SOUND OFF
Sound Off: Guy Ritchie's New 'Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows'
by Alex Billington
December 16, 2011
Now that you've seen it, what did you think? "I'm knee-deep in the single most important case of my career." Holmes and Watson are back! Hitting theaters this weekend is Guy Ritchie's follow-up to his 2009 reboot, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, starring Tony Stark Robert Downey Jr. as Holmes and Jude Law as Dr. Watson. This sequel finally brings in Holmes' ultimate nemesis Moriarty, played by Jared Harris, for much more destruction and fun. But can he top the original? Is this sequel any better than the first, or worse? Once you've seen it, leave a comment below with your thoughts on Sherlock Holmes 2.
To fuel the fire, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows is a very entertaining movie, packed some awesome action scenes, but overall I wasn't in love with it as much as the first one. While they try to improve upon moments like Holmes' fight scenes, it feels like they lost the focus on the story. As Jeremy said in his review, it's a much more straightforward story, but I think to a fault. This is Moriarty we're talking about! By the end of the movie, I was hoping we'd see one of those reveals where there was something going on in every scene we didn't notice before, some elaborate setup, but nothing. They just get into a physical fight with an awesome ("holy shit" moment), but all too brief, end. Where's the mystery, the deception, the battle of wits?
What did you think of Sherlock Holmes 2? A thrilling exciting follow-up or disastrous sequel? We will remove any comments that indicate you have not seen the movie, as this area is meant to discuss the film only once you have seen it and can talk about your thoughts. Please keep the comments civilized!
Reader Feedback - 42 Comments
1
I liked it.. but only reason i went was to see the Dark Knight Rise's trailer cuz it wasnt online 🙂
Michael Baldwin on Dec 16, 2011
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Mfw: you ask about mystery, deception and battle of wits. (spoilers ahead) mystery: pretty much the entire movie. Deception: holmes doesnt die. Battles of wits: holmes and the his enemy are equally matched mentally, remember the scene at the end revealing how he thinks EXACTLY like holmes? And holmes tries to use out smart him but he ends up getting out smarted in the battle of forsight. Not to be defensive just wondering how much more you want from the movie
Chip_Tha_Ripper on Dec 17, 2011
5
are you just trying to start fights with people? Because what you're saying doesn't make any sense.....seeing as how no one said anything negative about the movie.
Awtan90 on Dec 17, 2011
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No, im trying to figure out what alex meant by questioning the lack of mystery deception and battle of wits
Chip_Tha_Ripper on Dec 17, 2011
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I had a couple of problems with the movie. The first is that Moriarty's apparent ambition was money and nothing more. He goes out and buys up all the resources that will make him rich when a war starts, then tries to start a war. Nothing complicated about that. Sherlock should have called him on it at the end, when Moriarty was talking about how he still wins, since obviously if he felt the need to push the war into starting he didn't have the patience necessary to have really won at this point; if he'd won, as he put it, he wouldn't have needed to go through all the trouble he did fighting Sherlock throughout the movie, he would have just waited. The second problem I had is that the movie felt too long. I started checking my phone about 40 minutes before the movie ended, hoping for it to wrap up. Were any of the fight scenes unsatisfactory? Only the one near the end where they are fleeing from the forest. Despite that, the constant fights, interesting as they were individually, just caused the movie to drag. Rather than making the movie feel like fast-paced, each fight just felt like an ordeal to get through while we waited for the plot to progress...but it never really did. The story was overly simple and the fights overly present and complicated. The movie just didn't have a balance in pacing. The movie was okay, but nothing special. It takes up a bit of the gap between seasons of the BBC Sherlock series. There's not much else that can really be said for it.
Ben Roth on Dec 19, 2011
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Yeah *spoiler* The battle of wits/foresight thing at the end was kinda Cheesy when dude did his own little version of it. I was half expecting Holmes to just say: "well I see where this would be headed so I'll just jump off of the ledge and spare us the fight" which he pretty much did anyway. Felt more like gag on the Simpsons than the climax of a movie...
Anonymous on Dec 19, 2011
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any idea of it will go online?
Kakoarellano on Dec 17, 2011
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and they shouldnt have shown us holmes at the end... Just showed watson coming back to the Book w/ a ? with The End?
Michael Baldwin on Dec 16, 2011
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The best part of this movie was the Dark Knight Rises trailer at the beginning.
richard on Dec 16, 2011
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Mfw no. also that was a trailer not themovie so ill choose you favorite part to help uhhhh... You liked the explosions. Because it reminded you of the dark knight. Haha. Good movie though!! Very much worth midnight release and another sequel. The entire movie kept me guessing. I went we with ten others and we all approved.
Chip_Tha_Ripper on Dec 17, 2011
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TDKR Trailer was unbelievable. As soon as I saw the "DC Comics" I was like " YESSSSS!!! After so much waiting it is this day I view the trailer. Such a good trailer. Can't wait to watch it 10 times tomorrow when it hits the web.
Dotadestroyer on Dec 16, 2011
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I just watched it online,class,Nolans done it again.
tir na nog on Dec 17, 2011
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i'm not being a wise-guy or anything. i'd really like your opinion. i saw the DKR trailer a few days ago and thought it was underwhelming. what was so "unbelieveable" about it to you? i'm going to ask others this as well.
Anonymous on Dec 17, 2011
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IMO...what I loved about it was that you got to see a better glimpse of the characters we've been wondering about. How Hathaway delivers her performance as catwoman (I have lost all doubts she's gonna blow it now), and How bane travels all the way up to the field to just to make sure his plan is executed properly. Just little things like that...along with all the other shots just give you a glimpse of how chaotic gotham city is gonna be in this film...just ignited that really epic "this is it" feeling for me 🙂 Obviously, it's only a trailer, and there's very little to see...but it's just a glimpse...and a great glimpse at that
Danimal on Dec 18, 2011
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I think i worded that wrong...i mean Hathaway looks like she delivers excellently
Danimal on Dec 18, 2011
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LOL - i thought that wording could have a dual meaning too!
