Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows

The Flick: Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows

The Peeps: Robert Downey Jr, Jude Law, Noomi Rapace, Rachel McAdams, Stephen Fry (!), Eddie Marsan, etc.

The Dealio: Sherlock is up to his wicked, ol' eyebrows in conspiracies, complex webs and shadowy, threatening entrances and exits. And, much to his disgruntlement, the reluctant, soon-to-be-wed John Watson is being dragged into yet another of Holmes' wild rides. At the heart of things- as is so often the case in the last half of the Homes tales- is his arch-nemesis, Professor Moriarity (played with flaring eyebrows, and soft-voiced malice by the malignantly magnificent Jared Harris). Complicating issues are a raft of gypsies who may or may not be helping Homes. Or Moriarity. Or merely, themselves. Also, Irene Adler, who shows up to muddy the waters. And then there is Fry's cool-headed brother Mycroft. What's he up to, anyway? And, lastly, there is this wedding deal. Then another tale to write, and, well, it wouldn't be Sherlock Homes if it was simple...would it?

The Grading Session: 4.83 pengies out of 5. This one bears all the calling cards of a classic Guy Ritchie production: fiddled-with time sequences, buckets' full of fisticuffs- of the very highest order- often both in the same scene. RDJ's Holmes is a more wickedly visceral, muscled and athletic Holmes, in comparison with Basil Rathbone's cerebral, elegant and studied characterisation. Sort of like the difference between Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire- both great in their own ways; both very, very different. Too, I do like the casting in this series. Not a misstep in the lot. A little too long- stop me if you've ever heard me say...err, write, this before, though.

Lessons Learned: Bad things can happen to people in even the most public of settings. Also (as if we hadn't learned this from the entire Hangover oeuvre), do not allow someone who gives you agita on an average, run-of-the-mill day, to plan your bachelor party. Ever. Lastly this: never assume you know what is going on with your furniture if Holmes is around. You simply haven't a clue. (or, as he would say, 'clew').

Notable Quotables: Watson, reading from a note from Holmes: 'Come at once if convenient. If not convenient, come anyway.'
Holmes: ' If we can stop him, we shall prevent the collapse of Western civilisation. No pressure.'