Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows [12/16/11]

[Kit]

Anyone seeing this?

[Arthur Eld]

I just saw this earlier-really good. Exactly what you'd expect from a sequel, which is to say 'if you like it, you'll like it.'

I especially liked how they made Moran a proper badass and foil to Watson. A trifle disappointed that I saw the end coming, but that's only because it follows the books closely enough.

[Thrincold]

You're saying it replicates the cliff scene a little too well? I am disappointed by their introduction of Moriarty, he was a shadowy mastermind, not a direct foil in the novels. Hopefully that comes through in the movie. (Which won't hit theatres in Afghanistan until around 2209 when they finally get theatres.)

[Arthur Eld]

Moriarity was a plot device-little more than a living MacGuffin with one purpose-kill the hero. Moran, his number two, was there to bring him back.

The movie does a good job of making them entertaining baddies to match the equally changed Holmes and Watson. After all, as smart as Moriarity is supposed to be, he does nothing impressive in The Final Problem at all.

[Thrincold]

That is exactly what I wanted to hear. He was entirely a background entity, a threat of immense proportions that drove the antagonists of multiple stories towards Holmes without directly interacting with him. Good to hear, I'm looking forward to seeing this movie now.

I am still disappointed some of the arbitrary changes to the stories, like the lack of prior association with Watson's fiance, since she was one of their early clients together, but overall the two characters are rather true to their roots, if a little more martial than in the books. I am glad that modern sensibilities allows for Holmes to be a drug addict, an important part of the character that has been overlooked in film for the last 70 years.

[Malagant]

I loved part 1 (LOVED!!). Part 2 was an exceptional movie, but I didn't feel that it matched up to its predecessor.

[Jameson]

Is it me or was the plot for this movie a recycled plot from something else? Overall I enjoyed it, though I was a little disappointed by how transparent the ending was, even less than halfway through the movie.

[Kit]

on DVD tomorrow

[DSumner]

I liked this one better than I did the first. Not a great movie, but I enjoyed it.