Anonymous on Dec 18, 2011
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thanks for your opinion.
Anonymous on Dec 18, 2011
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Trailer had me unconvinced. It seems the "voice acting" isn't a strength. Still, expect me to be there opening day.
Lossy on Dec 18, 2011
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I agree about not seeing Holmes type the question mark but seeing how Watson would have reacted but what I expected was to somehow learn how he survived that fall, and possibly since he did, Moriarty also did, right?
Ege Sönmez on Dec 17, 2011
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exactly, they showed Holmes alive so it would tickle your intrest at Moriarty surviving as well
Jericho on Dec 17, 2011
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well we can already rule out the Holmes had a way to survive drowning and Moriarty didn't, still, they fell into freezing water in the middle of some ice mountains. i doubt he survived, and though Holmes typed the question mark at the end, i have a feeling this was the last film (don't wanna over do a good thing)
JBrotsis on Dec 18, 2011
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In an effort to chime in without giving anything away about the ending I'd like to say that this was a great movie, well paced, superbly acted, smartly written, and nicely directed. A very enjoyable night out at the movies. As for this trailer everyone is going on about, it wasn't shown prior to the movie here in Canada, and besides which I wouldn't put down money to see a trailer anyways. Just wait for summer.
Thexn on Dec 17, 2011
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9/10 for me and better than the first
A5J4DX on Dec 17, 2011
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I thoroughly enjoyed the film and thought it was well paced. The acting, of course, was phenomenal and the plot enjoyable and well thought out. It was just as I had expected and even more.
Mercedes on Dec 17, 2011
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The movie was spectacular! Simply genius, id definitely recommend it to anyone. And for those who haven't seen the first and are curious if seeing the first is necessary to fully understand the second, id say not too much. Pretty much the first film just implies who the villain will be and gets you accustomed to the fighting styles, slow motion capture, and same characters (but still go see the first film, just as great). I do agree in one instance though, the second (i felt) did have more fighting and action that the first, which lacked a tad bit in putting evidence together in solving different scenarios. But it still had its big share of those moments in this film. AND....TDKR trailer got me SOOOOOO freakin stoked!!!!! **spoiler*** the football stadium collapsing and the voice of Bane.... phenomenal!!!
JBrotsis on Dec 18, 2011
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I thought it was significantly better than the first one. I never cared for the lord Blackwood plot/villain in the 1st. Everything was much improved in this sequel. IMO. I had expected them to hold off on the 'waterfall moment' until the next film, though. As far as the "dark knight rises" trailer - very disappointing. No money shots, and Bane was truly incomprehensible. I'll still see it, of course. But really - if this wasn't a trailer with a TDKR logo, people would be calling it boring.
Anonymous on Dec 18, 2011
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this movie was fun and I enjoyed it better than the first movie. The villain Moriarty is very convincing and does not disappoint. If you're searching for a movie to see with relatives, kids, etc., this is the movie and a very fun holiday movie.
Lossy on Dec 18, 2011
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Loved it. Better than the first! 9/10
T_lynn4 on Dec 19, 2011
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oh and the woods scene...amazing!
T_lynn4 on Dec 19, 2011
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I saw it, liked it, didnt love it. The scene in the woods was pretty good with "Little Hansel." The end was anti-climatic. The piffy, witty banter was somewhat amusing.
Anonymous on Dec 19, 2011
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I wasnt a huge fan of the first one and i felt as though this one plodded along like the first one for an hour and a bit... second half however actually succeeded in entertaining me and shocking me...the scene where sherlock and the gang are running through the forest featured a tremendous use to high speed camaras while not straying too far from reality(hear that micheal bay?) the film could not have ended in a more entertaining fashion either...overall a well made movie.
Jonathan Odishaw on Dec 19, 2011
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I liked 2 more than 1. It seemed like they knew what people liked and added it to 2, in a good way imo. They sacrificed story but they improved on character. Especially Moriarty. It kind of pissed me off because Mark Strong is a world class actor and he should have got the kind of attention Jared Harris got.
Anonymous on Dec 22, 2011
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hey fuck all of you guys who said it sucked. I absolutely loved the movie, espeically the end, when Moriarty did his own foresight for the fight. The movie was about seeing Sherlock Holmes go against someone who is just as good as he is, the whole idea was to show the two the difference and sameness in the characters. Fuck the plot, the plot was moriaty and holmes, it all came together at the end.
tommi on Dec 23, 2011
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I was "meh" on the first one, so I'm of the same mindset when it comes to this one. I do like RDJ as Holmes, though, but the plot just isn't there for me.
Monique Jones on Jan 6, 2012
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I think any attempt ,to keep the author of the book of Sherlock Holmes alive by, sir ,Author Conan Doyle ,should be commended, there have been so many takes on his character in mini series and movies over the years!, And the great thing about ,the Sherlock Holmes legend , is that it can be adapted and re-interpreted for different generations, to keep the story and the legendary author's style alive , the fact is. its is only fictional and not real ..this is where a modern spin on the old stories ,really come into its own , adapting it to a new a audience , which is what this movie is really doing ..re-inventing the wheel for today"s audience . As for the wit and intellect ,intrigue ,mystery elements ,its open to interpretation - the important thing is, the legendary super sleuth detective and his stories are being updated for today! And the reason for this, is because of the ongoing legacy of the great story writer and genius- Sir, Author Conan Doyle ! ( precisely, dear Watson ! ........
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