Review: 'Sherlock Holmes - Game Of Shadows' Breathlessly Thrilling in This 4K Edition

If 2009's "Sherlock Holmes" gave Guy Ritchie a chance to work through his visual prowess with a big budget, then "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" is him running wild and pushing the limits to what CGI can achieve.

The film was famously derided by many critics upon release for being a vulgar retelling of Arthur Conan Doyle's stories, but that's part of what makes it so thrilling. These stories are so well-worn and would probably be set a bit more leisurely by literally any other filmmaker, but constant motion is a fetish for Ritchie, and that proclivity of his is given the biggest canvas possible here. Mileage may vary for many people, but this still remains one of the best blockbusters of the 2010s.

"Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" arrives on 4K Blu-ray from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment with a decent video upgrade over the old Blu-ray. Since the film was finished at 2K and some of its key sequences were shot at 1080p, this is an upscale. That being said, the new HDR-encoded presentation sharpens what's already there and offers an improvement over prior releases of the film. Just don't expect it to be anything substantial.

Sherlock (Robert Downey Jr.) and Watson (Jude Law) are thrust into a dangerous game with Professor James Moriarty (Jared Harris). With the aid of Madam Simza Heron (Noomi Rapace) and Mycroft Holmes (Stephen Fry), the detective duo must race against time before Moriarty's evil plan changes the world forever.

The film has a breakneck pace that initially turned off many people, yet it's filled with Ritchie constantly innovating in ways that still feel better than most of the blockbusters released today. Plus, the entire cast is in top form. Harris' Moriarty is a powerful, devious presence that amplifies a sense of doom. Watching him and Downey Jr. constantly trade barbs is one of the greatest pleasures that cinema has ever produced.

If you're not a fan of "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" already, then don't expect this new release to convince you. But if you're like me and find it to be an inventive, breathlessly detailed thrill ride, then the new 4K Blu-ray is a must-own.

"Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows"
Warner Bros. 4K Blu-ray, Blu-ray & Digital
$24.95
//www.warnerbros.com/movies/sherlock-holmes-game-shadows