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8:40 a.m. - 2011-12-25
SHERLOCK HOLMES, A GAME OF SHADOWS
A few days ago I watched "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows." After reading so many positive online reviews, I feel that I need to weigh in on the other side.

My favorite scenes were (1) the exciting and cleverly choreographed acrobatic Cossack assassin, (2) the slow motion/full speed/stop action chase through the forest with bullets splintering the trees around Holmes and his companions, and (3) the unforgettable scene in which Holmes displays his powers of deduction by...Oh, wait. That never happened in this movie, which was heavy on the action while minimizing if not altogether ignoring the intellectual strengths of Holmes which were one of the huge reasons for his popularity over more than a century. All the gadgets and fight scenes were fun, of course, but how about an occasional reminder of what made us love the Conan Doyle stories in the first place?

The talents of Noomi Rapace, best know for her portrayal of Lisbeth Salander, were wasted in this movie, as she seemed called upon to do little more than run for her life or sit chewing thoughtfully while Robert Downey talked. And while Stephen Fry was an excellent choice to play Mycroft, I thought there was a certain lack of verisimilitude when a retiring Victorian gentleman thought nothing of appearing in the nude with a lady present.

And I have a problem with the treatment of Irene Adler--not just her death, which the writers left open to interpretation--but with the whole idea of her being a professional thief working with Moriarty. The entire series plays fast and loose with the Conan Doyle stories. Some of this is to be expected and even admired as times and technology change, but this movie takes a great thinker and turns him into an action hero.

 

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