Review: Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

With Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows (from here on out referred to as SHGOS) Ritchie makes a solid film out of the story of a madman's search for power through the initiation of war in turn of the century Europe.
 SHGOS picks up a few months, possibly a year after Robert Downey Jr.'s first outing as Holmes. He and Rachel McAdams are continuing their flirt filled romance while also being on opposite sides of a battle of wills between Holmes and McAdam's employer, Professor Moriarty. Without revealing the full details of what happens in the first ten minutes of the movie, let's just say Holmes is given a very personal reason to see to it Moriarty is separated from his machinations.
Dr. John Watson, as affably portrayed by Jude Law as he was previously, arrives to venture forth with Sherlock for a stag night before his planned nuptials. He is unsurprised to find that the bachelor party is a cover for Holmes to get information on the intended recipient of the previously mentioned letter. It is then we are introduced to Noomi Rapace's gypsy character Sim (Sym, Simm?). She escapes as Holmes and Watson leave for Watson's wedding.
From there, the cat and mouse game promised between Holmes and Moriarty kicks into full gear, with Moriarty pledging to end Watson's life due to a lack of respect from Holmes. The movie barely let's you catch a breath as the characters trapse about Europe tracking down Moriarty's motives. Highlights: The film is filled with perpetual chase/fight hybrid scenes that keep the pace of the film very frenetic, almost fitting in with the retooled Bond series more than Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's classics. Stephen Fry as Mycroft Holmes is splendid as are most of the performances in the film. Jared Harris is perfect as Moriarty and balances Downey's Holmes brilliantly.
Disappointments: The reveal of Moriarty comes far too early and far too easily for the viewer. The joy of the Sherlock Holmes series was always trying to put two and two together before the book handed you the answer. No such luck in this version. (The BBC's Sherlock still manages to keep this aspect of the franchise Doyle built.)
For those fans of the book series, the film has some nice nods to the Final Problem. Anyone familiar with that book will get shivers of anticipation when you see Reichenbach Falls in the final act. SHGOS pays just enough fan service to Holmes enthusiasts to keep them interested if not maintaining the spirit of the book series. It's a fun adventure with very little wrong in its execution. More than anything it makes for an excellent audition reel for Guy Ritchie to eventually direct a Bond film.