Sherlock Holmes A game of Shadows by Guy Ritchie

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1515091/
I saw Sherlock Holmes A Game of Shadows at the cinema a few days ago, I enjoyed the first on and was looking forward to it. Whilst I was not disappointed by the films witty dialogue, good acting and coherence in relation to the first film I do have some criticisms. I enjoyed the film but.... Firstly the plot was fairly loose, it seemed as though the film hinged on Moriarty and Sherlock's rivalry, this is something I was looking forward to seeing but I dont think it is a substitute for a plot. I think it was a shame Irene Adler was dispatched of within the first five minutes as the introduction of the gypsy Simza Heron, a fairly pointless character who had little characterisation and served really as only a plot device, could have been replaced with Irene's character who all ready had an interesting relationship with Sherlock which was worth further exploration. I thought the attempt to up scale the action of first film by setting it all over Europe weakened the plot and removed the "britishness" that the first one gained with the inclusion of the tower bridge and the houses of parliament. I think the inclusion of more guns and more explosions was not needed, I don't think that anyone left the cinema after the first film saying "there should be more explosions" but whilst I was at the cinema I overheard a comment "that was boring, I couldn't stay awake". Still it did well at the box office and I would be surprised if there is no sequel that I would guess will focus on Sherlock's drink and drug abuse a little more as this one only hinted at his abuse getting more debilitating not that it would be resolved. 


Despite these problems with the film I did enjoy it thanks to the comic relationship between Sherlock and Watson, my favourite part of the whole film was the combat planning Sherlock does often being reversed by Moriarty and Moriarty winning the planned fight forcing Sherlock to do something unexpected. The film was good but personally I do prefer the first film.