Game of Shadows

The latest Sherlock Holmes movie was a rather shabby effort. Guy Ritchie's re-imagining of the character worked reasonably well in the first movie, but this sequel lacked any real focus. It reminded me of one of the later Clouseau movies.

Clouseau began life as a cameo in The Pink Panther and then as a fully-fledged character in A Shot in the Dark.  A Shot in the Dark featured Clouseau at his best. The gags were fresh and well-timed. Subsequent films became increasingly poor in standards and quality and truly set the benchmark for what typically happens to sequels. 

Faster, bigger, funnier may appeal to many people, but how about 'different'? A sequel doesn't need to be bigger. It can be better just by being imaginative and intriguing. 

Sherlock Holmes was always about mystery and problem-solving. Ritchie's Holmes is more like a spy than a detective. This is a Sherlock Holmes action movie. I prefer the gravity and acumen of Basil Rathbone.