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By Michael Lopez

You've got to hand it to director Guy Ritchie, he's definitely given Sherlock Holmes a modern kick in the butt. Gone are the stuffy English formalities and slow-paced mysteries. Here, we get explosions, train wrecks, and a British detective with fists of steel! It all works rather well for this week's Holmes sequel, A Game of Shadows, keeping audiences entertained until the very last minute.

Honestly, we were a little nervous when we heard that Sherlock 2 was getting fast-tracked to December. The original came out barely two years ago and many fans were nervous the writers didn't have time to properly flesh out a followup. Happily that's not the case here, as this story seems wittier and more engaging than its predecessor.

It’s also great to see the chemistry between Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law develop. It's clear these actors work brilliantly off of each other. Downey Jr.'s Holmes is the fast talking man of action, with a mind that works at a rapid pace. Law's Dr. Watson is much more even-tempered and a rather unwilling participant in the Game.

An exciting addition to this sequel is the Sherlock nemesis, Professor Moriarty. Played menacingly by Jared Harris, this villain proves to be quite a rival for the great detective. A man of superior intellect, Moriarty is the puppeteer of the Game of Shadows, constantly leaving our heroes guessing about his dastardly plans.

Swedish actress Noomi Rapace also makes her Sherlock debut with this movie and if we have one criticism, it's that she's sorely underused. A engaging actress, her role as the gypsy sidekick Simza never quite materializes into anything of substance.

As expected, Jude and Robert deliver superb performances, but the real Holmes hero is Ritchie. His film style really sets this movie apart from anything else in theaters. The choreographed action sequences, the gorgeous scenery, and the visualization of Holmes' analyses kept us on our feet from beginning to end!

Bottom line: All of us yearning for a summeresque blockbuster during these cold winter months have found our salvation. This Sherlock Holmes sequel delivers one heck of a punch in the action department and it's got a sharp story to boot. Plus, they're showing the newest Dark Knight Rises trailer before the film. That's win/win in our book!

Are you planning on watching Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Guy Ritchie, Jared Harris, Jude Law, Movie Reviews, Movies & CineMás, Noomi Rapace, Robert Downey Jr, Sherlock Holmes, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, The Dark Knight Rises

By Larry Yepez Jr.

Ok, so here is a big dilemma. If your brother was living under a bridge literally freezing his ass off, wouldn't you try to help him? How could it be possible that the queen of pop, a multimillion dollar diva who is well known for her charity work and her compassion towards the less fortunate in Africa whom she doesn't even know, won't give her own brother a helping hand?!?!?

In an interview last week with the local newspaper Michigan Messenger, Madonna's older brother Anthony Ciccone said that he's been homeless for more than a year and his superstar sister isn't helping him out.

"My family turned their back on me, basically, when I was having a hard time," Ciccone said.

He began living under a bridge in Traverse City, Michigan, after losing his job at the family winery, Ciccone Vineyard.

"You think I haven't answered this kind of question a bazillion times — why my sister is a multibazillionarie, and I'm homeless on the street?" he said.  "Never say never. This could happen to anybody."

Ciccone, 55, said life on the streets has been rough on him:

"You have no idea how gruesome it is," he says. "You get nerve damage. That's the milder stage. In the severe stage you have tissue damage, that is when you lose parts of your body ... A friend of mine lost all ten toes. Several have died of hypothermia."

Ciccone isn't the first sibling of Madonna's to have a falling out. In 2008, her younger and most famous brother, the designer Christopher Ciccone, put out a tell all book Life with my Sister Madonna, in which he detailed her relationship with her ex-husband Guy Ritchie and her personality flaws.  A book that sought to expose the other side of the Material Girl.

"I think, ultimately, she's a lonely person and, unfortunately, it is truly is lonely at the top".

So what do you think of Madonna's relationship with her siblings? Do you see Madonna the same way knowing this 'inhumane' side of her?

Tags Anthony Ciccone, Blogger: Larry Yepez Jr, Christopher Ciccone, Ciccone Vineyard, Guy Ritchie, Life with my Sister Madonna, Madonna, popnews

By Michael Lopez

It's Friday again, which means it's time for another installment of Pelis and Popcorn. We know, the past few movies were a bit more female-centric, but this weekend we're airing a flick just for the fellas. Get ready for Snatch! You remember this one, right? Brad Pitt, the Transporter guy, and some shrewd directing by Madonna's ex-hubby!

Released way back in 2000, Snatch is a true cult classic…that actually became a bona fide hit! The writer/director, Guy Ritchie, was fresh off his indie smash Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, and now had the budget (and the big studio backing) to hire his "dream cast."

So who did he pick to headline this in-your-face crime caper? None other than Brad Pitt (who was riding high with his Fight Club success). But rather than take advantage of Brad’s pretty-boy good looks, Ritchie gave him an unrecognizable Irish accent and made him a crooked grungy boxer.

Benicio del Toro fans got a lot of great quotes out of Snatch too, with his memorable role as Frankie "Four Fingers." Throw in rough and tumble Jason Statham, the always funny Dennis Farina, and foul-mouthed scene stealer Alan Ford as Brick Top and you've got yourself one entertaining movie!

But outside of the colorful characters, what makes Snatch stand out is its highly original plot. Focusing on a missing diamond and the seedy underbelly of London, this movie's got gangster elements, kickass boxing scenes, intricate heist sequences (pre-Ocean’s 11), and a cinematic style that's undeniably Ritchie.

We all know that Guy has gone on to more high-profile projects. One being marrying (and later divorcing) Madonna and the other being those Sherlock Holmes movies. But if you want to see his unique film-making talents in their prime, don't miss Snatch. It's "guys" entertainment at its bloody finest, mate!

Catch Snatch this Saturday at 11pm on Tr3s!

What's your favorite crime caper movie? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Benicio Del Toro, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Brad Pitt, Guy Ritchie, Jason Statham, Movies & CineMás, Pelis and Popcorn, Snatch, Tr3s Exclusives

Do we think the upcoming WB película 'Sherlock Holmes,' featuring Robert Downey, Jr. as el gran detective, will be absolutely awesome?  Elemental, mi querido Watson, we sure do!

La película also stars Jude Law as Holmes' loyal assistant Mr. Watson y la bella Rachel McAdams as Holmes' main love interest.  Y claro, you can't have a detective movie without a real mean villain, so this time around Mark Strong plays Lord Blackwood, a Satanic lord hellbent on causing some major mischief.  The movie, que fue dirigida por Guy Ritchie, mixes equal parts humor and action, with some kickass martial arts and fighting scenes.

Watch the exclusive trailer below, and head over to MTV.com's Sherlock Holmes page for more info including photos and scenes from the movie!

Tags exclusive premiere, Guy Ritchie, Jude Law, Mark Strong, Rachel McAdams, Robert Downey Jr, Sherlock Holmes, trailer, Video, WB

This A-Rod debacle just keeps going and going! Honestly, why do people care so much? Poor Madonna is trying so hard to hold on to her marriage and her innocence, while Cynthia is convinced that the material girl is the reason for her divorce. Madge don't play that. She is infuriated by the allegations 

Madonna is outraged. She told his wife Cynthia's lawyers not to make any more statements about her - in short, shut up.

Umm, I wouldn't mess with Madonna, she has abs of steel and hood tendencies - she would kick Cynthia's culo. A wise man once said "snitches get stiches." [The Sun]

Photo via Getty Images

Tags alex Rodriguez, Cynthia Rodriguez, Guy Ritchie, Madonna