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.
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011)
Directed by: Guy Ritchie
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Jared Harris
Factual error: In the scene where Holmes enters the factory in Germany, a map can be seen on a table with small German black-red-gold tricolor flags sticking up from it. However, the flag of the 2nd German Empire at the time of the film's setting (1891) was black, white, and red, and was so from 1871-1918.
Factual error: In the opening scene Watson is typing on an Underwood typewriter. Given the last scene of the movie, the first scene took place shortly after Holmes' "death", namely in 1891, or maybe 1892. Underwood started making typewriters in 1895 but those were labeled as "Wagner." The Underwood label was first used in 1900.
Trivia: The final chess match between Moriarty and Holmes is based loosely on a famous chess match between chess masters Bent Larsen and Tigran Petrosian. The match involved the sacrifice of a queen and a surprise checkmate, thus mirroring Holmes' apparent sacrifice of himself to stop Moriarty.
Trivia: The note left by Holmes and read by Watson; "Come at once if convenient - If inconvenient come all the same." was taken directly from the short story "The Creeping Man" found in "The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes".
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.
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?
Dr. John Watson: How did you know I would find you?
Sherlock Holmes: You didn't find me, you collapsed a building on me.
Mycroft Holmes: Good evening, Mrs Watson. I'm the other Holmes.
Mary Watson: You mean there's *two* of you? Marvelous!
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?
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.
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.
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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.