Dear Reader: Update, Movie Review Intelligence will
continue publishing this website through June (more...)
Search a Movie:
SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWSMovie Reviews
Action adventure about Sherlock Holmes' pursuit of Professor Moriarty, a criminal mastermind with an evil plan that could change the course of history. Cast:Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Noomi Rapace, Jared Harris, Rachel McAdamsDirector:Guy RitchieRelease Date:December 16, 2011DVD Release:June 12, 2012From:Warner Bros.Rating:PG-13Length:2 hr 8 min
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows played to mixed reviews. • Steve Persall wrote in the St. Petersburg Times, "Downey relishes each tic and quirk, and playing the self-anointed smartest guy in any room is second nature by now. He's a joy to watch..." • And Joe Williams wrote in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, "...a second chance to kick a classic character into the gutter." More Reviews Below...
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows Positive Reviews (49 Reviews, reviews below)
Richard Corliss, Time: MODERATE "...replaces the 2009 film's burly energy with frantic incident: bombs, chases and more bombs.... fresh inspiration is sparse here... it's less an extension than a remake."(See all of Richard Corliss's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,055 words, 12/16/11
Mara Reinstein, Us Weekly: MODERATE(cg) "Sherlock's mental chess game intrigues... Too bad director Guy Ritchie upends the old-school fun by including a barrage of overly stylized slow-mo fight sequences."(See all of Mara Reinstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 81 words, 12/15/11
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: GOOD(cg) "...darkly nimble yet frictionless... Ritchie, if he wanted, could probably make a classic Holmes caper, but instead he treats Holmes' insights as mere froth."(See all of Owen Gleiberman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 221 words, 12/30/11
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: MODERATE(cg) "...eliminates smarts in favor of relentless headbanging.... the grace notes are drowned out by Ritchie's incessant need to obliterate thought and feeling."(See all of Peter Travers's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 184 words, 12/16/11
Claudia Puig, USA Today: MODERATE(cg) "...a film that is filled with too many deviations and drunken detours.... simultaneously brash and dull -- hardly a combustible combination."(See all of Claudia Puig's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 496 words, 12/16/11
Roger Ebert, RogerEbert.com: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...set aside your memories of the Conan Doyle stories, save them to savor on a night this winter and enjoy this movie as a high-caliber entertainment."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 875 words, 12/16/11
Glenn Kenny, MSN Movies: MODERATE(cg) "As big, loud moviemaking goes it's not quite as devoid of charm as it could have been, and things being as they are these days, that's saying something."(See all of Glenn Kenny's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 679 words, 12/14/11
get our iPhone app... or get our mobile web app...
movie review intelligence
NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (14 Reviews)
A.O. Scott, New York Times: FAIR "Can a movie be hyperactive and lazy at the same time? Clever and idiotic? If the director is Guy Ritchie, the questions answer themselves."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 497 words, 12/16/11
Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "The subversiveness in 'Game of Shadows' is admirable. You just don't need to be Sherlock to detect that it's lacking vision."(See all of Joe Neumaier's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 419 words, 12/16/11
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: GOOD "...a few shades brighter than its predecessor... closer to the full-throttle 'Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels' mode director Guy Ritchie didn't quite capture the first time."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 764 words, 12/16/11
Kyle Smith, New York Post: WEAK(cg) "...so moron-friendly they should have called it 'Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Checkers.' The skill level in the script is elementary school, my dear Watson."(See all of Kyle Smith's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 822 words, 12/16/11
Rafer Guzman, New York Newsday: VERY GOOD(cg) "Jared Harris' Moriarty jolts Downey's Sherlock to life for the first time; they're a convincing pair of bristling, not-so-gentlemanly adversaries."(See all of Rafer Guzman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 512 words, 12/16/11
David Edelstein, New York Magazine: WEAK "Ritchie goes for maximum clutter. His busy, boisterous frames suggest Richard Lester's 'Three Musketeers' films but without Lester's prankishness."(See all of David Edelstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 350 words, 12/19/11
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...set aside your memories of the Conan Doyle stories, save them to savor on a night this winter and enjoy this movie as a high-caliber entertainment."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 875 words, 12/16/11
