Evil Under the Sun
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Movie Reviews of Evil Under the Sun
Movie Review: Christie Fan
Summary: 5 Stars
Great acting, beautiful scenery and vintage Agatha Christie story line! What more could you want.Movie Review: Evil Under the Sun - the movie
Summary: 5 Stars
Received the movie in a timely manner and in good condition. Would buy from this seller again.Movie Review: Murder is 'just one of those things'
Summary: 4 Stars
Agatha Christie's murder mystery, 'Evil Under The Sun' is brought gloriously to life, in this movie from the early 80's. It features Peter Ustinov in his second showing as the legendary Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot along with a cast of actors who camp it up for all they are worth.The plot follows the classic Christie template (see Death on the Nile, Murder on the Orient Express) of a group of people gathered together, with one being particularly nasty and unlikeable and (surprise, surprise!!) is murdered, with all of the remaining characters having a motive for putting this person out of the way. While this movie doesn't move too far away from the template, it rewards the viewer with an intriguing yet fun couple of hours.
The performances from all of the actors on board are excellent - yes they are over the top (especially Roddy McDowell's bitchy Rex Brewster and Sylvia Miles's droning Myra Gardener) but that makes them all the more endearing. Maggie Smith is obviously having loads of fun as the hotel proprieter, Daphne Castle, and her scenes with Ustinov have great energy. However Diana Rigg all but steals the film as the "ageing" actress, Arlena Marshall, a prize and completely ostentatious vamp. Ustinov is again on fine form as Poirot and relishes the chance to add his stamp to a character already memorably portrayed on screen by Albert Finney.
This film offers a great opportunity to actors out of their normal milieu (the aforementioned Smith and Rigg, as well as the luminous Jane Birkin) and is almost worth watching for that alone. Added to that is a great soundtrack of Cole Porter numbers which indelibly places this movie in the 1930's. While it does deviate from the setting and characters of Christie's source novel, that doesn't detract it from being an superb addition to the canon of Christie films.
Movie Review: Postcard perfect island resort with a wicked twist
Summary: 4 Stars
I watched this DVD immediately after Death on the Nile (also by Peter Ustinov as Poirot) and am happy to declare that this one is even more intriguing.
The movie began with a seemingingly irrelevant unsolved murder of a woman in an obscure spot in England and saw Poirot moved on to an island resort in France to solve the mystery of a fake diamond. With a lesser cast than Death on the Nile, this movie made it up with the beautiful scenery - the unique island dotted with beautiful orchids, exotic plants and manicured gardens. Many a time the shots had a beautiful pot of flowers at the corner of the screen. The overall effect gave the movie such a modern feel as it resonated with the beautiful scenery as Pride and Prejudice, Match Point and Mrs. Henderson Presents.
Thanks to the reminder of another reviewer. The movie opened with some lovely water-color sketches and the movie was accompanied by the soothing and playful Cole Porter tunes - just the right mood for the holiday makers.
However there is more to the movie than an eye-pleasing cinematography. The movie had an attractive plot - a diva on stage whose nod could have pleased the other travellers on the island and whose incooperation gave everyone a good reason to hate her. Maggie Smith, her fellow dancer in the old days and now the owner of the island resort was most gorgeous, radiant and young looking here.
The fluid storytelling and breathtaking hike trails almost made me forget the opening murder which was brought to closure only at the end. And the last 5 minutes was simply a delight. For the murderer(s) revealed the true colors and dazzled the other people with a complete overhaul in the clothes and attitudes. For one moment, it is as if Poirot lost his reputation on this one!
Movie Review: "A little chorus lie 4 Stars
So, she kept her Sunny Side up and just see where it got her! Dun in - that's what someone [or they] did to 'er.Diana Rigg, lovely leggy Dame Diana Rigg was never more venomous than here, however to cut to the chase - she's vacationing at this "resort" run by an old Chorus-girl chum [maybe not] Maggie Smith, There are suspects a-plenty, and the cast reads like a "who's who". Silken and still seductive - James Mason, hunky - perhaps too hunky [those bathing trunks!] Nicholas Clay ["Excalibur" and "Night Digger" fame], Sylvia Miles [another great dame], Roddy McDowall - even Jane Birkin. Then there's "The Belgie" Poirot, flawlessly played by Peter Ustinov [previously teamed with Miss Smith in another great but unrelated fun caper "Hot Millions"].
Lots of great red herrings [on and off the menu], add superb art direction, period costumes and a glorious setting, and this one's just the thing for a quiet Saturday afternoon when the kids are away.
Dialogue is priceless [might make Coward blush though] - Maggie Smith's comment about Rigg's off-state attributes [something to do with 'high kicks'] and that great aside Sylvia Miles hurls at Roddy McDowall - straight from the hip!
You don't need sunblock for this one - just a few Mad Englishmen and perhaps a small pet or two!