Sherlock Holmes - A Game of Shadows

The second installment of Guy Richie's Sherlock Holmes is way better than the first one. It would not be without having watched the previous one. I did not like the new Holmes two years ago, it had nothing in common with the character created by Sir Arthur Canon Doyle. The film was a fast-paced action movie, with no great mystery so my expectations were low.

I went to see the second one with two old friends of mine with whom I saw the first one; this event seemed a perfect fit for our reunion. I was glad to see them. And I was glad to see the movie, surprisingly. I prepared for the unusual action scenes for a Holmes story after seeing the first installment, so they did not bother me this time. I also gave up on the Doyle-type mystery that thrilled the readers. Despite all the negative signs, I enjoyed it.

This film is nothing but a classic adventure movie set in breathtaking locations (the way they reconstructed the 19th century London is still amazing), with witty and funny lines, great tempo, and clever finale. My suggestion is to accept the fact that this is a new Sherlock... then you can give it a try. Just do not expect the atmosphere of old crime stores. However, the final battle is one of the greatest closings of a film I have seen in years: the lack of final confrontation. At least not in the old sense. It is a chess game. Holmes and the villain fight in their minds: they reason out what the other thinks. While the original novels hold the reader's attention with the mystery, Guy Richie holds the viewer's attention by the intelligent ideas of how the world's two greatest brains confront each other.

A story must be told in connection with the production of the film. Hans Zimmer, who returned as the composer, went on a road trip to Bratislava, Slovakia to study gypsy music. (There is a gypsy community in the film, so the score contains elements of gypsy music.) Zimmer found a poverty-stricken gypsy community outskirts of Bratislava, and sat down to play music with them. These gypsies were touched when musicians from Hollywood, Los Angeles found that their music is a gem. Zimmer was amazed by their love of music, their playful melodies, so he organized a trip to Vienna to record the authentic songs. A similar thing happened a few years ago... Ry Cooder, one of the world's greatest guitar players, discovered the Buena Vista Social Club in Havana, and recorded their songs in a studio. The rest is history. I find it fascinating that Zimmer, who only wanted to record his soundtrack for the movie, took the time and effort, and saved the gypsies' music by recording it, that otherwise would have been lost.

The chemistry of Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law as Holmes and Watson still makes the game worth playing. But the Jolly Joker here is Stephen Fry, English comedian, who debuts in the film as Holmes' brother. He simply lightens up the scenes by being present. Sherlock Holmes 2 is the perfect Sunday evening film: humorous, filled with adventures, delivered by an outstanding cast - in good style.