Daily Trailer: Sherlock Holmes Brings on the Awesome

If some of you were underwhelmed by the first trailer for Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, fearing it would continue the Robert Downey Jr. trend of “more of the same”-sequels (you’re still not forgiven, Iron Man 2), you can breathe easier, for the glorious wonder that is the second trailer for The Continued Adventures of Doctor Watson and his Eccentric Patient has arrived.

The stakes in the first film were presented as “threatening the very fabric of the universe”, so Guy Ritchie and screenwriters Michele and Kieran Mulroney would have a hard time raising them. However, “the fate of Western civilization” isn’t too shabby of an attempt.

Jared Harris as Moriarty is now presented as a truly formidable opponent and villain, as we see a better glimpse of his character than before, Noomi Rapace will, if the trailer is any indication, will provide a stronger female counterpart to Holmes and Watson than Rachel MacAdams’ Irene Adler did in the first, although Adler will fortunately play a big role in this film, as her exit from the first one felt rushed and inconclusive.

Downey Jr. and Jude Law have obviously not lost any of their camaraderie, and we’re given additional evidence that their banter in A Game of Shadows will not solely be in the “reflective humor” vein, relying on funny stuff they said in the first film and just sarcastically repeating it, which seems to be the case with tragically many franchises today.

The action in the first film was nothing short of impressive, but it seems to have been cranked up to a whole other level for A Game of Shadows, and the SFX geek inside me literally giggled with excitement over the shots from the forest chase. Was that Matrix-style flo-mo hinted at there? Please let it be true.

So. Plot – check. Villain – check. Noomi – check. Humour – check. Action – check. Are we missing anything?

What do you think of the trailer? Cast your vote in the comments!