Sherlock Holmes (2009) & 
Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows (2011):

 Starring:

Robert Downey Jr. - Sherlock Holmes

Jude Law - Dr. John Watson

Rachael McAdams - Irene Adler

Noomi Rapace - Madam Simza Hero (#2 Only)

Mark Strong - Lord Blackwood (#1 Only)

Jared Harris - Professor James Moriarty (#2 Only)

Stephen Fry - Mycroft Holmes (#2 Only)

Eddie Marsan - Inspector Lestrade

Robert Maillet - Dredger (#1 Only)

Gerladine James - Mrs. Hudson

Kelly Reilly - Mary Morstan

William Houston - Constable Clark

Hans Matheson - Lord Coward (#1 Only)

James Fox - Sir Thomas Rotheram (#1 Only)

William Hope - Ambassador Standish (#1 Only)

Clive Russell - Captain Tanner (#1 Only)

Paul Anderson - Colonel Sebatien Moran (#2 Only)

Jack Laskey - Carruthers

Director:
Guy Ritchie (Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels; Snatch)

Synopsis 2009:

Sherlock Holmes has made his reputation finding the truth at the heart of the most complex mysteries. With the aid of Dr. John Watson, his trusted ally, the renowned "consulting detective" is unequaled in his pursuit of criminals of every stripe, whether relying on his singular powers of observation, his remarkable deductive skills, or the blunt force of his fists. But now a storm is gathering over London, a threat unlike anything that Holmes has ever confronted...and just the challenge he's looking for. After a string of brutal, ritualistic murders, Holmes and Watson arrive just in time to save the latest victim and uncover the killer: the unrepentant Lord Blackwood.

Synopsis 2011:

Sherlock Holmes has always been the smartest man in the room...until now. There is a new criminal mastermind at large-Professor Moriarty - and not only is he Holmes' intellectual equal, but his capacity for evil, coupled with a complete lack of conscience, may actually give him an advantage over the renowned detective. When the Crown Prince of Austria is found dead, the evidence, as construed by Inspector Lestrade, points to suicide. But Sherlock Holmes deduces that the prince has been the victim of murder-a murder that is only one piece of a larger and much more portentous puzzle, designed by Professor Moriarty. The cunning Moriarty is always one step ahead of Holmes as he spins a web of death and destruction.

Review:

I decided to review both of these films together as one review because escentially you were watching the same film. This is how I reviewed it on my Twitter (@DrewSarian): "Watched Sherlock Holmes. Opened Tray. Took Out Blu-ray. Inserted Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows. Closed Tray. Watched 30 Minutes. Stopped Blu-ray. Opened Try To Check If I Had Accidentally Put First Movie's Disc Back In. Hadn't." I enjoyed the first movie because it was a unique take on the classic stories of Sherlock Holmes with a very different style of story telling. Slow motion, showing his intuitions on how someone might attack him or how a scenario would work out then he would perfectly time his counters, attacks & all of that. You add in a little bit of a love story & a best friend & a devious evil villain (played by Hollywood bad guy Mark Strong) & you've got the beginnings of a good story & film. The second one however pretty much called for RDJ to play a completely hammed up, drugged up asshole version of Sherlock, with incoohierant bullshit ramblings & nonsensical story lines where they meet gypsies & Watson is forced to baby sit him. I just found it to be stupid & poorly done. Then you get the most annoying part of the whole movie. We fucking get it, he can slow down time in his head to solve problems & riddles & even fight sequences. But for fuck sakes Guy Ritchie NOT EVERYTHING HAS TO BE SLOW MOTION!! It seemed like every single time you could imagine it being slowed down it would happen. They are running away from people shooting at them in the forest. So they slow it down so you can see the slow impact of the bullets hitting the trees. Then you have some pick pocketing action. BAM more slow mow. It was completely over done & misused. Did enjoy the addition of Stephen Fry because he is a goddamn comedic genius. But his character wasn't used very much nor in the comedic way I would have liked him to be. The ending also did make me angry (much like the ending of Dark Knight Rises) but I can't be that mad because it's fucking Hollywood & they need to suck the tit dry & get as much money as they possibly can. I was surprised at how much this movie made considering I didn't know anyone who saw it in theaters. Overall really liked the first one, could have completely done without the second one.

Budget:

2009: $90,000,000 2011: $125,000,000

Box Office:

2009: $524,028,679 2011: $543,848,418

Profit:

2009: $434,028,679 2011: $414,848,418

Rotten Tomatoes:

2009: 70% 2011: 60%

Flixster:

2009: 81% 2011: 78%

80%                  50%

2009:                                          2011:

Lead Acting: 13/15                     Lead Acting: 10/15

Supporting Cast: 10/15               Supporting Cast: 9/15
Plot: 8/10                                   Plot: 3/10

Compared To The Genre: 8/10   Compared To The Genre: 2/10

Cinematography: 17/20               Cinematography: 14/20

Intrigue 16/20                             Intrigue: 5/20

                                          Extra: 8/10                                  Extra:7/10