'Sherlock Holmes 2' looks to be as big and loud as its predecessor
While artsier or 鈥淥scar bait鈥� flicks tend to flood theaters near the end of any year, there鈥檚 always room for some good cinematic roller coaster rides. December 2011 will be no different, seeing how we have two high-octane sequels due to hit the scene: and Guy Ritchie鈥檚 .
The previously-released went the customary route of selling the sequel as being bigger, badder, and featuring even more risque humor or quips than its popular predecessor. Now we have a full-blown preview for the followup鈥� and it basically takes the same approach.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle literary purists may have blanched in horror at Ritchie鈥檚 first 鈥渦pdated鈥� take on Holmes, but the majority of moviegoers seem to agree: it鈥檚 an energetically-paced Victorian-era period mystery/adventure that mixed in set pieces on a par with the first聽 movie. However, just like the Pirates sequels arguably crossed over from being good hammy fun to becoming a bit too聽bombastic in style and scope, there鈥檚 reason to be concerned that A Game of Shadows might follow a similar path.
This second trailer for Sherlock Holmes 2 is pretty rapid-fire and overblown in style聽(ie. lots of slow-mo action, explosions, and sly one-liners) 鈥� and that鈥檚 (naturally) also part of its appeal. It鈥檚 hard to say for certain whether or not the final product looks to go overboard, but honestly? A Game of Shadows should (hopefully) still make for enjoyably ridiculous entertainment, even if it does.
With all that said 鈥� here is an official synopsis for Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows:
When the Crown Prince of Austria is found dead, the evidence, as construed by Inspector Lestrade (Eddie Marsan), points to suicide. But Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) deduces that the prince has been the victim of murder鈥攁 murder that is only one piece of a larger and much more portentous puzzle, designed by Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris). The cunning Moriarty is always one step ahead of Holmes as he spins a web of death and destruction鈥攁ll part of a greater plan that, if he succeeds, will change the course of history.
Now check out the new A Game of Shadows trailer below:
All in all, the cast of A Game of Shadows looks pretty great. Besides the still-amusing rapport between Downey Jr. as Holmes and Jude Law as Dr. John Watson, Noomi Rapace (the Swedish ) looks to be having fun as the Gypsy Sim, and Harris () has a fittingly quiet, yet sinister presence as the diabolical Moriarty. We also get a glimpse here at Rachel McAdams, who should do well again as the spirited Irene Adler 鈥� though, it appears that comedy great Stephen Fry as Mycroft Holmes is being saved for the actual movie.
A Game of Shadows was scripted by Kieran and Michele Mulroney () and they appear to have crafted a fairly engaging plot that is (appropriately) darker and more expansive than that in the first Sherlock Holmes. Ritchie鈥檚聽directing style looks to be identical to that in the first film聽- so those who were bothered by it before probably won鈥檛 like it here, either. Fortunately, for the sequel, the masses (us included) don鈥檛 fall into that category.
Sandy Schaefer blogs at Screen Rant.
