Sherlock Game of Shadows

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2012)

Great movie. Rated 12 in the UK for ‘moderate violence’. There are a couple of swear words but not much. Like Avengers Assemble it has great comic moments, many great one-liners and the relationship between Holmes and Watson (especially) is often very funny.

The Human Condition

*** Warning, Possible Spoilers Contained Below ***

 Chapter 11 (01:45:19 – 01:49:20)

Near the end of the movie, Professor James Moriaty is speaking with Sherlock Holmes. In this, Moriaty starts making the point that Holmes is not fighting him, but is fighting the ‘human condition’.

The clip ends with Sherlock saying to Moriaty, “Oh and incidentally, check-mate”.

Point – This is what the Bible tells us in Romans 3.23 saying that “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Sin is the human condition and there is only one remedy. No, it’s not even Sherlock Holmes. It’s Jesus !!

Romans 3:22-25 – This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood – to be received by faith.

Other Points – Greed / Corporate greed / Justice / The End Times.

Sacrifice, Resurrection, Truth, Hell? – 

*** Warning, Spoilers Contained Below ***

 Chapter 11 and Chapter 12 (01:45:19 or 01:51:25 – 01:52-34 or 01:55:30)

You can start this clip from the end of the previous ‘clip’ ie. 01:45:20 (this way you get to see the scenes of ‘violence’). Alternatively, start it at 01:51:25 with Holmes saying, “Conclusion inevitable… Unless…” 

The clip ends at the end of Chapter 11 (01:52:34 or run a bit longer if wanted…) if you just want to talk about sacrifice – or at the end of the movie if you want to look at resurrection!

Point – This clip can be used to look at ‘sacrifice’ and link this to Jesus. OK, so Holmes realises he may lose the fight and so pulls Moriaty over the edge down into the waterfall. This is very different to Jesus who chose to give his life for us. At any time he could have called on legions of angels or even destroyed those who tried to kill him, but he didn’t. 

Nevertheless, we know that through his victory on the Cross that ‘the enemy’s been defeated, death couldn’t hold you down, we’re gonna lift our voice in victory, we’re gonna make your praises loud.’ (in the words of the Hillsong tune!)

As Watson watches over the waterfall, it reminds of the Roman guard at the cross who after Jesus died declared ‘surely he was the son of God’

Key Bible verse – Colossians 2.13-15:

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Point – Right at the end of the movie, we see that Holmes is alive. Jesus is alive, except Jesus actually rose from the dead, is now sat at the Father’s right hand in heaven and one day will return in glory and victory!

Key Bible verse – 1 Corinthians 15.3-4:

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures…

Point – Hell. It’s also interesting to see the peace on Holmes’ face as he falls, compared to the terror of Moriaty. Could you use this clip to talk about the peace that we find in Jesus and the terror that will be found in hell. (Maybe ref Luke 16.19-31 with the rich man and Lazarus).