Nick Pinkerton, Village Voice/LA Weekly: FAIR "Lackluster screenwriting and the absence of actorly communion are breezed past with monotonous banter, as is the fleetingly visible plot."(See all of Nick Pinkerton's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 712 words, 12/14/11
Rick Groen, Toronto Globe & Mail: MODERATE(cg) "For all their bantering and bosom-buddying, Downey, Jr. and Law somehow lack the one thing they can't do without - chemistry."(See all of Rick Groen's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 678 words, 12/16/11
Josep Parera, La Opinion: WEAK(cg) "Quizá haya miembros de la misma que, abrumados por el efecto, se dejen engañar y crean haber visto una película.... no es un filme, es un despropósito."(See all of Josep Parera's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 603 words, 12/16/11
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...shit constantly blows up or catches fire... Downey's still miscast as Holmes, but it's less bothersome this time around because we already know what we're in for."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 174 words, 12/15/11
KEY CITIES (13 Reviews)
Mark Jenkins, Washington Post: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...draws here and there on Conan Doyle's tales, but it relies more on Hong Kong's hyperactive 1980s new wave, as filtered through 'The Matrix' and Quentin Tarantino."(See all of Mark Jenkins's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 589 words, 12/16/11
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer: MODERATE(cg) "...the intellectual side of Downey's Holmes is represented by not much more than show-off blather and far-fetched 'reasoning.' Not a keen mind so much as a careening script."(See all of Steven Rea's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 534 words, 12/16/11
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star-Tribune: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...a thing of mad, whirring glee.... the film lampoons the James Bond action template while delivering all the thrills."(See all of Colin Covert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 542 words, 12/16/11
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Downey, Jr. and Law retain the winning chemistry from the first, superior film, and that's enough to make you soldier on through the overly stylized action."(See all of Bill Goodykoontz's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 496 words, 12/16/11
Ty Burr, Boston Globe: MODERATE(cg) "...the light has gone from the star's eyes and the thrill is gone from this franchise.... we have a movie that keeps selling itself long after the sale has been made."(See all of Ty Burr's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 674 words, 12/16/11
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: POOR(cg) "Guy Ritchie turns Holmes into an action hero, a mumbling mess and a crashing bore, with an English accent that sounds phony even to Americans."(See all of Mick LaSalle's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 693 words, 12/16/11
Moira Macdonald, Seattle Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "There's enough fun to be had to justify the ticket price for fans, but just barely. If a third game is afoot, let's hope Ritchie and the rest have a few more ideas up their velvet sleeves."(See all of Moira Macdonald's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 501 words, 12/16/11
Mike Russell, Portland Oregonian: GOOD(cg) "...has all the merits and demerits of its predecessor, only with a less snarly antagonist, a more thoughtful final showdown and broader Holmes/Watson relationship jokes."(See all of Mike Russell's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 320 words, 12/16/11
Joe Williams, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: WEAK(cg) "...a second chance to kick a classic character into the gutter.... the most pandering picture of the year? Fo' shizzle, Sherlock."(See all of Joe Williams's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 385 words, 12/16/11
Steve Persall, St. Petersburg Times: EXCELLENT(cg) "Downey relishes each tic and quirk, and playing the self-anointed smartest guy in any room is second nature by now. He's a joy to watch..."(See all of Steve Persall's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 530 words, 12/15/11
Adam Graham, Detroit News: GOOD(cg) "...there's something disconcerting about watching Downey Jr. go down this path.... he has become a paycheck chaser, juggling multiple franchises unworthy of his talents."(See all of Adam Graham's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 295 words, 12/16/11
Nick Pinkerton, Village Voice/LA Weekly: FAIR "Lackluster screenwriting and the absence of actorly communion are breezed past with monotonous banter, as is the fleetingly visible plot."(See all of Nick Pinkerton's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 712 words, 12/14/11
Josh Tyler, Cinema Blend: EXCELLENT(cg) "The action is intense, the story complex and thrilling, the characters as subtle and nuanced as a good Sherlock Holmes story deserves."(See all of Josh Tyler's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 705 words, 12/15/11
Brett Michel, Boston Phoenix: MODERATE(cg) "The sequel lacks some of the fun of the first, despite the fact that -- or maybe because -- it adds more explosive action.... elementary, and so is the film's appeal."(See all of Brett Michel's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 153 words, 12/15/11
