Teresa reviews “Death on the Nile” (2022), Kenny Branaugh’s second Agatha Christie adaptation, and was distracted by the unreal all-CGI film. Fidelity to text: 3 handguns Unneeded Poirot backstory, character consolidation, badly run ship, and the cast never went near Egypt. Quality of film on its own: 3 handguns Gorgeous to watch, wonderful to hear, […]
Teresa reviews “Ordeal by Innocence” (2018) and decides that Sarah Phelps’ additions made it a good movie, but not Christie’s movie. Warning: More spoilers here than the nuclear bombs in the 1950s. Fidelity to text: 2 ½ decanters The plot remains but the characters are more complex. The murderer changes but it worked. Quality of […]
Teresa reviews “ABC Murders” (2018) and apart from the appearance of “Harry Potter” actors, finds it grim, dreary, and disgusting. Fidelity to text: 2 ½ coshes The murder plot remains. Everyone, including Poirot, desperately needs therapy for depression and assorted personality disorders. Quality of movie on its own: 3 1/2 coshes But only if you’ve […]
Teresa reviews “The Witness for the Prosecution” (2016) and thought it was a good moody and atmospheric remake of the short story. Fidelity to text: 4 candlesticks The plot’s expanded but remains tightly focused on five people (and a cat). Quality of movie on its own: 4 candlesticks Great acting, sets, staging, cinematography, score, but […]
Teresa reviews “Curtain: Poirot’s Last Case” (2013) and thought it was a fitting send-off for the little Belgian detective. Fidelity to text: 4½ poison bottles Very close, including dialog. Quality of movie on its own: 4½ poison bottles Outstanding, except for a scene in the book dropped from the movie. Adding that back would have […]
Teresa reviews “The Labours of Hercules” (2013) and thought it an excellent adaptation short of a 12-episode series. Fidelity to text: 2 knives There are plenty of references and chunks of plot but turning 12 stories into an 89-minute movie was not possible. Quality of movie on its own: 4 knives It held together well; […]
Teresa Reviews “The Big Four” (2013) and found that scriptwriter Mark Gatiss cobbled together a crackling winner of an episode. Fidelity to text: 2 bishops Mark Gatiss completely rearranged and recast the novel into something where, at best, names and situations match. Quality of movie on its own: 4 1/2 bishops Mark Gatiss made it […]
Teresa reviews “Elephants Can Remember” (2013) and discovered the screenwriter knew how to salvage a good adaptation from a sad novel. Fidelity to text: 3 revolvers Add a loony headshrinker, his murder, and the daughter of one of his victims but it slotted in nicely. Quality of movie on its own: 4 revolvers The two […]
Teresa reviews “The Clocks” (2011) and finds it ticking along like a fine Swiss watch. Fidelity to text: 3½ knives Plenty of condensing, some added characters to replace removed ones, plus German spies! Quality of movie on its own: 4 knives Much improved motivation and guilt thick enough to spread with a knife. Read more […]
Teresa reviews “The Mirror Crack’d” (1980) and suggests watching it more for the stars than the story. Read more of Teresa’s Agatha Christie movie reviews at Peschel Press. Also, follow Teresa’s discussion of these movies on her podcast. Fidelity to text: 2 & 1/2 poison bottles The producers played fast and loose with Agatha. Quality […]