Game of Mirrors

6/19/2012

Watching Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows this past weekend, I was reminded of The Avengers and the Fringe episode "Brave New World, Part 1." Though, that should have been the other way 'round since I saw Sherlock first in the theater.

Rude Awakenings - Sherlock (Robert Downey Jr, for those who've just come back from Mars) jolting to life after the adrenaline shot reminded me of Iron Man being startled awake (alive?) by Hulk roaring in The Avengers. Both scenes were at first tense and then hilarious. I love how the "giant green rage monster" was concerned for Tony. Of course, there are no Avengers scenes on YouTube yet, only quick shots set to music, but if you're here you probably saw it anyway. If you haven't, go now and read nothing else here concerning this movie. I'll wait. Blockbusters like this need to be experienced on a big screen and through deafening speakers. There's fun and humor, rivalry and friendship, feeling and loss, intelligent writing and exceptional actors who don't even need a word, and a talented director able to wring emotion and truth out of any situation. It's a complete and engaging package. You will leave with a smile on your face that sticks around for days.


The Good Bishops - Near the end of ...Shadows, Moriarty (Jared Harris) and Sherlock are playing a game of chess, both literally and figuratively. I immediately thought of this season's penultimate episode of Fringe, where William Bell gave a speech to David Robert Jones (Harris) about the art of chess, a game that serves well in highlighting the instability of a refined madman, who likens people to pieces on a board to be sacrificed.



Damn, Downey is great in everything. I've known for a while, but I'm always amazed. I love this movie even more than the first time, because now I can catch things I missed, like the satanic pony with a fork in his hoof comment, and savor again that unexpectedly disturbing, intense scene where Sherlock was seemingly and literally just a fish on Moriarty's hook, perfectly composed with screams of agony and the discordance of two pieces of music playing simultaneously. One of the best scenes of both RDJ Sherlock movies and one that will always be remembered.