Movie Review: Sherlock Holmes

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by Candace Salima, US Daily Review Contributor

Movie: Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
Director: Guy Ritchie
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law and Jared Harris
Rating: PG-13

Movie Website: http://sherlockholmes2.warnerbros.com

If you’ve ever been a fan of the Sherlock Holmes novels, you know Holmes’ arch nemesis is James Moriarty. In my very humble opinion, Robert Downey Jr. is the best Sherlock Holmes in the history of Hollywood, albeit rather manic in this latest adventure.

Professor James Moriarty has an evil plan which ultimately will make him the richest man in the world if he can pull it off. There is only one man, slightly crazy, standing in his way, Sherlock Holmes. And although Dr. Watson finally marries the woman of his dreams, he is soon embroiled in Holmes’ battle with Moriarty before the honeymoon even gets off the ground.

The story is fast-paced as Holmes and Watson join ranks with gypsies to stop Moriarty before he launches a world war. I have to be honest, as much as I liked the story and Robert Downey Jr. is one of my favorite actors, I found the movie dragging a little for me. And yes, I know that was a contradiction for which I have no explanation. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it could be they spent a really long time on Holmes’ manic personality, and then a lot of him foreseeing how a battle would play out, then playing the battle out. That got old after awhile, even after they explained the phenomena.

The movie was peppered with humorous situations which often lightened the story, tempered with huge action scenes that should please any man watching it. So I don’t exactly know whose fault it is that the movie had trouble keeping my attention. Generally speaking though, it always boils down to the writer and/or director. So here’s hoping they’ll be more diligent with the next Holmes movie because the story and the actors hold so much potential, and Game of Shadows far from delivered on that promise.

All in all, I won’t be adding this one to my home library, which is a disappointment. I was really looking forward to this movie. My rating for Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows is 3 out of 5 stars. It’s worth seeing once, but I would recommend waiting until it hits the dollar movie.

Candace E. Salima is a radio talk show host, author, columnist, and makes her home in the Rocky Mountains. Learn more about her at www.CandaceSalima.com.