Jen Yamato, Movieline: VERY GOOD(cg) "The play between wild-eyed Downey and the serenely unsettling Jared Harris crackles with a chemistry befitting Doyle's iconic literary nemeses..."(See all of Jen Yamato's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 895 words, 12/15/11
Nick Schager, Slant: WEAK(cg) "Ritchie goes for tedious commotion over cheeky comedy or cleverness in this depressingly flaccid follow-up... mistakes intricacy for mystery at every turn..."(See all of Nick Schager's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 576 words, 12/14/11
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...shit constantly blows up or catches fire... Downey's still miscast as Holmes, but it's less bothersome this time around because we already know what we're in for."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 174 words, 12/15/11
Edward Adams, Atlanta Creative Loafing: WEAK(cg) "...gives very little exploration into the man to make us care aside from his ability to constantly confound his nemesis. Ultimately you just go, who cares?"(See all of Edward Adams's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 850 words, 12/16/11
MaryAnn Johanson, Flick Filosopher: EXCELLENT(cg) "...nice to see a story about male friends that is this fresh and funny and honest.... The fun of finding new things to say about an old story is very much afoot here."(See all of MaryAnn Johanson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 922 words, 12/13/11
HIGHBROW PRESS (5 Reviews)
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: POOR " 'Hidden within the unconscious is an insatiable desire for conflict,' Moriarty intones at a crucial point.... there's also a desire for coherence and humanity in movies."(See all of Joe Morgenstern's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 212 words, 12/16/11
A.O. Scott, New York Times: FAIR "Can a movie be hyperactive and lazy at the same time? Clever and idiotic? If the director is Guy Ritchie, the questions answer themselves."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 497 words, 12/16/11
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: GOOD "...a few shades brighter than its predecessor... closer to the full-throttle 'Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels' mode director Guy Ritchie didn't quite capture the first time."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 764 words, 12/16/11
Brian Lowry, Daily Variety: VERY GOOD "...parts of this second 'Sherlock Holmes' are considerably more rewarding... the film sizzles in its quieter moments between Holmes and Moriarty..."(See all of Brian Lowry's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 542 words, 12/08/11
Todd McCarthy, Hollywood Reporter: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...an elaborate entertainment that whooshes along through the messy streets and posh clubs of 1891 London... not half-bad."(See all of Todd McCarthy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 880 words, 12/08/11
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: GOOD "...a few shades brighter than its predecessor... closer to the full-throttle 'Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels' mode director Guy Ritchie didn't quite capture the first time."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 764 words, 12/16/11
Emanuel Levy, Cinema 24/7: GOOD(cg) "...more of the same, only bigger.... This is pretty much 'James Bond' set in the 1890s.... a more-than-serviceable second time around."(See all of Emanuel Levy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 670 words, 12/13/11
A.O. Scott, New York Times: FAIR "Can a movie be hyperactive and lazy at the same time? Clever and idiotic? If the director is Guy Ritchie, the questions answer themselves."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 497 words, 12/16/11
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: POOR " 'Hidden within the unconscious is an insatiable desire for conflict,' Moriarty intones at a crucial point.... there's also a desire for coherence and humanity in movies."(See all of Joe Morgenstern's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 212 words, 12/16/11
20.5 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows's reviews are separated by an average 20.5 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (49 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows's reviews cover 94.6% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 27,348 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 558 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows Coverage, Volume & Length (49 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 8.9 Hours After Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows's reviews on average broke 8.9 hours after opening. Norm for this measure is 1.2 hours before. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (49 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
Mobile Web App version 1.2 shows a list of all current movies and review information. You can click through to the cast, director, synopsis, release date and rating on page two, plus individual reviews on page three. The information is updated on a live/real-time basis. You can also search our database of films. Designed for when you're on the move and want the latest info, this app will work on any mobile web browser. From your mobile device -- only from a mobile device -- open our Mobile Web App here...
