Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

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Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows...hmmm, what can I say about this movie. I am familiar with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's beloved detective, having read quite a number of his Sherlock Holmes stories and enjoy them so much. I haven't seen the first Sherlock Holmes movie in 2009, being a little doubtful about whether it's a direct adaptation from the books or non-related at all (I'm talking about the ones Guy Ritchie directed, played by Robert Downey Jr.). However, I've come to terms with it, so direct adaptation or not, I'll watch it anyway.

True, the characters, the settings, the base of the story has its grounds on the actual series of books but the storyline itself is stand-alone and independent from the previous movie or any of Sherlock Holmes' stories. It's action-packed, smart and funny (on Holmes' eccentricity). In this one, Holmes and Watson face Prof. Moriarty, an evil professor in his attempt to take monetary advantages through the instigation of a world war.

For me, I like the cinematography and The Matrix-like slow-mo (forgive my lack of movie-technical knowledge) in certain parts of the movie. One of the slow-mo scene enhances the portrayal of Holmes' sensitive observation and another scene that I enjoyed was when Holmes and Moriarty is fighting on a balcony, referring their every moves to chess game and then Holmes make a mental analysis on how the fight would end up by considering his disadvantages (due to his injury) and his adversary's strength. I think it's brilliant.

Although Guy Ritchie's version of Holmes in his movie is a man of action and perhaps, adorably crazy compared to the cool, reserved, action-is-saved-for-the-last literature personality, the movie is endearing to watch, and so, I wish to see the previous movie as well. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows? Enjoyed.    

Note: This review lacks so much of worthy description due to the fact (from my point of view) that Sherlock Holmes has a very deep and complex character and personality and this movie version of him is somewhat straddling between his well-known traits and the foreign nature. Please feel free to read this other review, as I totally agree with the writer and he wrote it so well. Enjoy.