“I don’t want anything with a mind of its own between my legs”

[lagilman]

The title of this entry is sort of an exact quote from “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.”  I say sort of because we were laughing so hard after, the exact wording went out of my head.

(moderate spoiler: he was talking about a horse)

Is this movie as much fun as the first one?  No, but I think only because we know what they’re up to now, so it’s not a surprise.  That said, I paid NYC prices to see this movie (plus extra to get the surround-sound, high-res screen experience), and thought every penny worth it.  Once again the humor arises naturally out of the characters’ reactions to stress and interaction, the stress is a natural reaction to events, and the reinterpretation of events worked both historically and story-wise, for me.

The plot is both complicated and easy to follow, the action is breathtaking [and appropriately over-the-top], and the emotional notes are properly painful. Moriarty is interestingly developed and brutally cold, his henchman/loyal assistant was quite interesting, and my only real complaint was that I thought Mycroft was played a little too much for humor, without also playing up his brilliance.  The scene with Mary (*covers eyes, shrieks in sympathy*) played up the eccentric side, but not so much the competence that’s essential to the character.

The important part, the relationship between Watson and Holmes, was dead-on, and developed further.  You once again believe that they are friends and working partners – although the “dull-witted Watson” trope is trotted out, it’s also demolished on a regular basis by Holmes’ own actions.

Does the relationship have a gleefully emotional and slightly slashy vibe?  Oh yes.  But there’re also a few lovely moments where Mary is let in, acknowledged, and even treasured by Holmes, which adds to the complicated richness of it all.

Oh, and Mary Watson rocks.  That is all.

[this is a movie that gives fair play to its female characters - they are equally strong, smart, thoughtful, and proactive as the men.  And they take shit only when THEY choose to.  For that alone, see the movie.  Take notes on how it's done - without 'weakening' the male characters at all.]


Originally posted at Practical Meerkat: A Blog.  You can comment here or there. 

Comments

[bellinghman.livejournal.com]

I guess Guy Ritchie is beginning to make a name for himself, and not just as Mr Madonna or the creator of Swept Away.

I think this is going to be one of those films we go back to the cinema for. We've dropped out of cinema visiting in recent months, tending to go down to a comedy club in London once a month for live entertainment in an intimate venue, and also going to other live gigs as and when there's someone we really want to see.

[lagilman]

The NYT reviewer apparently haaaaaaaated the movie.

Take that as you will.



(I have not been in accord with the NYT arts reviewers in....many years)

[bellinghman.livejournal.com]

That's OK. A reviewer who reliably hates the stuff you love and vice versa is to be treasured for being as reliable a guide as one who shares your tastes utterly.

It's the ones who occasionally agree with you who are the problems.

FWIW, we loved SH #1. We also enjoyed the BBC SH series #1 going out at the same time (and BBC SH#2 is currently in previews).

[lagilman]

oh, Sherlock is a delight, and not a guilty one, either.

Although I am utterly, utterly Watson's fangirl, there.

[I love how the BBC show manages to keep Sherlock brilliant, and still make both Watson and the inspector competent within their own balliwick, rather than putting them down. Also, IMO, it's Watson who's the budding sociopath there. The moment the chase stops being enough, and he needs a greater thrill? Uh-oh...]

[bellinghman.livejournal.com]

Sherlock is a fine re-imagining, delightfully done (even if it means there's less Doctor Who as a result). It's nice in some ways that it came out at the same time as the Ritchie film, because they oddly reinforce each other rather than compete.

And yes, Martin Freeman's Watson is done well. It's the mark of a great writer to be able to show brilliance by showing such a character against the background of bright people rather than dull ones.

[bellinghman.livejournal.com]

And I note here that they made up a lot of it on the fly, with the script being more of an aspiration than a guide.

[mevennen.livejournal.com]

Excellent! and on New Years' Day, this is coming back:


http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2011/dec/17/sherlock-bbc-cumberbatch-freeman-interview?newsfeed=true

[seachanges.livejournal.com]

Valerie, John, and I are trying to get our schedules to line up enough to go see it together this coming week. I'm looking forward to it.

[mizkit.livejournal.com]

I'll grant you the scene with Mary (*covers eyes, shrieks in sympathy*) was hysterical. :)

[lagilman]

Yeah, I saw your response re: IA, and while I understand it, I don't share it, mainly because it felt like a proper story-twist - she played in dangerous waters and got sharkbit. And since we haven't seen anything, I'm not making any assumptions y/n, especially since she's very much a trickster character.

Especially especially since we saw a "cheat death" card well-established in the movie. :-)

[mizkit.livejournal.com]

I actually think part of the reason it shocked me so badly was you'd liked the movie so much, so I went in expecting a full-on romp and got hit in the teeth by that straight off. IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT! um. No. :) But while I also see your POV, I clearly don't share it any more than you share mine. :)

The end *was* glorious, though.

[lagilman]

Looking at it dispassionately, though, it set up some perfect bits of character interplay and motivation.... not to mention echoing the other elements of the story in beautiful (if painful) opposition, all the more for being internal.

(I was irritated but also don't believe that she's dead. Denial? Maybe. I'm ok with that)

My real irritant with the movie was the fact that they kept hitting us over the head with the visual cues... yes, we know the mythos. Yes, we know what that visual means. Stop panning across the castle, already! The ending might have been even stronger for me, had that not irked so badly.