Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Question: In the scene when Moriarty is doing a book signing, his aide sits and hands him a piece of paper with what looks like some kind of grouped numbers together. What is this and does it get referenced later in the film?

Brad Barding

Chosen answer: That's the key code for his fortune concealed in his library. The one Mrs Watson uses to relay to Inspector Lestrade. Like the book reference numbers in a public library.

Question: Why would Meinhard need to have been shot if the bomb would have taken everyone in the room out? The only reason I can think of is that Moriarty has considered the possibility of Meinhard surviving and has thus ordered Moran to shoot Meinhard to give him no chance of surviving whatsoever. Can anyone kindly confirm this or give a better explanation?

Answer: That sounds entirely right. Bombs are potentially unreliable; it's possible, albeit unlikely, that Meinhard could have survived the blast, so by getting Moran to shoot him dead first, then covering up the true cause of death (and thus who the real target was) using the bomb, it ensures that the job gets done.

Tailkinker

Question: How was Sherlock and his home team able to just take Moriarty's fortune at the end? What exactly were the grounds established justifying taking all of his stuff?

Answer: They have direct evidence that Moriarty is trying to start an international conflict and trigger a war to profiteer from. It makes perfect sense for the police to seize Moriarty's assets and fortune since they're being used for and were attained from major criminal activity.

TedStixon

Factual error: In the scene straight after the opening credits we are taken to Baker Street where construction work is being done. This work is identified by a sign with a logo as being for the underground line. The logo type face was developed by a Mr. Edward Johnston for London Underground from 1913 but the distinctive typeface used in the film was not in place until 1919. This is obviously long after the 1891 setting of the film.

More mistakes in Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Sherlock Holmes: Uh, hmm... Right. Where are the wagons?
Madam Simza Heron: The wagon is too slow. Can't you ride?
Dr. John Watson: It's not that he can't ride... How is it you put it, Holmes?
Sherlock Holmes: They're dangerous at both ends and... Crafty in the middle. Why would I want anything with a mind of its own bobbing about between my legs?

More quotes from Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Trivia: After being cast in this film as Professor Moriarty, Jared Harris was asked to re-dub Moriarty's dialog from the original film, which was previously provided by an unknown actor. This new version of the audio is often used in television broadcasts of the first film.

More trivia for Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

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