Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

In this sequel to the box office hit Sherlock Holmes we find Dr. Watson is about to get married, and Sherlock Holmes is on the trail of a conspiracy of one Professor James Moriarty. Holmes believes Moriarty is behind assassinations and bombings around the world; however, he cannot prove it. Moriarty has proven himself to be a crafty individual who is able to cover his tracks. Sherlock Holmes catches a break when he runs into his lover Irene Adler. Holmes intercepts a package that Ms. Adler possesses and that clue leads him to a Gypsy fortune-teller whose brother has been missing for some time. Holmes and Watson attempt to assist the fortune-teller in finding her brother while also searching for a way to catch Professor Moriarty before he can do any more damage.

As with the first film, A Game of Shadows is a fast-paced film that keeps you on your toes trying to figure out all the clues by the end before Holmes and Watson can. It reminds me of the old mystery movies where you actually had to watch closely if you wanted to know what was going on. The action sequences were well done also, reminded me of the Matrix trilogy with the slow-motion sequences. Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law are at the top of their game as Holmes and Dr. Watson. There is so much packed into A Game of Shadows that you need to see it several times to feel like you're not missing anything. I've seen it twice and I realized there was a ton of things I was missing the first time.

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

In Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, the fourth film in the Mission Impossible franchise, we find Ethan Hunt on a mission to stop a Russian terrorist from getting his hands on a satellite that would enable him to gain control of nuclear missiles. This time around Ethan is joined by a team of IMF agents to help him out. Before they can accomplish their goal, an unknown assailant blows up the Kremlin. The Russians think the IMF agents are responsible, so the U.S. government disavows IMF and initiates Ghost Protocol so as not to start a conflict with Russia. It's not entirely clear what that means, but we find out that at least the agents in Hunt's team are the only ones left. The agents have to race against time and Russian police who are pursuing them in order to stop the terrorist from firing the nuclear missiles and starting World War III.

For a sequel, Ghost Protocol is actually very entertaining. I was a little worried that this wouldn't live up to the first three films, but it held its own. To be honest though, MI2 is still my favorite. Tom Cruise still fits the role of Ethan Hunt perfectly. Jeremy Renner is fast becoming one of my favorite action stars. I have yet to see a movie I haven't liked with him in it. Simon Pegg is hilarious as the IMF tech agent. MI4 is still the stereotypical spy flick, with a bunch of explosions, fight scenes, car chases, etc.; but despite that Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, and Paula Patton made this one an entertaining popcorn flick. It's one to at least see once, maybe a couple times.