House"), but also uses elements of other Sherlock Holmes stories: "The Sign of Four"; "The Greek Interpretor"; "Valley of Fear"; "The Speckled Band"; "The Dying Detective"; "Bruce Partington Plans"; and "The Second Stain". 
• The world's last sea-going paddle steamer, PS Waverly, is seen when Holmes and Watson cross the English channel. The PS Waverly is docked and in regular use on the River Clyde, Glasgow. 
• The chariot that delivers Holmes to the anarchists HQ, is named "Les Sept Grenouilles" (The 7 Frogs). This is a cunning disguise for a gypsy - apparently they’re scared of frogs.  Not a lot of people know that.