Moriarty (Jared Harris) and the rationale (or, better, the lack thereof) of his plan are the best things about this sequel, which broadens the scope of the first film to have Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) and Watson (Jude Law)
traverse Europe by
train, horse (Holmes is forced upon a miniature one, since he sees the larger ones as «dangerous at both ends and uncomfortable in the middle»), ship, and foot — fighting, outrunning
bullets, and witnessing or causing general destruction as they go.