Friday, June 29, 2012

Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows is the sequel to Sherlock Holmes and also stars Robert Downey, Jr. and Jude Law and is directed by Guy Ritchie. This was a lot of fun. I'm not sure what sparked the recent interest in Sherlock Holmes adaptations, but we are lovin' it. Nobody can take the place of Jeremy Brett, but these new projects aren't trying.

But Stephen Fry naked? In mixed company as if it's perfectly normal behavior? That may have been the most unbelievable part of the whole thing.

trailer:



SF Signal gives it 3 out of 5 stars and calls it "Silly, with too many subplots and not quite enough brain," but praises the chemistry between the 2 stars. Slant Magazine gives it 1 1/2 out of 4 stars and calls it "depressingly flaccid". Salon.com seems torn and says, "Sherlock Holmes? Not much. But did it get a laugh? You bet," but offers criticism after criticism before closing with this:
...the level of semi-gay double entendre between Holmes and Watson is carried almost to an offensive locker-room extreme. “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows” is occasionally thrilling, sometimes hilarious and mostly absolute claptrap. Think of it as a lot like drinking a fourth cup of holiday eggnog: Not really a good idea at all, but you might have fun
io9 says it "will provide you with a diverting, though bumpy, ride." EW gives it a B- and says that "part of the movie's perversely cheeky design is that it throws away its own cleverness." Roger Ebert closes with this:
The thing to do, I suppose, is to set aside your memories of the Conan Doyle stories, save them to savor on a night this winter and enjoy this movie as a high-caliber entertainment.
Rotten Tomatoes gives it 61%.

4 comments:

  1. Anonymous9:24 PM

    Great fun!
    -- A Pal

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  2. I haven't watched the new Sherlock, I guess to me it isn't Sherlock without Basil Rathbone.

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  3. the robert downey, jr. enterprise is filled with silliness, but fun if you can get over any expectation that it's sherlock holmes.

    the new british tv series, however, is better. it's set in current times, much as the basil rathbone films modernized the story. we have seen the first season and like it well enough to look forward to further viewing. there's a trailer here: http://youtu.be/YcFHeTaS9ew

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  4. I loved this movie. Jared Harris made an excellent Moriarty.

    Check out my review .

    Cheers!

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