Do i need to watch the 1st sherlock holmes movie before 2nd?

[hatten]

tl;dr: topic says it all


I wanna go to the cinema and watch the new sherlock movie: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/sherloc ... f_shadows/ , but I haven't seen the first movie, is it a must to see the first one in order to understand what's happening in it? If that's the case, is it possible to just give a few spoilers so i can enjoy the second one to it's full extent, cause it would be cool if i could go to the cinema today.

[Pez Dispens3r]

no, not really. Hollywood cinema is designed to be accessible to the newcomer. I enjoyed the first film, and I didn't even have to read all the serials.

[the_bandersnatch]

I'll fill you in on the first one:

Sherlock Holmes is a Victorian-era English detective who smoke a clay pipe and mumbles a lot. He's also pretty handy at deducing things, and at punching things/people. He plays violin too, if I recall correctly.

He has a partner in anticrime by the name of Dr John Watson, a former soldier. Together, THEY FIGHT CRIME!

[hatten]

Seems like there is a change of plans, we're watching the 1st today and go to the cinema tomorrow.
Thanks for the responses anyway

[Giant Speck]

I watched the second one without having watched the first one and it was separate enough of a story that I still understood what was going on. I ended up thoroughly enjoying the film. I watched the first one a few days later and didn't enjoy it as much.

[Jumperdud]

Has the second Sherlock Holmes hit the screens already??

[ArgonV]

It has here