Friday 6 January 2012

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

So this is the first film released at the cinema this year, that I've seen - not counting War Horse, which was released on Boxing Day here in Melbourne. And to my surprise, it's already a contender for film of 2012! This is a 5* film(this and every film I review will be marked out of 5)! It's one of the few sequels better than the original(which was still very good, I hasten to add)! It's a crowd-pleaser which left this particular audience member and many more in applause!
2012 was already looking to be a pretty exceptional year movie-wise. Having said that, the more cerebral dramas and bio-pics which have recently been released, although very good, had proved unsuccessful in engaging me beyond just watching. This film exceeded my expectations, which were already pretty high, as a result of  the positive feed-back I had already heard.
As great as the cast are and the visual flourishes of the director are, this is a film which no one cast or crew member can be heralded for it's success. This is a truly collaborative effort, where everything stands out - from the rich detail of the sets and costumes, to the banter and camaraderie of the characters(Holmes and Watson in particular), not to mention the visceral action set-pieces which left my mouth very much a-gape!
It's a superb effort from all involved and went beyond just mere entertainment to engage the brain! It's a great story that builds upon the original to provide Holmes with a truly exceptional adversary. Holmes and Moriarty's scenes together are chilling, much like those of Batman and the Joker's in The Dark knight. It's no mistake that I compare the two films!
It's not necessary to produce a third Holmes feature, but it would be nice - from ALL involved in the sequel please!

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