Sherlock Holmes and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (the Robert Downy movies)

I really like both films. Downy and Law have such a different take than the traditional Holmes and Watson characters. They are fun and interesting, and very different from each other. One is more supernatural in plot, more of a suspense. The other is far more political, something of a political thriller. I enjoy them for their differences. The villains are played well as well. There's probably not much I could add that anyone else isn't aware of.

But...

SPOILER

I do have one complaint about the connection between the two: Moriarty was present in the first film, and his involvement was rather intriguing. The major plot obviously involved Lord Blackwell. But Moriarty cleverly took advantage of the whole situation. But there is the disconnect. Moriarty stole the radio control device on the chemical weapons machine, as if this were a crucial part to his ultimate plot. But in the second film, he makes absolutely zero use of such technology. None! Why? He should have. It would have better tied the two films together. Oh well. But one other thing bugs me, also about Moriarty: he doesn't feel like the same villain. Don't get me wrong, I like the portrayal in the second film very much. But he doesn't seem to be the same man as in the first. For instance, where are the cool retractable sleeve pistols that in part defined him? They're not used even once in the sequel. He never wears a top hat or seems so intent on hiding his face in the second film. He's cool. He's just not the same guy.

There's my little rant.