Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011)

Detective Sherlock Holmes is on the trail of criminal mastermind Professor Moriarty, who is carrying out a string of random crimes across Europe.

Director:

Guy Ritchie

Writers:

Michele Mulroney, Kieran Mulroney

Stars:

Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Jared Harris

3 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Downey Jr.	...	Sherlock Holmes
Jude Law	...	Dr. John Watson
Noomi Rapace	...	Madam Simza Heron
Rachel McAdams	...	Irene Adler
Jared Harris	...	Professor James Moriarty
Stephen Fry	...	Mycroft Holmes
Paul Anderson	...	Colonel Sebastian Moran
Kelly Reilly	...	Mary Watson
Geraldine James	...	Mrs. Hudson
Eddie Marsan	...	Inspector Lestrade
William Houston	...	Constable Clark
Wolf Kahler	...	Doctor Hoffmanstahl
Iain Mitchell	...	Auctioneer
Jack Laskey	...	Carruthers
Patricia Slater	...	Shush Club Maitre D'

Storyline

With Dr. John Watson about to marry and end their partnership, a disconsolate Sherlock Holmes occupies his time investigating the schemes of his archenemy, Professor James Moriarty. However, when Moriarty warns that he considers the Watsons a legitimate target for his retaliation against the detective, Holmes must save them and get John involved in one last case. To do so, they join the Roma lady Madam Simza Heron's quest to find her missing brother, Renee, who may be the key to defeating Moriarty. Together, the trio find themselves involved in a dangerous international conspiracy led by the Napoleon of Crime in which the fate of all of Europe hangs in the balance.

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Plot Keywords:

sherlock holmes character | gypsy woman | man disguised as a woman | dr. john watson character | professor moriarty character | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Mystery

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, and some drug material

Did You Know?

Trivia

An earlier post says "Doyle never did give a satisfactory explanation as to how Holmes managed to survive the Falls when Moriarty didn't. " Actually, in "The Empty House," Holmes says " Well, then, about that chasm. I had no serious difficulty in getting out of it, for the very simple reason that I never was in it." He goes on to explain that his knowledge of Japanese wrestling allowed him to defeat Moriarty and throw him into the chasm.

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Goofs

The German flag shown on the boxes is the current German flag and probably used for the benefit of the audience. It was first used 1848-1866 in the Deutscher Bund, but by 1891 a different flag was in use, with black at the top, white in the middle and red at the bottom. It was the flag of the North German Confederation (Norddeutscher Bund) 1867-1871 and the German Empire (1871-1918). After that, in the Weimarer Republic (1919-1933), black-red-gold was the official flag again.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Dr. John Watson: [voice-over] The year was 1891. Storm clouds were brewing over Europe. France and Germany were at each other's throats, the result of a series of bombings. Some said it was the Nationalists. Others, the anarchists. But as usual, my friend Sherlock Holmes, had a different theory entirely.

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Crazy Credits

The Warner Bros/Village Roadshow/Silver Pictures logos, opening title, closing title and part of the closing credits appear in the pages of Dr. Watson's manuscript, with the latter two accompanied by illustrations of scenes from the film.

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Connections

Referenced in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #19.22 (2010)

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Soundtracks

Romanian Wind
(uncredited)
Written by Hans Zimmer

User Reviews

Amusing and funny sequel in which Holmes and Watson take on the greatest villain , Doctor Moriarty

Enjoyable second part as good and amusing as the first . Lavish production packed with action , intrigue , suspense and amusement . It's a nice film inspired on splendid novels about Sherlock Holmes character written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle , including a first-range nasty with malignant aims incarnated by the Napoleon of Crime Doctor Moriarty . This time , Sherlock Holmes , Robert Downey Jr , his sidekick Dr. Watson , Jude Law , and a gypsy named Simza , Noomi Rapace , with the help of Holmes' older brother Mycroft Holmes , Stephen Fry , all of them join forces to outwit and bring down their fiercest adversary, Professor Moriarty . Furthermore , one woman , Irene Adler , again played by Rachel McAdams , as a suspicious young with mysterious purports . Together, the team find themselves involved in a risked international conspiracy in which the fate of all of Europe hangs in the balance .

In the flick appears the usual of the Arthur Conan Doyle's novels : Dr.Moriarty , Mistress Hudson performed by Geraldine James , Inspector Lestrade acted by Eddie Marsan, and of course Doctor Watson , the perfect counterpart to Holmes . Holmes along Watson will solve unanswered mysteries and Sherlock undergoes some risked experiences to resolve the cases using even his habitual disguise . It's a nice Holmes film with gripping London and sensational setting . A genuine ripping yarn very intriguing and entertaining . The movie blends suspense , thriller , detective action , cloak and dagger , mystery and is pretty interesting . It packs an exciting amount of surprises with great lots of fun . This is a classy and effective romp with a strongly casting . Robert Downey Jr.'s interpretation is magnificent , he's a Sherlock for modern times , of course very different to Basil Rathbone considered the best Holmes in the cinema , along with Peter Cushing and Jeremy Brett in television. Robert Downey as Holmes plays in a clever , broody and impetuous manner , as whimsical detective is top notch , he's in cracking form acting as a two-fisted fighter . He makes an unique perspective on his life revealing a complex personality . He's finely matched in battle of wits with Doctor Moriarty/Jared Harris , though Brad Pitt, Gary Oldman, Daniel Day-Lewis, Sean Penn and Javier Bardem were considered to play Moriarty . The star Downey/Holmes has a splendid fight towards the beginning , middle and end , plus he tries to battle against his arch-enemy Moriarty but with an amazing final surprise . Although Basil Rathbone will be forever identified as Holmes , however Sherlock is also played by Robert Downey as an intelligent , cunning , broody and impetuous sleuth . Dr. Watson here isn't a bumbling and botcher pal generally represented by Nigel Bruce but an clever and astute partner perfectly incarnated by Jude Law .

The movie is inspired by Arthur Conan Doyle novels , taking parts here and there , as it is primarily based on the short story "The Final Problem" , but also shows aspects from other Sherlock Holmes stories: "The Sign of Four" ; "The Greek Interpreter" ; "Valley of Fear" ; "The Speckled Band"; "The Dying Detective"; "Bruce Partington Plans"; and "The Second Stain" and when Sherlock defeats Moriarty by pulling him over Reichenbach Falls, with both of them falling to their apparent deaths; being based on the story "The Final Problem" in which Holmes defeats Moriarty in the same way, by falling over a waterfall to the apparent death of both. The film has a colorful atmosphere , it's in glowing images with lights and shades that originate strange setting . Set design is of first rate , the movie is very atmospheric , the crowed streets , shady and dirty slums of London , trains , buildings are very well designed but with excessive use of computer generator images . Screenwriter Michael Johnson provides the original plot , creating the basis for this particularly storyline . The film boasts a beautifully cinematography by Philippe Rousselot and a haunting score by Hans Zimmer , both of whom also worked in the former part . This big budgeted production by Joel Silver sparkles with polish and wit and the ending is as exciting as moving and being well directed by Guy Ritchie . Due to Warner Bros.' fast-tracking of this sequel, director Guy Ritchie was forced to drop out of Lobo, while Robert Downey Jr. was forced to drop out of Cowboys & Aliens.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site [Spain]

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English French Italian German Romany

Release Date:

16 December 2011 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sherlock Holmes 2

Filming Locations:

Richmond Park, Richmond, Surrey, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$125,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$39,637,079, 18 December 2011

Gross USA:

$186,848,418

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$543,848,418

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros., Village Roadshow Pictures, Silver Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

129 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Datasat Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1