Murder on the Orient Express

That didn't sit right with me at all. I went into the film without any knowledge of the source material, but even the decent acting and fabulous visuals didn't pull me out of the ultimate boredom, where I fell asleep for twenty minutes for perhaps the first time ever in the cinema. I found Hercule Poirot to be a very uninteresting detective and Kenneth Branagh with his horrible accent didn't add much to it. I didn't find his detective work interesting at all, so the only good thing is the final reveal, which I didn't expect and certainly surprised me. The film is neither suspenseful nor dark at all, the dialogues are not very interesting and there is only one murder, this is simply not a film for me. 45% (13/11/2017)

I love the old version with Albert Finney, but the new one by Kenneth Branagh certainly doesn't disgrace it. However, the director and the main actor in one person decided – quite logically and, I think, rightly – not to try to make any fundamental statement against it or the source material. So although the trailers try to suggest that we're going to see some brisker pacing and maybe even some action, it's still the right kind of Poirot dialogue. And just like the film's classics, it stands on its excellent cast, great performances, dialogue and of course how perfectly thought out the whole thing is. Branagh treats the book with reverence, but at the same time doesn't shy away from a more modern and clever use of cinematography and excellent music work. And the result is the most honest whodunit I could have imagined given the source material. It goes exactly as it should. (27/07/2018)

I haven’t seen the original Murder on the Orient Express, whether with Finney or the television version with Suchet, so comparisons aren’t relevant here. But I can say this: I love classic detective stories, and when paired with flawless performances that have no noticeable flaws, we’re looking at one of the best crime films in recent times. Branagh is truly a skilled director, and this time he managed not only his directing role but also took on the role of Poirot himself. While many people struggle with his Poirot due to comparisons, I found his performance to be of a high standard (perhaps influenced by my unfamiliarity with his predecessors and their style). He acted as one of the most brilliant detectives and occasionally threw in a joke. The film is visually captivating, with a successful play of colors, and this aspect is faultless. Returning to the performances, I must praise the casting of the supporting characters. Each role was wonderfully played, and the dialogues written for them made sense. Ironically, Depp shone in his role, but unfortunately, not for long. The gradual build-up wasn’t contrived but rather flawless in its script, and the direction towards such a surprising ending caught me off guard. The final resolution almost took my breath away. I’m looking forward to the shift to Egypt, specifically to the Nile. If it maintains this high standard, we have much to look forward to. I give it 85%. (22/02/2018)

The attempt to combine the most classical of classic detective stories with modern filmmaking techniques is commendable, but not quite effective. I appreciate Branagh's clear vision, his courage to come up with his own ideas, and his absolute commitment to the story and the main character, but the result lacks a single memorable passage, and, especially in the second half, it hits a monotonous, old-fashioned note that doesn't fit well with his intentions to make an energetic version of the case of the level-headed intellectual. It's very pretty to look at and the stellar cast is a delight, but it's still more predictable and less cool than would be ideal. (30/04/2018)

"Murder on the Orient Express" is one of Agatha Christie's most celebrated Poirot stories and was first published in 1934. The Lindbergh baby case is also infamous, and its reach can be illustrated, for example, by the fact that in its time it also caused fear in Marlene Dietrich, who hired two bodyguards for her daughter. The trauma caused by the scandal was almost palpable throughout the 1930s... There have been a number of adaptations, whether in film, television, radio, theater, comics, or video games. So is it a good choice to start a new series? Isn't it a shame to start telling new Poirot cases in this notorious way? So far, Kenneth Branagh seems to have been lucky. Soon he will be back again and will surely solve another famous case - Death on the Nile. So what was the recipe used? Branagh was not afraid to make a classic all-star film for today's audience, where it is important that even the smallest roles are played by respected actors. It is all sufficiently idealized, deliberately playing with reverence and yet suspenseful and, where desired, funny. It is therefore an endeavor that can be enjoyed without hesitation. As an added bonus, we get a new song sung by Michelle Pfeiffer - "Never Forget." (22/05/2018)