Sherlock Holmes-The Game of shadows :Movie Review



    If Sir Arthur Conan Doyle were alive today , he definately would have marvelled at Guy Ritchie's reinvention of his amazingly intellectual sleuth character that he had etched into the minds of his readers .He too would have agreed that there could have been no better man than Robert Downey Jr to play Sherly. Whether he would be contented or not ,at Guy Ritchie's treatment to his work,remains a debatable question.

   The second outing of Sherlock Holmes picks shortly after where the first ended.France and Germany are at each other's throats over a series of bombings that Sherlock's arch-rival,Professor Moriarty, has engineered with the help of anarchists.His ulterior motive is to annoy both countries so much as to wage a war amongst themselves and create a demand for arms and ammunition which would be supplied by Professor James Moriarty who is an arms manufacturer.Meanwhile, Holmes most trusted yokefellow Dr.Watson(Jude Law)is going to quit his association with Holmes and leave crime-solving behind.But after Sherlock's interference in Moriarty's evil machinations,he decides to strike those closest to Holmes .Thus Holmes manages to drag Watson into helping him outwit his fiercest adversary with the help of gypsy named Sim(Noomi Rapace).

What's in there??
   Like the last installment,Guy Ritchie resorts to use of flashbacks that reveal that the previous moments were not as we saw them.The flashbacks aren't forced but are an integral part of the film.Action sequences have been used at large to create a fast-paced,spectacular and a visually stunning motion picture.The train fight ,Holmes predetermined act to shove Watson's newly wed off the train and thus ensure her safety with the help of his brother Mycroft, the pub brawl,the forest escape are all too engaging for you to even breathe.The slow-motion sequences showing Holmes puts his science of deduction to use are mesmerizing.The slow-mo sequence at final showdown wherein both Holmes and Moriarty both plan blows and moves to ward them off to downsize each other is exceptional and deserves an applause.The dialogue about chess rivalry between the two at the climax is a treat to watch.Also one cannot forget to mention Holmes unfeasible and overtly conspicous camouflage and disguises that add to the comic element.

   Apart fromt these,the bromance between Holmes and Watson is witty ,humorous and makes you want more of it. And,there is this unconventional chemistry between Holmes and his intellectual equal,Moriarty that stands out. They respect each other's intellect as much as they hate the way the other uses it. The complexity of their relationship can be drawn from the scene where Sherlock tries to negotiate with Moriarty to keep Watson out of the war between the two and later Moriarty making it clear to Holmes that the reason Holmes is alive is because of the respect that he has for Holmes's intellect.This all happens amidst the 19th century setting which is completely plausible.Overall,its the sleek and well-shot action sequences by director Guy Ritchie that set the adrenaline gushing and make the film more than just watchable.

What's missing?
   Did I say there is a lot of action? Well,that's strange of Sherlock Holmes who rather resorts to suave ways of subduing the opponents.The science of deduction which Sherlock is famous for is hardly used.We hardly get to see how Holmes reached the conclusions.Also,the moment you feel that you would be able to dive a little deeper into Holmes mysterious,eccentric character and get to explore his vulnerabilities,another action sequence shatters your expectations.The character development is a little dissatisying. Moriarty's character lacks the fiendish touch.In the stories,he is this one criminal figure who even though is intellectually equal to Sherlock has an advantage over him because of his moral insanity.This fact isnt evident from Moriarty's character in the film. Inspector Lestrade's character has just an iota of work to do unlike the short stories .The film's background score (by Hans Zimmerman) hardly gets noticed.

The performances:
   Robert Downey Jr is definately a show stealer.His diction is flawless.From being caught in a drug abuse few years ago to being one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood ,Downey Jr has come a long way.He effortlessly plays the kick ass,extremely genius ,methodical,bare-knuckle fighter,Sherlock yet at times you see his character reminding you of Johnny Depp's Captain Jack Sparrow.Jude Law stealthily plays his part as the side-kick yet his portrayal stands out.Jared Harris does justice to Professor Moriarty.If only his character had the satanic touch,he would be the one walking away with the accolades.Rachel McAdams as Irene Adler could have been done away with.Noomi Rapace as Sim ,the gypsy,probably wonders what is she doing in this entirely male-oriented film yet she manages to drag along.

Verdict:
  A must watch movie to ensure a good start to the 2012.A perfect blend of action,engrossing dialogues,unavoidable characters and sharply exact amount of comedy make it an ideal holiday entertainment.

P.S:
I just realized that review writing is one hell of a task.And this being my first attempt at writing a movie review I must admit I had to refer to other reviews of this film .Don't contempt me ,if you find phrases used here similar to some other reviews you read. I also believe that to err is human and to tell him that he has erred and what he should do to rectify it is nothing short of divine.And your divinity is sincerely solicited.

5 comments:

Shailesh Thorat said...

Naaaice review bud ! :)
surely gonna watch it as soon as i return ! :)

piyushw said...

This movie was definitely was a treat!

Vikas Patel said...

Very good beginning :)

Anonymous said...

Loved it....Simple, precise and concise....Good work bro...

Gaurav said...

awesome writing !! you inspire me to start writing dude !!

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